Tasmania’s Government schools are growing international student enrolments at a higher rate than the Australian national average and the Hodgman Liberal Government wants to keep this trend going.
In the 2014-15 year, enrolments of international students in Tasmanian government schools grew 17.5 per cent, compared to the national growth of 13.5 per cent.
There is also a growing number of international students at the University of Tasmania. In 2013 there were approximately 3,200 international students, which the University indicates increased to 3600 in 2014.
This is great for local jobs and the local economy, with the Australian Government estimating the total benefits to the Tasmanian economy from international students in 2014 was $153 million.
This includes student spending in grocery stores, the rental market and cafes in the communities surrounding our education institutions and across the state, offshore earnings from educational services and royalties and education-related personal travel.
Across our schools and TasTAFE campuses there are full fee paying international students enrolled in six colleges, seven high schools and five primary schools, as well as more than 26 VET courses across Hobart, Launceston and Devonport TasTAFEs.
China is one of our top source countries for international students, and there is significant potential for growth as the friendship between Tasmania and China strengthens.
There are also students from 18 other countries in our schools, including Japan, Thailand and India. What’s particularly important to note here is the extraordinary cross-cultural enrichment and understanding that international students bring to our communities.
A strategic approach has been adopted in marketing, recruiting and promoting education in Tasmanian government schools and TasTAFE to an international audience through a collaboration of Government Education and Training International, and Study Tasmania.
This is continuing to prove a fruitful partnership that’s creating a strong and competitive international education brand for Tasmania that is earning the trust of overseas education agents.
The Hodgman Liberal Government has a plan to build on our International student numbers in our Univeristy as well. Our new partnership agreement with the University of Tasmania will have a strong focus on international education and growing its contribution to the state’s economy.
I look forward to continuing to support the growth of international education in Tasmania.
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