International Education

The Hon. P. MALINAUSKAS (15:06): 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. P. MALINAUSKAS: We know that international students bring energy and diversity, which enrich our local community as well as generate economic growth and prosperity. With the value of international education exports rising, can the minister inform the chamber of the current status of the value of the international education sector in South Australia, and what the state government is doing to grow the sector even further?

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) (15:06): I thank the honourable member for his most important question. Last year more than 30,000 international students chose to study in South Australia, and the benefits of these students extend beyond those of just the institutions in which they study. South Australia's international education exports, as measured by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, have been increasing in the last three years, and have risen to an all-time high of $1.127 billion in the 2014-15 financial year.

South Australia looks forward to welcoming even more international students. Year to date September 2015 enrolments have increased 5 per cent over the previous year, and South Australia's largest market, China, is experiencing a 10 per cent growth. We know that more than 30,000 international students enrolled to study in South Australia. This supports around 8,000 local jobs. Our international students invest in property, shop in our local businesses, visit our tourist attractions and promote South Australia to family and friends back home.

The international education sector is extremely competitive, and that is why this government is committed to investing in this growing sector, to drive economic prosperity. In 2015-16 the state budget includes $5.7 million over four years for a new campaign that will market South Australia as the destination of choice for international students. The Destination Adelaide campaign will boost South Australia's competitiveness in attracting international students from key Asian markets to our education institutions, while linking with tourism and also trade opportunities.

The Destination Adelaide campaign will focus on, among other things, marketing South Australia to key Asian markets, including China, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam and Hong Kong; developing scholarship and incentive programs; better aligning Study Adelaide campaigns with the South Australian Tourism Commission to maximise their impact; and expanding on the Qingdao ambassador campaign to Shandong.

As members may be aware, the first student Qingdao Ambassador campaign, which was launched in October last year, was a huge success. It received more than 170 million online views and attracted applications from 800 students. It was one position and 800 applicants from that region into China.

As part of the Destination Adelaide plan, the second student ambassador campaign has commenced, and it has generated over 2,200 applications. A key feature of the second campaign was the use of a video showcasing the study and lifestyle experiences of the winner of the first student ambassador, 21-year-old Wang Dan from Qingdao. This generated over 800,000 video views. It's just astounding, isn't it? There were 800,000 video views of a clip.

In early 2016, two new student ambassadors will be selected—one from Qingdao and one from the Greater Shandong province—to coincide with the 30-year anniversary of South Australia and Shandong's sister state relationship. This government is committed to growing our international student numbers, and the implementation of the Destination Adelaide campaign will mean greater exposure of South Australia to millions more potential students who, hopefully, will market South Australia as their preferred destination of study choice.