Shining beacon lures students of the world
CAIRNS is to be showcased as the jewel in the crown of Queensland’s international education sector.
The city will host the state’s peak advisory panel on international education later this year to highlight its role in the lucrative and growing business.
Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said Cairns would hold the next meeting of the International Education and Training Advisory Panel on June 27, only the second time the group had convened outside of Brisbane.
“At our meeting in Townsville last month we put together a strategy to double the number of international students in north Queensland in the next decade,” she said.
“We believe Cairns has the potential to be the jewel in the crown of our international education industry.
“This industry is worth an estimated $70 million in export revenue and supports almost 300 jobs in the local Cairns economy.
“We know that by partnering with tertiary education providers and strengthening our links with key tourism markets that these numbers will grow strongly in the next few years.”
Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government would continue to back international education initiatives in Cairns through its International Edu- cation and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016-2026.
Ms Jones said the Palaszczuk Government was investing $25.3 million over five years to support growth in the industry.
Study Cairns president Carol Doyle said the city was moving into a new phase for the international education sector and partnerships were the key.
“Over $110 million has been committed in the past 12 months by Cairns education providers to build capability in the delivery of new courses and build student accommodation capacity,” she said.
“It is certainly exciting times for the international education sector.”
CQU’s Cairns-based associate vice-chancellor Jodie Duignan-George said Cairns had a strong international brand, an international airport with ever-expanding route connections, significantly expanded student accommodation infrastructure and a collaborative network of international education providers.
“... we are perfectly positioned to make a significant impact in the market,” she said.
“With new products, like CQU’s new aviation degree (which addresses a worldwide labour shortage) we really can make a huge splash.”
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