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International Student Numbers Increase by 25% in One Year

Office of the Chief Minister

International students are increasingly choosing the Northern Territory, with the latest enrolment figures showing a 25 per cent jump in just one year.

This compared to an 11 per cent increase nationally.

The latest national enrolment data shows that in September 2019, there were 3100 international students enrolled to study in the Territory, compared to 2500 in September 2018.

The rise comes after the Territory Labor Government earlier this year released its seven year International Education and Training Strategy, in a concentrated effort to boost the 2500 students studying in the NT in 2018 to 10,000 by 2025.

Reaching 10,000 students would more than triple the overseas student market’s contribution to the Territory economy from $91 million in 2018 to more than $300 million in 2025.

As part of the strategy, Minister for Workforce Training Selena Uibo has this year led trade delegations to India, Nepal and Indonesia to build relationships with those countries and promote the benefits of studying in the NT.

In April, the Territory Labor Government also secured the International Consultants Education Fair – Australia and New Zealand Agents (ICEF-ANZA), which saw 400 education agents from 50 countries in Darwin who learnt about the many benefits of studying in the Territory.

Industry research shows 75 per cent of international students are recruited through agents.

The international student sector is worth $32 billion each year to the Australian economy and analysis undertaken by Deloitte in 2019 shows each student contributes an average $40,693 to the economy each year.

The September enrolment data shows that private Vocational Education and Training (VET) is leading the international student boom in the Territory, with a massive yearly increase of 131 per cent compared to the national private VET growth of 19 per cent.

 

Quotes attributable to Minister for Workforce Training, Selena Uibo.

“The Territory Labor Government’s number one priority is jobs for Territorians.

“By attracting more international students to the Territory, we are helping to support locals by diversifying the economy, growing the population and supporting local jobs.

“The 600 extra international students in the past year have contributed millions more dollars to the Territory economy, so it is important the upward growth trend continues.

“Encouragingly, this data shows it’s not just our near neighbours coming to study here.

“For the first time, Brazilian students are in the top 10 countries of origin, studying Vocational Education and Training (VET) and English language courses.

“Additionally, the new Charles Darwin University campus in the Darwin CBD, part of the historic $200 million bilateral City Deal, will make university study here even more attractive.

 

Media contact: Kim Stephens 0417 683 144

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