- Published:
- Thursday 19 May 2016
Victoria’s higher education sector is forging new partnerships in South East Asia with two of the state’s leading universities signing ground-breaking agreements with Malaysian institutions.
Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert, oversaw the signing of the Memoranda of Understanding between Swinburne University and University of Malaya, and RMIT and UCSI University in Kuala Lumpur this morning.
The signings took place at the inaugural Victorian-ASEAN Higher Education Forum, launched by the Andrews Labor Government and the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities.
The forum is driving sector collaboration, opening up new markets and building capacity and partnerships between Victorian and South-East Asian institutions.
The deal between Swinburne and University Malaya will see the two collaborate on research, the supervision of PhD students and facilitate experts from both universities to work on projects and joint publications.
The signing between RMIT and UCSI will create new vocational education qualifications in health-care and aging, delivery of non-award short courses and exploring jointly badged programs.
Swinburne also signed an MoU with ICAN College in Malaysia which will see graduates further their study in Victoria in areas of business, business information systems and accounting.
The agreements highlighted the great opportunities for Victoria’s world-leading education and training sector to link with partners in the South East Asian region to foster innovation into the future.
Mr Herbert is visiting South East Asia to further Victoria’s reputation as a leading international education destination and to open up new markets.
The Labor Government has identified international education as one of the six key priority growth sectors that it is supporting through its $200 million Future Industries Fund.
The Victorian Budget 2016/17 included $32 million to drive continued growth in international education and to help implement the International Education Sector Strategy.
International education is Victoria’s number one service export, generating $5.6 billion dollars for the local economy while supporting more than 30,000 jobs across the state.
Quotes attributable to the Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert
“The Andrews Labor Government is investing in Victoria’s leading services export sector so we can strengthen partnerships with our neighbours in South-East Asia.”
“I commend both Victorian universities for striking these deals that are invaluable to the future of higher education in the state.”
“International education plays a crucial role in creating jobs, keeping our economy strong and driving the innovation that is pivotal to our success.”