Coordinating Council for International Education announced

03 Jun 2015 Media release

Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP, today announced the membership of the Coordinating Council for International Education.

The Coordinating Council will be responsible for finalising Australia’s first ever National Strategy for International Education.

“Our recently-released Draft National Strategy for International Education places international education at the heart of our nation’s economic prosperity,” Mr Pyne said.

“This is a vision that requires a coordinated and consistent approach across all levels of government. It is essential that the strategy is developed in partnership with education providers, industry and the wider community.

“The work the Council does to finalise a national strategy for international education will deliver enormous benefits to the Australian community.

“It will help secure our third largest export that has so many spinoff benefits for our local communities. It will build on our relationships with other nations by educating students in and about Australia and make them lifelong advocates for our country.

“Over 130,000 jobs around Australia depend on international education.

“Our relationships overseas, particularly in Asia, are closely linked to the quality of our education services.

“This is the first time there has been one coordinating council of ministers and experts bringing together the main elements of Australian international education and training,” he said.

Minister Pyne will chair the Council which will also include other key ministers responsible for policies and programmes that support international education - the Hon Julie Bishop MP, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Andrew Robb AO MP, Minister for Trade and Investment,the Hon Ian Macfarlane MP, Minister for Industry and Science, Senator the Hon Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Senator the Hon Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training.

“The Ministers and I will be supported by six prominent education and industry experts on the Council:

  • The Hon Phil Honeywood — CEO, International Education Association of Australia
  • Ms Kate Carnell AO — CEO, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry
  • Ms Belinda Robinson — Chief Executive, Universities Australia
  • Ms Sue Blundell — Executive Director, English Australia
  • Mr Bill Spurr AO — Chair, Education Adelaide
  • Mr Malcolm White — Acting CEO, TAFE Directors Australia.

“As a first step towards finalising the National Strategy for International Education, the Council will convene two roundtables, to be held at Parliament House, Canberra, on 18 June and 13 August 2015.

“The roundtables will be a platform for consulting with the international education community, and to get everyone working together to make Australian international education the best in the world,” Mr Pyne said.

The Draft National Strategy for International Education is at https://internationaleducation.gov.au/International-network/Australia/InternationalStrategy/Pages/National-Strategy.aspx