Australian International Student Tours (AIST) and Emmanual Anglican College, Ballina, got to polish their crown recently as sponsors of the Australian prize for the H.I.H Prince Takamado 75th All Japan Inter-Middle School English Oratorical Contest 2023. Princess Takamado is patron of the speech contest and is passionate about Japanese students studying language and learning English.
The winner of the contest is a lovely bright Japanese girl named Yuri who has won two-weeks study at a private school and two-weeks homestay, airport transfers and a visit to Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Qantas was the co-sponsor and will provide the return flight to Brisbane. Yuri is from Fukushima and is of Korean descent. Her speech was about bullying and all people being equal.
AIST was founded by and is headed by Tanya Ferguson. She is well-known as an advocate and spokesperson for Study Tours. She says, “Study Tours are the underestimated titan in the International education sector. These programs bring in a possibly underestimated 10’s of thousands of students to our shores every year.’
Ferguson sees study tours as a fantastic way for schools and institutions to showcase their program and campuses to potential ‘future’ students but also for those who can only afford a short study experience abroad. She talks about how these short, sharp cultural exchanges allow Australian students to meet and mix with students from all over the world.
Schools are not the only study tour providers, as universities, ELICOS, vet, and various independent providers arrange and host study tours. These groups support our homestay providers and tourism operators. It is impossible to know which students might come for a study tour and come back later for higher education or travel. “It is truly an undervalued part of our sector, “says Ferguson.
Australia has long been a popular study-travel destination. With the pandemic over, the borders open, and travel a part of everyday life, it is exciting to see the leaders in our industry meeting groups at the airport once again to introduce them to our wonderful educational system.
