News and Opportunities
Australia Unlimited at Spanish education fair
02 May 2012
The Australia Future Unlimited video was screened recently at AULA, Spain’s largest education trade fair, which drew almost 100 000 visitors over five days.
The Austrade-organised Australia Future Unlimited stand at AULA, Spain’s most visited education fair, this year attracted a wide range of enquiries about Australia in general and ELICOS in particular. Interest in undergraduate, postgraduate and VET pathway courses was also significant, along with opportunities to combine study and work.
Sponsored by Spain’s Ministry of Education, AULA showcases a broad range of education opportunities within Spain and internationally, serving as a contact forum between students and education institutions.
Visitors to the Australia Future Unlimited stand comprised individual high school students (Years 10, 11 and 12), university students, parents and teachers.
About 2000 Study in Australia — Contacts in Spain 2012 local language guides, together with brochures sent by Australian exhibitors, were distributed during the five-day event.
As well as the Australia Future Unlimited stand at AULA, Austrade Madrid coordinated four individual stands at Foro del Postgrado for Australian participants. FORO attracted 3600 visitors and showcased postgraduate courses offered by 82 institutions from 11 countries.
Interested postgraduate students at FORO listened to presentations from individual institutions and saw the launch of the new Australia Future Unlimited video, which drew positive feedback from both exhibitors and the assembled audience.
AULA and Foro del Postgrado gleaned extensive coverage in mainstream media and on social networking sites, with a large number of attributed articles and followings on Facebook, Twitter and the Spanish site Tuenti.
Analysis
Spain is essentially an ELICOS market for Australia, as evidenced by the large percentage of ELICOS enquiries received during AULA; and statistics which show that ELICOS accounts for 58.25 per cent of all enrolments from Spain in 2011.
There is, however, increasing interest in VET pathway courses to undergraduate and postgraduate studies, particularly in engineering, marine biology, health sciences and business administration, along with work experience opportunities related to engineering.
Knowledge and awareness of Australia’s education capabilities has increased in Spain; and there is growing interest in visiting the country. The link between studying and travelling in Australia should not be undervalued as a prime motivator for Spanish students.
The ability to work while on a student visa is also seen as a huge advantage in addition to being able to apply for the new Post Study Work Visa after completing studies. The strength of the Australian dollar, however, is a negative influence on Australia’s competitiveness as a study destination.
Initiatives such as promotional ELICOS packages have proved to be successful in attracting potential students to Australia, as has participation in education trade fairs such as AULA and Foro del Postgrado.
2013 Dates:
AULA: 13–17 February 2013
Foro del Postgrado: 14–16 February 2013