“International students are not statistics. They are not visa numbers. They are young people with dreams.”
That was the message from Australian International Education Consultants Association (AIECA) inaugural Chairman Gary Li, as the newly formed industry body launched in Melbourne last week, bringing together education agents, consultants and sector leaders from across Australia.
AIECA brings together Education Consultants Association of Australia (ECAA) and International Student Education Agents Association (ISEAA) and aims to establish a unified national voice for international education consultants.
Robert Parsonson, Chief Executive Officer, described AIECA as “the missing piece in the consumer puzzle” and said the association would focus on accreditation and registration of agents, and securing the ability for education agents to legally provide migration advice to student visa holders.
A key objective, he said, was for AIECA to establish itself as the peak body for education agents and “take our seat at the table”.
Victorian Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs, and Minister for Sport and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, defended the role of international education in Victoria, telling industry representatives that “international students don’t just study here, they become part of our story”.
He highlighted the importance of building an industry on integrity and good practice, and praised the role of education consultants in supporting students and strengthening connections between students and providers.
Dimopoulos also announced that the Victorian Government is refreshing its international education strategy. To be released soon, the strategy will focus on four key areas:
- Enhancing the student experience
- Driving sustainable high quality growth
- Expanding global partnerships
- Transnational education
Victoria has built a global reputation on international student experience and is determined to remain a partner of choice, Dimopoulos said.
“You have a friend in us,” he said.
The Consul General of the People’s Republic of China, Mr Fang Xinwen, described education as “one of the most important bridges connecting nations, cultures, and future generations” and said he was confident “that China and Australia can continue to deepen cooperation, not only student mobility, but also in research and innovation”.
Other speakers at the launch included Sunny Yang, Vice-President, Growth and International, Monash University, Phil Honeywood, Chief Executive Officer, International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), and Amit Shreewastav, Managing Director, Australian Insurance Services Alliance.
