Queensland education providers sign agreements with China

Shanghai: Queensland has strengthened education and training relationships after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk witnessed the signing of two Memorandums of Understanding in China today.

Ms Palaszczuk said the agreements further enhanced Queensland’s international reputation in the sector and enhanced the relationship between TAFE Queensland and two organisations in Shanghai.

“While Queensland will continue to be a popular destination for Chinese students, these MOUs are about providing high-quality Queensland education on the ground in China and exporting our expertise,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“It means students who don’t have the means to study abroad can now get access to the world-renowned Queensland approach without leaving home.

“There is enormous opportunities in this area with some provinces having hundreds of TAFE colleges.

“We were also told today that China’s middle class is expected to grow to 800 million by 2030.”

TAFE Queensland General Manager Aaron Devine signed MOUs for TAFE to train accounting students at the Shanghai Commercial Accounting School as well as an MOU to formally begin negotiations to establish a teacher training centre at the Shandong Technician Institute.

“Educational links bring us closer together,” Ms Palaszczuk.

“With the China Australia Free Trade Agreement now in operation, it means there will be many more people in China and Australia with a better understanding of how business operates in each country.

“Queensland has a strong reputation in the education and training sector and seeing our skills and expertise exported to China is a terrific outcome.

“We are very proud of the high-standard of education and training that Queensland has been able to share with the rest of the world.”

The international education and training industry is Queensland’s fourth largest export industry, generating export revenue of $2.7 billion in 2014-15 and providing employment for around 20,000 Queenslanders.