NEW STRATEGIES TO BENEFIT THE ACT AND ITS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

A strategy for international education in Canberra, put together through collaboration between the Canberra Business Council and key players in Canberra’s tertiary education industry, is now being discussed with the ACT Government.

The ACT Education Services Export Strategy report has identified a range of possible initiatives to ensure the sustainable growth of the second-largest source of the ACT’s export income.

The report was commissioned to advise the Council, the Government and other stakeholders about the contribution that almost 10,000 international students make to the ACT each year – around $260 million in 2008–09 plus the social and cultural benefits – and what might be done to enhance that contribution.

“Our education institutions have been very successful in their marketing, recruiting and international engagement strategies, even in recent more hard-pressed times,” said Canberra Business Council CEO, Chris Faulks.

“But our strategy is about what we call the ‘additionality dimension’ – doing what institutions wouldn’t otherwise do on their own, or what the market wouldn’t provide in response to market signals.

“It’s about getting our education institutions, government and business to work together to realise our proposed statement of ambition: that Canberra exceeds student expectations and is recognised as Australia’s education capital.”

The Strategy is built around four strategic initiatives:

  • Building collaboration and capacity;
  • Enhancing the student experience;
  • Developing Canberra’s ‘identity’ as Australia’s education capital; and
  • Strengthening infrastructure and support.

The ACT Government’s Business and Industry Development Branch is in further discussion with the CBC around the Strategy and its recommendations.

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