News and Opportunities
Austrade update 9 November 2011
09 Nov 2011
Austrade Update provides news about recent Austrade activities of interest to the education sector.
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Austrade Indonesia Education Workshop Series 2011 — Digital Media
An education workshop, Technopreneurship as Your Future Career Option, to promote Australian education and training programs that produce leading-edge career outcomes was hosted by Austrade Indonesia recently. Delivered by an Australian academic and alumnus, the 28 September workshop was a collaborative effort with the Academy of Information Technology (AIT).
The workshop was part of a regular series to position the diversity and outcomes of Australian education and training and to promote Australia as an international education destination. The workshop series covers a variety of topics and brings together Australian academics and Australian alumni to deliver presentations in their area of expertise.
Invitations were sent to public and private senior high schools in Jakarta, with 45 students from five senior high schools attending the event.
Edward Keller, managing director of AIT, delivered a presentation called The Making of a Technopreneur. Mr Keller also provided information on AIT’s programs.
Fajar Maulana Firdaus, an Australian alumnus from Carnegie Mellon University, shared his real-life experiences and knowledge in the technopreneurship field as a software engineer at PT Yahoo! Indonesia for KOPROL. KOPROL is an Indonesian social network that has captured the interest of global internet corporations, leading to Yahoo! buying the company.
Austrade welcomes interested Australian education providers visiting the market to participate in future workshop series as an excellent opportunity to raise the profile of their programs in the market.
Institutions wishing to participate can email expressions of interest to Sovi Arinta, Business Development Manager, or Selvia Tanggara, Education Manager, Austrade Indonesia.
Mr Edward Keller, managing director of the Academy of Information Technology; Mr Fajar Maulana Firdaus, an Australian alumnus from Carnegie Mellon University who works in PT Yahoo Indonesia; and Ms Selvia Tanggara, Education Manager Austrade Indonesia education team.
Australian expertise in sports management — a growing opportunity in India
Professor David Shilbury, leading sports management leader and researcher at Deakin University, was a keynote speaker at India International Sports Summit — India’s annual sports industry conference. Professor Shilbury’s participation was coordinated by Austrade South Asia.
A key outcome of the visit was raising the profile of the high standard of sports management teaching staff in Australian universities. Answering queries specific to Deakin University, areas covered by Professor Shilbury included exploring sports management as a new-age career, Deakin’s expertise to offer dual degrees in partnership with Indian institutions, research collaborations and sports management workshops for industry, and study tours for students to Australia focused around sports management.
In preparation for Professor Shilbury’s visit to India, Austrade created a wider program to promote expertise in sports management and sports-related education and training. This included guest lectures in universities and education institutions, sporting and industry bodies and media briefings in Mumbai, Pune and New Delhi.
Professor Shilbury’s views and opinion on the role of sports governance in the development and management of sports were received positively from sports bodies, sporting industry and professionals and in the media.
For more information, please contact Kala Anand, Business Development Manager, Austrade Mumbai.
Future Unlimited on show at world’s largest agent workshop
Boasting 1941 participants representing 1298 organisations from 94 countries, the International Consultants for Education and Fairs (ICEF) Berlin Workshop is the largest education agent gathering in the world.
Held annually, this year’s record attendance was up seven per cent on 2010. Australia’s presence was significant, with the number of Australian providers equal fourth with Spain, after the UK, USA and Canada. Agents from Europe (including non-EU countries, Russia and Turkey) made up 60 per cent of all agents. Unlike student fairs and exhibitions, the ICEF Berlin Workshop is closed to the general public.
The event brought together 1000 international educators and 1000 carefully screened, high-quality student recruitment agents for 30-minute pre-booked meetings in what one attendee described as ‘the education sector’s biggest speed dating event’.
More than 30 providers from Australia’s ELICOS, VET and schools sectors attended, along with key industry groups English Australia and ACPET, who operated stands. NSW, Queensland and South Australian Government representatives joined private schools providers for back-to-back meetings from 8.30am to 7pm over two days and for a series of industry presentations on day one.
