The Australian Government has a bit of work to do on the overseas image of Australian education. That’s no surprise. What is surprising is the lack of visible public diplomacy from the Federal Government on what is becoming a severe problem for Australia’s lucrative education export industry. Education is Australia’s top services export. It is the third largest export overall (after coal and iron ore). But, as reported by the ABC this week, the international education trade from India has been decimated.
Then, to add insult to injury, this week saw the collapse of a large private college in Sydney.
You’d think Australian Education International (the government entity responsible for international education in Australia) might be dealing with the issues in a public and prominent way. But no, here’s a snapshot of its home page as of late this afternoon.
Nothing. No hotline, no fact sheet, no information service, no contact numbers, no hints. Just a bunch of acronyms, logos and an oblique acknowledgement that something might be afoot with the invitation to apply for an 'International Student Roundtable'.
Huh?
