Up to 200 education agents from 50 countries are this week in Darwin for Australasia’s biggest annual study fair, as the Northern Territory accelerates efforts to grow its share of the lucrative international student market.
To coincide with the International Consultants Education Fair – Australia and New Zealand Agents (ICEF-ANZA) fair being held at the Darwin Convention Centre this week, Minister for Workforce Training Selena Uibo today officially launched the Territory Labor Government’s International Education and Training Strategy.
The seven-year plan is a key component of the Territory Labor Government’s blueprint for economic recovery through economic diversification, population growth and local job creation.
It aims to grow the population of international students in the NT from 2500 to 10,000 by 2025, which will boost the market’s current $91 million economic contribution to more than $300 million.
The industry is worth $32 billion per year to the Australian economy and analysis undertaken by Deloitte in 2017 showed each international student spends an average $37,400 each year.
There are three main pillars of the strategy:
Showcasing the Territory as a study destination by promoting education and training opportunities internationally and expanding the study tour market
Enriching the Territory international student experience by better connecting students to community and employers and better supporting their health and wellbeing
Strengthening and growing the Territory’s international education and training sector
Ms Uibo launched the strategy on the first day of the ICEF-ANZA event at the Darwin Convention Centre, a key business-to-business trade fair that will comprehensively inform education agents and travel professionals from across the world of the many benefits of studying in the Territory.
Industry research shows about 75 per cent of international students are recruited through agents.
Leading up to the event, the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation hosted familiarisation tours for agents that showcased the education, tourism, cultural and lifestyle benefits of studying and living in the Northern Territory.
The fair comes a month after Ms Uibo led a trade delegation to the Territory’s two largest international student import markets – India and Nepal – to build relationships with those two countries and promote the benefits of studying in the Northern Territory.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Workforce Training, Selena Uibo.
“The Territory Labor Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians and more people means more local jobs.
“International education is already the Territory’s third largest service industry export sector and growing it to 10,000 students by 2025 will more than triple the sector’s contribution to our economy.
“Darwin’s geographic position gives it a competitive advantage in the rapidly growing Asian markets, which already make up nine out of the top 10 countries of origin for the NT’s international students.
“Additionally, the new Charles Darwin University campus in the Darwin CBD, part of the historic $200 million bilateral City Deal, will make studying here even more attractive to our closest neighbours.”
“The Territory provides international students with world class education and training in a safe and welcoming environment.
“In return, they strengthen cultural, social and economic ties, and contribute to vibrant economic, social and cultural precincts.”
Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144