- Published:
- Friday 24 June 2016
The Andrews Labor Government is forging stronger international education ties with China, with Minister for International Education Steve Herbert to travel to China tonight to drive new research and training partnerships.
The education mission is the first official visit for Mr Herbert under his new portfolio of International Education.
It will feature signings of agreements on new collaborations, a prominent urban water management summit, work to strengthen Victoria-China academic partnerships and tours of key international universities.
China is crucial to Victoria’s international education sector and the Labor Government is working hard to grow this key market by boosting numbers of Chinese students at Victorian universities and training institutions and developing our research engagement and student exchange.
China is Victoria’s number one source market for international students in Victoria, accounting for one-third of total enrolments with more than 50,000 Chinese students studying here.
The Labor Government’s new China Strategy has set a target of growing the numbers of Chinese postgraduate students enrolled in Victoria by 25 per cent by 2026.
The broad range of Victorian providers operating in China shows Victoria’s education and training sector is recognised for its high-quality and credibility in one of the world’s leading markets.
A key highlight of the visit will be the two-day Water Sensitive Cities Summit in the Jiangsu Province that showcases the collaboration between Monash-University’s Cooperative Research Centre for Water Sensitive Cities and China’s Southeast-University.
International Education is Victoria’s number one service based export and supports more than 30,000 jobs across the state, generating $5.6 billion dollars for the economy last financial year.
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 the Minister for International Education Steve Herbert
“International education is crucial to the Victorian economy, so we’re getting on with attracting more students to our state and driving new partnerships with institutions across the region.”
“The best way to boost links with other countries is by being on the ground, that’s why I’m heading to China to talk to the experts involved in the education and training industry.”
“The relationship that Victoria has with China is one we see as very special and the Labor Government is working to making sure this continues to grow across all markets, now and into the future.”