News and Opportunities
Austrade update 7 March 2012
07 Mar 2012
Austrade Update provides news about recent Austrade activities of interest to the education sector.
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Austrade Manila holds agent briefing session
Austrade Manila has held a briefing session for Philippine education agents. Key topics of the session included developments from the Knight Review, the Future Unlimited brand and the performance of the Philippine market.
Austrade opened the session with a presentation on trends in the Philippine market, particularly in growth in sectors such as higher education and VET, and popular fields of studies for Filipino students. The session also covered government initiatives during the past year to maintain Australia’s competitiveness as an international study destination, including new guidelines on the use of the Future Unlimited brand. The main topic was the Knight Review on Student Visas, which was co-presented by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Other topics included a process for registering for nursing programs through the Australian Health Practitioners Agency (AHPRA) and Nursing and Midwifery Council. A networking activity followed the formal sessions.
Based on the feedback, the agents appreciated the up-to-date information provided and the platform for discussion on important issues relating to their role in promoting Australian education providers. The Philippines is a growing market for Australian education, and education agents play a key role in recruiting students. More than one-third of students from the Philippines are sourced through agents.
Benjie Garcia, Education Manager for Manila, delivers a presentation during the education agent briefing session.
Austrade talks up Australian education at International School Manila
Austrade Manila recently delivered presentations to students in Years Nine and 10 at the International School Manila’s university night.
The presentation highlighted the quality and strengths of Australian education, with a focus on higher education. It was delivered at the International School Manila (ISM), an American school offering the International Baccalaureate (IB) diploma, as part of the school’s University Night . The event is designed to provide information and guidance to students and parents about the different study options available. Other study destination countries including the USA, Canada, and UK along with European nations were represented.
Three sessions on Australia as an education destination were simultaneously conducted for around 100 students and parents during the event. The audience was composed of Filipino and foreign nationals including Americans, Europeans and South Koreans. Participants expressed keen interest in Australia and its universities as study destinations.
ISM is a private, independent school in Manila accredited by both the US-based Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), and the Council of International Schools (CIS). The school delivers both the IB and US high school diplomas. There are approximately 700 students at ISM, the majority of whom are expected to pursue further studies overseas. The breakdown of the study body by nationality is:
- North American (27 per cent)
- European (12 per cent)
- Asian-Pacific (59 per cent)
- other (2 per cent).
Austrade maintains a good relationship with ISM, regularly bringing university groups to the school or inviting ISM guidance counsellors and students to Austrade-organised activities such as exhibitions and missions to Australia.