When our minister for tertiary education goes overseas with vice-chancellors and talks to the people in China, Indonesia or Singapore, all they want to talk about is skills, not higher education

A proposal from the Australian Workforce and Productivity Agency (AWPA) to prevent foreigners gaining permanent or temporary residency in Australia if they work as accountants could hit higher education enrolments, universities in the country have claimed. Degree-level accountancy courses attracted 28,000 or 12% of the 230,000 foreign enrolments in higher education last year.

Browns English Language School in Australia has won the top export award in the Education & Training division, beating fierce competition and earning itself widespread recognition.

Academies Australasia Group, one of Australia's oldest private education companies, has successfully acquired all or part of two more education institutions – expanding its stable of eight colleges in Australia and one in Singapore up to 10. This includes the acquisiton of Melbourne-based language college Discover English for AUS$190,000.

Australia has joined a growing list of countries looking to tap the burgeoning Indonesian student market, holding a major exhibition to promote its science education. Australia is Indonesia's number one study destination (with 17,896 enrolments in 2011) but faces competition overseas.

Overseas students who work as cleaners in Australian shopping centres are being exploited by their employers while retailers enjoy large profits, a new study has claimed. The report highlights extreme workloads, underpayment and a culture of discrimination and says internationals are less likely to complain than the rest of the workforce.

More than 10,000 Australians will be eligible for grants to study in Asia as part of a new drive to strengthen engagement with the continent. Through the AsiaBound Grants Program, students can access awards of between $2,000 and $5,000 for study exchanges, and $1,000 for preparatory Asian language study.

English Australia has joined with the Australian tourism industry to argue against a near 30% increase in the cost of the Working Holiday Visa (WHV), which it says could deter overseas language students who combine work and study in Australia. The cost of a Skilled Graduate visa, aimed at recent graduates wishing to work in Australia, is also set to quadruple.