Australia's billion dollar international education industry has received a boost ahead of its annual conference in Perth this week, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics adding a further $2 billion to its export earnings.
Australia's billion dollar international education industry has received a boost ahead of its annual conference in Perth this week, with the Australian Bureau of Statistics adding a further $2 billion to its export earnings.
Previously valued at $7.8 billion per annum and the nation's fifth largest export industry employing an estimated 30,000 people, the latest valuation leapfrogs the sector ahead of transport exports to rank fourth, just behind tourism.
IDP chief executive Anthony Pollock said Australia's international education sector had experienced rapid growth over the past decade and the revised figure of $9.8 billion reflected this growth.
"The ABS had used figures from 1997 which showed international students spending, on average, $334 a week to calculate the previous figure," Mr Pollock said.
"The latest data, based on figures from a Department of Education, Science and Training study, shows the average weekly spend of international students is now $517.
"These latest figures have in effect added a further $2 billion in export earnings a year for the industry, only $1 billion behind our third largest exporter, tourism."
However, the total annual spend by international students in Australia is larger than $9.8 billion because the ABS figure does not include spending on international airfares, spending on students' family members who are not studying, or funds used to purchase property.
"The official statistics show there were over 340,000 enrolments by international students in Australia this year up to August," Mr Pollock said.
"Additionally, there were tens of thousands of other international visitors on non-student visas who were enrolled in English courses, and another 60,000 students were enrolled in Australian university courses offered overseas."
The Australian International Education Conference, jointly hosted by IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA),
will host up to 1,000 delegates from around the world this week in Perth.
This year, with international student numbers running nearly 10 per cent higher than in 2005, the AIEC theme will be "It's About the Students".
Conference speakers include Jimmy Pham, founder and director of Know One Teach One (KOTO) in Hanoi, and Misha Ketchell, editor of independent online media service Crikey.
A highlight of the conference will be keynote speaker Don Watson - one of Australia's most distinguished writers and public speakers.
Death Sentence, his book about the decay of public language, was a best seller and won the Australian Booksellers Association Book of the Year.
Mr Watson also wrote political satire for Max Gillies and was a speechwriter and adviser to Prime Minister Paul Keating and Victorian Premier John Cain. He also wrote feature films including The Man Who Sued God, starring Billy Connolly and Judy Davis.
Mr Pollock said the four day conference also marked the 21st anniversary of the Australian Government's decision to free up the export of education services and allow the enrolment of international students on a full fee basis.
"Over the past two decades the demand for international education has grown dramatically and education services has developed into a dynamic and exciting export industry," Mr Pollock said.
"The conference provides the perfect environment to examine the fundamental issues associated with the global international education industry and also explore global trends, competition, high level policy and quality issues."
The 2006 Australian International Education Conference will be held from 10-13 October at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre.
The four day event includes a range of workshops on topics such as trade and marketing, professional development, research, leadership, policy and innovation and student experience. Presenters come from Australia, the UK, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, New Zealand and the USA.
A trade exhibition of more than 32 companies showcasing new products and service in the industry will form part of the conference.
For information on conference registration visit www.idp.com/aiec