Premier of South Australia

South Australia’s booming international education industry is now worth $648 million, with record numbers of overseas students continuing to pour into Adelaide.

Further Education Minister Paul Caica says latest figures show that Adelaide attracted almost 23,000 international students in the 10 months to October this year, a rise of 3,000 students on the same time last year, representing a 14.5 per cent increase.

“The new Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the rise in our numbers of international students has boosted South Australia’s education exports by as much as 18 per cent over the last year, supporting over 3,000 local jobs”, Minister Caica said.

“This has taken our annual export income from this industry from $549 in the previous year to $648 million this year, with international education now ranking as the State’s biggest service export and the fourth biggest export earner overall.

“By year’s end, Adelaide will have hosted more than 23,500 overseas students – an excellent result when you consider that the figure was just 11,000 in 2002.

“These results further reinforce the Rann Government’s strategy to grow the state’s international education industry and position Adelaide as Australia’s learning city.

“Great strides have been made in recent years including the attraction of world renowned institutions to South Australia with Carnegie Mellon University from the US and Cranfield University and the Royal Institution of Great Britain from the UK.”

The state’s top 10 markets for international students are now – in order - China, India, Malaysia, South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, Singapore and Thailand.

Minister Caica says that as the State’s biggest source markets, China and India now account for 45 per cent of all international students to Adelaide.

Our fastest growing markets this year have been Vietnam (up 40%); India (up 30%); China and South Korea (both up 19%).

“South Australia leads the nation in industry collaboration in this area, with State Government agencies, particularly Education Adelaide, continuing to work with the Adelaide City Council, universities and more than 30 member- institutions to brand Adelaide as a study ‘destination’ in key overseas markets.

“Key initiatives this year have been the development of a state-wide International Education Industry Plan - the first of its kind in Australia - and the establishment of an industry ‘round table’ to drive growth in the English language and vocational education & training sectors,” he says.

In coming months, a new StudyAdelaide website will be launched in key overseas markets, and a 64-page glossy magazine will be published to further promote Adelaide as a dynamic, affordable international study destination.