Australian govt annouces $41M package to boost international education

The Australian government has pledged AU$41.2 million to promote international education, including scholarships and other forms of financial assistance for overseas students. Two scholarships programme are key initiatives of this project, i.e. the Premier’s University Scholarships and the Premier’s WA Certificate of Education Bursary.

The Australian government’s commitment to fund a new foreign education strategy is a much-needed boost for an export industry and students seeking abroad education destroyed by the COVID-19 epidemic. 

“International education is an important economic sector for Western Australia and the McGowan Government is strongly committed to supporting the industry as it continues to reconnect with international partners,” as mentioned by International Education Minister David Templeman.

The Premier’s University Scholarships will offer money for 10 one-year scholarships at AU$50,000 each year, costing a total of AU$2 million over four years, to recruit high-achieving overseas students to WA’s five universities. A total of AU$4 million will be spent over the next four years to execute the Premier’s WA Certificate of Education Bursary, which will offer AU$20,000 per year to assist 50 offshore WACE graduates from WA’s foreign partner schools.

The goverment will offer a $10 million incentive package to overseas education agents who enrol international students at a WA university. This is being done with the goal of increasing awareness of WA’s international education industry through the agent network that is a part of this policy.

Some other initiatives are included in this funding programme. For example, AU$400,000 is allocated to create a school support program to encourage international students studying within the school’s sector to continue their student journey with a WA education provider. In addition, an AU$4.5 million boost will be given to StudyPerth, which ensures international students are welcomed and supported while studying in WA.

“Our overseas education sector has been devastated for the past two years.” the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s chief executive, Andrew McKellar, stated. He added that “funding to attract more students to study here is crucial to re-building the industry and safeguarding Australia’s economic recovery.”

The development was hailed as a “huge triumph” for the state’s foreign education sector mentioned by StudyPerth.