The Gold Coast will host the 2027 Australian International Education Conference (AIEC), with more than 2,000 delegates expected to descend on the city from 9–12 November, bringing one of the sector’s largest annual gatherings back to Queensland.
The announcement marks the third time the Gold Coast has hosted AIEC, following previous conferences in 2005 and 2022. The 2027 event will be delivered in partnership with Study Queensland, part of Trade and Investment Queensland, and jointly presented by IDP Education and the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA).
AIEC has become a fixture on the international education calendar, bringing together representatives from higher education, vocational education, English language and schools, alongside government, researchers and industry organisations. Its value, however, extends beyond the conference program. It provides an opportunity for the sector to take stock of where it is heading, debate policy settings and, perhaps most importantly, reconnect across an industry that increasingly needs a coordinated voice.
For Queensland, securing the conference is also about positioning. The state is keen to showcase its international education credentials and strengthen its global relationships ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training Ros Bates said international education was one of the state’s great strengths, creating opportunities and building lasting connections with the world.
Those connections will become increasingly important as Queensland prepares for the international attention that comes with hosting the 2032 Games. The challenge will be ensuring that the attention translates into lasting education partnerships, rather than simply another opportunity to showcase the state to an international audience.
The Gold Coast is making a similar case for its place in Australia’s international education landscape. Experience Gold Coast Head of Education Matt Boyd said international students contribute more than $1.7 billion annually to the local economy, describing the conference as an opportunity to highlight the city’s education ecosystem, research and innovation capabilities.
The economic contribution is significant, but the conference also offers something less easily measured. Bringing more than 2,000 industry participants to the city puts local institutions and education organisations in direct contact with international decision-makers, potentially opening doors to partnerships, research collaboration and new student markets.
For the Gold Coast, AIEC 2027 offers another opportunity to demonstrate that its international education ambitions extend well beyond its beaches and tourism credentials. For the wider sector, it will be another important opportunity to come together at a time when international education continues to navigate significant policy, market and reputational challenges.
