- Published:
- Tuesday 10 May 2016
The Andrews Labor Government is building strong educational and training links with South East Asia as part of its drive to boost trade and investment in this key sector to create jobs for Victorians.
Minister for Training and Skills, Steve Herbert, who also has responsibility for international education, will tomorrow start a ten day education mission to Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia to build Victoria’s access to these international education markets.
The trip will also strengthen Victoria’s position as a leading education destination and will foster new partnerships between Victoria and South East Asia.
The trip will include the launch of the inaugural Victoria-Southeast Asia Higher Education Forum in Kuala Lumpur, jointly hosted by the Victorian Government and the Malaysian Association of Private Colleges and Universities.
The forum will drive higher education collaboration, capacity building and partnerships between Victorian institutions and their counterparts in the region.
Mr Herbert will meet with government, industry and institutional representatives from higher education and VET sectors and will spearhead a number of significant signings of deals for the Victorian education sector.
More than 175,000 international students study in Victoria, with more than 13,000 Vietnamese students, 10,000 Malaysian students and more than 5,000 students from Indonesia.
International education is Victoria’s largest services export sector, generating $5.6 billion for the state’s economy in 2015. It also supports 30,000 jobs.
The Victorian Budget 2016/17 included $32 million to drive continued growth in the international education sector. It will also be used to help implement the International Education Sector Strategy.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Training and Skills Steve Herbert
“International education is crucial to the Victorian economy, so we’re getting on with attracting more students to our state, opening up new markets and driving new partnerships with institutions across the region.”
“The best way to boost links with other countries is by being on the ground, talking with those involved in the education industry.”
“We have strong relationships with our South East Asian neighbours in education and there are great opportunities for further collaborations that will benefit us all.”