Global education advisory’s first meeting outside Brisbane

As part of a bid to make north Queensland one of the international education capitals of Australia, the state’s peak advisory group will meet in Townsville today – the first time in history the group has convened outside of Brisbane.

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones, the Ministerial Champion for International Education, said the International Education and Training Advisory Group (IETAG) would discuss ways to grow the international education and edu-tourism markets in the region.

The Townsville meeting will be the first Ms Jones has chaired in her new role as Ministerial Champion and will involve representatives from the higher education, vocational education and training, schools, English language and edu-tourism sectors.

“By taking IETAG to Townsville we’re sending a strong message to education providers in north Queensland that we’re serious about helping them to grow their businesses,” she said.

“International education contributes more than $4.13 billion to Queensland’s economy each year and regional locations like Townsville are an important part of this.

“More than 30 per cent of the 111,501 international students in our great state are studying in regional areas.

“They want to come to places like Townsville because they know they can get the best of both worlds – a world-class education in one of the greatest tourism destinations on the planet.

“Queensland leads Australia when it comes to supporting regional international education and training experiences and we want to stay in front.”

Ms Jones said Townsville led the way in aligning tourism and international education opportunities.

“There is plenty of crossover in the international education and tourism sectors and operators in Townsville are doing a great job of capitalising on this,” she said.

“There are opportunities to increase the visiting friends and relatives market, promote Queensland as an edu-tourism destination and evolve our study tour experiences.

“The Townsville edu-tourism consortium is acting on these opportunities already and showing how the tourism and international education sectors can work together.

“Combined with Study Townsville’s International Education Growth Strategy and St Patrick’s College Aquaculture project, a total of $92,500 in matched funding is being invested by the Queensland Government in growing Townsville’s reputation and appeal as a study destination.”

Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government would continue to back international education initiatives in Townsville through its International Education & Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016-2026.

“The Palaszczuk Government is committed to growing Queensland’s international education sector,” she said.

“That’s why we’re investing $25.3 million over five years to support growth in this industry.”

The IETAG will meet from 9.30am to 11.30am today at the Townsville City Council Chambers (103 Walker Street, Townsville City).

Media Contact: Jack Harbour 0419 620 447