International Students

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS (14:41): I seek leave to make a brief explanation before asking the Minister for Employment, Higher Education and Skills a question about international students.

Leave granted.

The Hon. G.A. KANDELAARS: A number of Indonesian students recently arrived in South Australia under an Australia Awards program. Can the minister inform the chamber about this important initiative?

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) (14:41): I thank the honourable member for his important question. As I have mentioned in this place before, last year more than 30,000 international students were enrolled to study here in South Australia. With our multicultural community, our safe and sophisticated urban centre, our clean coastal location and family-friendly atmosphere, South Australia really is Australia's premier study destination. This is not to mention that South Australia is also one of the most affordable cities in Australia, being around 20 per cent more affordable than cities like Sydney and Melbourne and apparently around 5 per cent more affordable than Brisbane.

While the vast bulk of students coming to South Australia to study do so without financial support, the Australian government and the South Australian government as well as our universities are pleased to support a number of scholarship opportunities. Yesterday, I was very pleased to be invited to welcome a group of scholarship students from Indonesia to the University of South Australia. These students are in Adelaide to undertake a graduate certificate in quantitative data analysis for public policy evaluation and formulation under the Australia Awards scheme.

The Australia Awards are prestigious international scholarships and fellowships funded by the Australian government, offering the next generation of global leaders an opportunity to undertake study, research and professional development. The awards strive to develop leadership potential and stimulate lasting change by empowering a global network of talented individuals through high-quality education experiences in Australia and overseas. Recipients return home with new ideas and knowledge and the ability to make a significant contribution to their home countries as leaders in their own fields.

The University of South Australia successfully won a contract valued at more than $1 million and will deliver the graduate certificate in quantitative data analysis for public policy evaluation and formulation from October 2015 to July 2016. I understand the participants in the program are all middle to senior managers in Indonesia's ministry and that an induction workshop was held in Indonesia in September and 25 students arrived in Adelaide in October to commence their program. The program consists of relatively short courses, with a study period back in Indonesia, and is in a particularly strategic area of focus for Indonesia.

It is clear that the University of South Australia's delivery of this course is a genuine opportunity for both the university and the government to build relationships and forge stronger trade and diplomatic ties with Indonesia. Of course, Indonesia is our closest international neighbour.

The South Australian government is committed to growing our state's reputation as a leader in delivering a premium education and student experience. This is reflected in the government's South Australia-South East Asia Engagement Strategy, as well as our Destination Adelaide Plan, which I announced while in Kuala Lumpur in August this year.

We have committed to delivering a range of strategic initiatives to position South Australia as the premier destination for international students. Our vision, as part of our Destination Adelaide Plan, clearly establishes the importance of government-to-government relationships in opening up opportunities for trade, education and research.

I would like to congratulate the University of South Australia on its success in bidding to deliver Australia Awards international scholarships and I wish the scholarship holders a wonderful and rewarding experience during their stay here in Adelaide.