$4.5m for StudyPerth student plan

The state government will grant $4.5 million towards StudyPerth’s plan to turnaround the decline of international student numbers, which will include an alumni database, digital marketing campaign and an international student centre in the city.

The funding will be in addition to $2 million already committed over five years,after the plan was launched in February, the government said.

The government said its strategy for international students ‘aims’ to bring an additional 16,000 students to Western Australia and generate 15,500 jobs in the education sector.

Those numbers are goals, as opposed to projections.

About 20,100 international students have enrolled in Western Australia so far this year, according to the federal department of education and training.

That is about 6.2 per cent of national enrollments.

At this time in 2016, WA had a 7 per cent share, in 2017, a 6.6 per cent share, and in 2018, a 5.8 per cent share, the department’s numbers show.

StudyPerth executive director Phil Payne said the organisation welcomed the higher funding.

“International students bring great vibrancy and diversity to our community, and international students also create jobs - not just within the education sector but throughout the economy,” Mr Payne said.

“The achievement of the government’s growth targets for international education would contribute as much as $2.5 billion and about 15,500 jobs to the WA economy.”

Australian Hotels Association (WA) chief executive Bradley Woods said the international education market was an increasingly competitive sector.

“There are very clear and well known links between the international education sector and the broader tourism and hospitality industry, making today’s announcement such a welcome one,” Mr Woods said.

“Students who come to Perth to study will almost inevitably be joined by family and friends, so investing in attracting more international students will have a substantial multiplier effect for the state’s hotel and hospitality industry.”

“International students are also a critical component of the state’s hospitality workforce, so there will be a range of long term benefits that flow from today’s announcement.”

Premier Mark McGowan said Perth offered a vibrant lifestyle and a gorgeous natural environment.

"With a quality education system, Perth is an exceptional place to learn and has opportunities on offer for people to launch their professional careers,” Mr McGowan said.

“We want to welcome more international students, their families and friends to our world-class city.

"We look forward to the education sector matching the state's commitment to leverage further students into WA.

"Let's remember there was no strategy to grow international student numbers or a plan to attract international students to WA when we came to office.

“My government has been working hard to turn around the trends we inherited on international student numbers."