Up to200 education agents from 50 countries are this week in Darwin forAustralasias biggest annual study fair, as the Northern Territory accelerates effortsto grow its share of the lucrative international student market.
Tocoincide with the International Consultants Education Fair Australia and NewZealand Agents (ICEF-ANZA) fair being held at the Darwin Convention Centre thisweek, Minister for Workforce Training Selena Uibo today officially launched theTerritory Labor Governments International Education and Training Strategy.
The seven-yearplan is a key component of the Territory Labor Governments blueprint foreconomic recovery through economic diversification, population growth and localjob creation.
Itaims to grow the population of international students in the NT from 2500 to 10,000by 2025, which will boost the markets current $91 million economiccontribution to more than $300 million.
Theindustry is worth $32 billion per year to the Australian economy and analysisundertaken by Deloitte in 2017 showed each international student spends anaverage $37,400 each year.
Thereare three main pillars of the strategy:
Showcasing the Territory as a study destinationby promoting education and training opportunities internationally and expandingthe study tour market
Enriching the Territory international studentexperience by better connecting students to community and employers and bettersupporting their health and wellbeing
Strengthening and growing the Territorysinternational education and training sector
MsUibo launched the strategy on the first day of the ICEF-ANZA event at theDarwin Convention Centre, a key business-to-business trade fair that will comprehensivelyinform education agents and travel professionals from across the world of themany benefits of studying in the Territory.
Industryresearch shows about 75 per cent of international students are recruitedthrough agents.
Leadingup to the event, the Department of Trade, Business and Innovation hostedfamiliarisation tours for agents that showcased the education, tourism,cultural and lifestyle benefits of studying and living in the NorthernTerritory.
Thefair comes a month after Ms Uibo led a trade delegation to the Territorys twolargest international student import markets India and Nepal to buildrelationships with those two countries and promote the benefits of studying inthe Northern Territory.
As stated by Minister forWorkforce Training, Selena Uibo.
TheTerritory Labor Governments number one priority is jobs for Territorians andmore people means more local jobs.
Internationaleducation is already the Territorys third largest service industry exportsector and growing it to 10,000 students by 2025 will more than triple thesectors contribution to our economy.
Darwinsgeographic position gives it a competitive advantage in the rapidly growingAsian markets, which already make up nine out of the top 10 countries of originfor the NTs international students.
Additionally, the new Charles Darwin Universitycampus in the Darwin CBD, part of the historic $200million bilateral City Deal, will make studying here evenmore attractive to our closest neighbours.
TheTerritory provides international students with world class education andtraining in a safe and welcoming environment.
Inreturn, they strengthen cultural, social and economic ties, and contribute tovibrant economic, social and cultural precincts.