Austrade’s Trade Commissioner and Education Manager Europe, Dr Nicholas Baker, introduced Australia’s new education brand Future Unlimited, which featured on English Australia and ACPET stands, at the industry presentations, and launched the Working Holiday and Study promotional material for Europe.
Sue Blundell, Executive Director of English Australia and Claire Field, CEO of ACPET, also presented, ensuring a strong Australian presence on day one.
Recent student visa changes announced in the Knight Review generated huge agent interest, with the mood decidedly upbeat compared to 2010, according to one Australian education provider.
Given the national presence of the Canadian and the UK governments, Austrade and key education associations will explore a bigger Team Australia approach in 2012.
Some of the Australian participants from SA, Queensland and NSW (in the first row) meeting with agents during the three-day workshop.
Pakistan farewells 50 for Australia Awards study
Australian High Commissioner Timothy George bid farewell to 50 Pakistani professionals who will undertake master’s-level study at Australian universities in 2012 under the Australia Awards initiative.
Scholars will study subjects agreed by the Government of Pakistan that address key development needs in the country, including maternal, neonatal and child health, primary education, food security and agriculture. The scholarships program provides education opportunities for students from less developed areas in Pakistan, including Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas.
The scholarships target emerging leaders in Pakistan. Scholarship recipients are required to return to Pakistan after completing their studies, ensuring that they bring their newly acquired skills home to contribute to the development of their country. Many past scholarships recipients have become leaders in government, the private sector and non-government organisations.
Australia has been providing scholarships to Pakistani students since 1991, and the scholarships program highlights the strong development partnership between Australia and Pakistan. Australia’s development assistance program in Pakistan has grown steadily over the past five years, reaching A$92.8 million in 2011–12, with a focus on health, education and agriculture. Australia has also provided assistance in response to the current floods situation — on 26 September the Australian Foreign Minister, the Hon Kevin Rudd MP, announced a contribution of A$6 million. This includes support for food, shelter, health and water and sanitation activities.
The Australian High Commissioner, Mr Timothy George (centre front), bid farewell to 50 Pakistani professionals who will undertake masters-level study at Australian universities in 2012 under the Australia Awards initiative.
Providers engage with potential students at Kuwait education exhibition
Austrade Kuwait recently participated in a major student fair inaugurated by Mr Glenn Miles, Australian Ambassador to Kuwait, and IDP Kuwait officials. The event, in which 15 Australian colleges and universities participated, attracted a large crowd of visitors and media. Mohammad Imran, Business Development Manager, Austrade Kuwait, discussed with students and parents Australian education standards, programs and student visa regulations. The main goal of the exhibition was to talk to prospective students in Kuwait about Australian education.
The event occurs bi-annually to promote Australian education programs and to interact with students.
Thai school principals explore education opportunities in Australia
Facilitated by Austrade Bangkok, Australian education providers in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth recently showcased Australia as a centre of education excellence by hosting a delegation of nine school principals from the St Gabriel’s Foundation of Thailand. The delegation was led by Brother Anant Prichavudhi, Director of Assumption College in Bangkok. The two-week program ran from 5–22 October and allowed the principals to engage directly with and experience a wide range of Australian education institutions.
The principals also had the opportunity to experience Australia’s cultural and natural wonders, interact with Thai and international students in their classrooms, and learn about the range of English language and teacher training programs at each institution.
The principals enjoyed a comprehensive tour of boarding facilities, during which they asked questions and discussed topics such as anti-bullying strategies and student recruitment. The delegation also met students who were using the latest IT resources in their studies and enjoyed a presentation by teachers on IT in the classroom.
The principals returned home to Thailand with many fresh ideas. Some delegates expressed interest in teacher placements and continuing a dialogue with the Australian institutions to build on the strong friendships formed with their representatives.
A final graduation ceremony for nine principals was an opportunity to celebrate the Thai delegation’s last night in Australia and reflect on their experiences and outcomes of the program.