Trade mission to attract Indonesian students to Queensland

The Palaszczuk Government has set its sights on emerging opportunities in Indonesia, as part of an ongoing campaign to boost the number of international students travelling to Queensland.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Trade and Investment Jackie Trad will personally spearhead the drive to attract more Indonesian students to the sunshine state when she leads a seven-day trade mission to Indonesia and South Korea from this Sunday (15 May).

“Analysis of Queensland’s higher education and vocational education and training statistics shows that Indonesia is a relatively untapped market for our state,” Ms Trad said.

“Indonesia is currently among the top sources of international students for global education destinations, with around 50,000 Indonesian students currently studying in tertiary institutions abroad.

“Around 20 per cent of Indonesian students studying abroad are in Australia – a figure that could quadruple according to the Institute for International Education – however, currently only 8 per cent of Indonesian higher-education students and 1.7 per cent of vocational education and training students are in Queensland.

“We have identified the rapidly emerging economy of Indonesia as a significant source of growth. That’s why I will be leading a delegation of 19 senior representatives from Queensland’s higher education and vocational education and training sectors – including six universities – to Indonesia from this Sunday for the inaugural Study Queensland Week.

“This event, which will take place in a new, emerging target market each year, will showcase our world-class institutions and our unique destinations and lifestyle.” 

Ms Trad will also visit South Korea.

“In both Indonesia and South Korea I will be promoting the Palaszczuk Government’s innovative Advance Queensland agenda, aimed at growing the jobs of the future, and working to forge partnerships with ministries, universities, colleges, scholarship agencies and major corporations,” Ms Trad said.

“I will also facilitate business matching through a number of forums and networking events.”

Ms Trad said the trade mission would also provide an opportunity to promote Queensland’s recently launched social media campaign ‘Best Semester Abroad’ – which will see 20 students from 10 countries win five months’ study in Brisbane, Cairns or the Gold Coast including flights, accommodation, tuition and holiday experiences.

“These students will become honorary Queensland international student ambassadors and drive our social media initiatives and elevate our brand awareness for future students,” Ms Trad said.

“The Queensland Government, through Trade and Investment Queensland, has received more than $500,000 of in-kind sponsorship from Queensland institutions and education-related service providers to run the campaign. 

“A little more than a week after the launch, there has already been more than 2,000 visits to the campaign website and more than 130 entrant profiles created by applicants in the target markets.

“This exciting, innovative initiative is a great example of government and industry working together to drive Queensland’s important international education and training sector, and is already proving popular.”

Ms Trad said analysis by Deloitte Access Economics had identified Queensland’s international education and training sector as one of five super growth industries.

“In 2015, the international education and training sector which sustains about 20,000 jobs generated $2.9 billion in export revenue for Queensland, making it the second-largest service export behind tourism,” Ms Trad said.

“The Deloitte report projects export revenues to grow to $4.6 billion by 2026 under a business as usual scenario.

“But we believe we can do better. Deloitte estimates that if Queensland can boost our market share of international students from about 16 per cent of the national total at present to 20 per cent over the next decade, the industry would generate $7.5 billion in export income and create an additional 6,800 jobs to the state.

“I am currently leading the development of an International Education and Training Strategy in consultation with six industry leaders and informed by the research produced by Deloitte Access Economics. A draft strategy is expected to be complete by mid-2016.” Ms Trad said.

ENDS

Media contact: 0421 387 129