I didn’t begin my career as a CEO. Like thousands of others in international education, I began in a classroom. I entered the English language teaching profession with little more than a backpack, curiosity and an ambition to see the world.
Over the next three decades I taught English in Australia, Taiwan, China, Japan and Vietnam. I witnessed countless students arrive with excitement, anticipation and hope.
The classrooms I taught in were microcosms of the world: Swiss professionals beside Japanese university students; French backpackers, Brazilian gap-year travellers, Korean graduates, Thai business owners and Chinese school leavers all learning together. They weren’t just discovering Australia; they were quietly shaping the trajectories of their future lives.
English language colleges have never simply taught grammar or vocabulary; they have been Australia’s front door. For decades they have welcomed people from every corner of the globe, helping them navigate Australian life, creating lifelong friendships, encouraging international understanding and quietly building one of Australia’s greatest soft power assets.
Students change Australia just as much as Australia changes them. I saw this transformation both as a teacher and later while managing education agencies in Vietnam. Over the years, as source countries evolved, large numbers arrived from China, then Latin America and Thailand. European students continued to choose Australia for working holidays and language study. Each new wave brought different perspectives and vibrant energy to our cities.
Walk through Melbourne on any day and you can hear dozens of languages spoken by students exploring laneways, cafes and universities. They support local businesses, fill classrooms, work in hospitality and tourism, and contribute billions to the Australian economy.
Yet for those of us who have spent our careers in this sector, there is a growing sense that something precious is slipping away. The dramatic increase in Australia’s student visa fees has fundamentally altered the equation. Since 2022, the student visa application fee has risen from $650 to $2,500, an increase of 285% in just four years. While English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) students currently pay $2,050, even that amount can easily exceed the cost of a short English language course.
For many prospective students, particularly those seeking to improve their English before further study or simply wishing to experience Australia, the visa has become one of the most expensive parts of the journey. It is undeniably changing behaviour. Students who once looked to Australia are increasingly considering other destinations, study English at home or simply deciding not to travel at all.
Behind every declining intake is an English teacher whose classes become smaller, an administrator whose role becomes uncertain, a homestay family with an empty room and a local café serving fewer customers
Behind every declining intake is an English teacher whose classes become smaller, an administrator whose role becomes uncertain, a homestay family with an empty room and a local café serving fewer customers.
International education has always been about much more than economics – it is one of Australia’s greatest diplomatic strengths. Every student who returns home with positive memories becomes an ambassador for our country. Many go on to become business leaders, educators, entrepreneurs and government officials. Their connection with Australia lasts a lifetime, and that goodwill cannot be measured simply in export revenue.
As someone who has spent more than 30 years in this profession as a teacher, an education manager, a recruiter and now a leader, I worry that we are undervaluing something that has taken decades to build. I still believe Australia offers one of the finest English language learning experiences anywhere in the world.
Our teachers are exceptional and our cities safe and welcoming. The ELICOS sector has welcomed the world for generations; it deserves the chance to keep doing so for generations to come.
About the author: Jake Heinrich is the CEO of RMIT University Pathways (RMIT UP), an international education provider owned by RMIT University, Australia.
Jake has held management and executive positions across a number of markets; China, Vietnam and Australia, in higher education and pathways institutions, as well as spent time at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where he was responsible for a range of international education products.
Jake joined RMIT Vietnam in 2016 as director of the School of English and University Pathways (SEUP) and commenced at RMIT UP in 2018, leading the Commercial, Operations and Finance department before being appointed CEO in September 2021.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Education (TESOL), a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD).
Jake is committed to his vision for the international education sector, striving to always offer the best of pedagogy enhanced with a rich and diverse student experience.
