- Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills
Latest figures on international student numbers provide strong recognition of the quality of Australia’s vocational education sector according to Assistant Minister for Vocational Education and Skills Karen Andrews.
“Overall, the number of enrolments by international students in various forms of education in Australia rose by nearly 70,000, or 10.9 per cent, to 712,884 in 2016,” Minister Andrews said.
“Encouragingly, an increasing number of students are choosing to enrol in vocational education with enrolments jumping 11.6 per cent to 187,801.
“This is terrific acknowledgement of our world class vocational education system and the quality of providers on offer in Australia.” Minister Andrews said.
The 2016 International Student Survey showed India topping the list of nationalities among international VET students with 14.7 per cent, South Korea with 8.6 per cent, followed by Thailand (8.3%), China (7.4%) and Brazil (6.0%).
The VET sector accounted for 26.3 per cent of total international student enrolments and 28.9 per cent of commencements in Australian education.
“Encouragingly, a 2016 national survey of international students in VET revealed 87 per cent were confident their education in Australia will lead to a good job,” Minister Andrews said.
“This is a strong vote of confidence in our vocational education system in which more than four million Australians are enrolled.
“The Turnbull Government is focused on raising the status of VET as a valued and desirable pathway to a job and career.
“These new figures show it’s also growing as a valued Australian export and I am confident that will continue.
“Since becoming Assistant Minister I have visited a number of vocational education institutions and organisations that are actively working to attract overseas students and establish themselves in countries around the world that are looking to build a skilled workforce.
“This will produce long term benefits for our vocational education system and the Australian economy,” Minister Andrews said.