Deputy Premier welcomes international education partnership in Jakarta

Queensland has taken a leap forward in the Indonesian education and training market, with TAFE Queensland today signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indonesian Government’s Ministry of Home Affairs, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad has announced.

Witnessing the MoU signing in Jakarta today, Ms Trad said the agreement was an exciting step in the Palaszczuk Government’s journey to grow the number of international students choosing to study in Queensland.

“This agreement will strengthen the relationship between TAFE Queensland and Indonesia’s Ministry of Home Affairs, paving the way for collaboration in aid and development funded programs, management training, capacity building for staff and the delivery of offshore training including improving the skills of Indonesian fire fighters,” Ms Trad said.

“Indonesia is a dynamic, emerging market likely to be a global top ten economy by 2030 with a population of more than 250 million people, 50 per cent of whom are under the age of 30.

“As one of our closest large trading partners, Indonesia’s middle class population is predicted to grow by 60 million people by 2030 making it the third largest middle class population in the world.

“Right on Queensland’s doorstep, Indonesia has ambitious development plans that will offer significant opportunities for collaboration with Queensland’s companies and institutions.

“In particular, Indonesia’s developing economy will require training across a number of sectors including transport, mining and agriculture.”

Today’s signing ceremony forms part of a seven-day trade mission to Indonesia and South Korea and is the Deputy Premier’s second trip to Indonesia in just 12 months, sending a clear message about the importance of the market for Queensland trade.

“The work we do now in vocational education partnerships will provide an ideal launching pad for stronger trade and investment in the future,” Ms Trad said.

Aaron Devine, General Manager of TAFE Queensland Brisbane, said the deal represented an important step in Queensland’s international education export market growth aspirations.

The MoU builds on the strong foundation that TAFE Queensland has developed with the Indonesian government through the Ministry of Religious Affairs and the Ministry of Manpower.

“TAFE Queensland has delivered governance, capacity building and leadership training programs for numerous senior officials and staff across a range of ministries, including the organisation responsible for Indonesia’s 27,000 Islamic boarding schools,” he said.

“As Queensland’s premier vocational education provider we have educated more than 7 million Queenslanders in our 130 year history, with 90 per cent of TAFE Queensland graduates in 2015 going into employment or on to further study.”

The Indonesian MOU came as Training and Skills Minister Yvette D’Ath witnessed the signing of an agreement that will allow TAFE Queensland fashion design students to study at the prestigious Bunka Fashion College in Japan.

“Bunka Fashion is the second-ranked fashion school in the world,” Mrs D’Ath said.

“This agreement initially provides for 20 students from both institutions to undertake exchange programs and is part of a broader engagement between TAFE Queensland and training providers in Japan.”

“We also have a competition underway currently for TAFE hospitality students to win a trip to Japan to refine their craft at the side of Iron Chef Hiroyuki Sakai.”

“We know quality training leads to greater job opportunities in Queensland, across Australia and around the world.”

The international education and training industry is Queensland’s fourth largest export industry, generating export revenue of $2.9 billion in 2015 and providing employment for around 20,000 Queenslanders.

ENDS

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