International Students

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (15:13): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about international education.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: International education is an important contributor to the state's economy. Can the minister inform the chamber about a recent international student delegation to South Australia?

The Hon. G.E. GAGO (Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills, Minister for Science and Information Economy, Minister for the Status of Women, Minister for Business Services and Consumers) (15:13): I thank the honourable member for his important question. I am pleased to advise the chamber that, as part of the Brazilian government's global science program, Science without Borders, the University of South Australia will welcome 120 Brazilian students to Adelaide, providing them with an invaluable opportunity to increase their science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills.

The Brazilian government's Science without Borders program, established in 2011, provides up to 100,000 scholarships to undergraduate students from Brazil to support one year of study at colleges and universities throughout the world. Students will complete their degrees in Brazil.

As part of that program, the Brazilian government is funding 75,000 scholarships, while 26,000 are funded by the Brazilian private sector. The scholarships cover the international airfare, a monthly stipend, housing and living costs, and health insurance. I understand that the Brazilian students have either undertaken or will undertake English language studies at TAFE SA before selecting a STEM program from UniSA from their undergraduate degree.

This excellent program not only supports the government's commitment to growing our international educational programs and that particular sector but also our STEM commitments, which are major priority areas for this government. The state government, via its STEM strategy, is a key driver in the promotion of vital science, technology, engineering and mathematics outcomes for South Australians, and the government's Destination Adelaide plan is also aimed at increasing international student numbers in STEM fields of education.

Our Destination Adelaide plan seeks to strengthen, support and grow our international education sector. In welcoming 120 international Brazilian students and possibly their families to Adelaide, this project will bolster international student numbers as well as showcase South Australia to Brazil, a market that has enjoyed promising growth in recent years. In 2014, Brazil was South Australia's seventh-largest market for international students, with enrolments growing by—would you believe—67.5 per cent, from 607 to 1,017. The majority of this increase is attributed to the ELICOS English language courses and non-award sectors, growing by 56 per cent and 306 per cent respectively.

While the state government's Destination Adelaide plan is focused on China, Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, its objectives are adaptable to any region and, with modest yet healthy growth in student numbers, Brazil may prove a significant market in the future. With worldwide demand for education continuing to increase and the number of mobile students expected to reach 7 million by 2025, South Australia is well positioned to capitalise on this growth, and we will continue to welcome delegations such as these to South Australia.