“We see similarities between our New Zealand university partners and the University of Tasmania”

The agreement sees the Australian university join part of ACG’s growing Asia Pacific network, which includes schools and providers in Vietnam and Indonesia.

“We have 21 years’ experience in the provision of pathways courses and currently educate more than 1,000 international pathways students each year,” said ACG chief executive Mark Rushworth.

“I firmly believe we can be a transformative partner – supporting and enhancing the University of Tasmania’s globally relevant focus.”

Speaking with The PIE News, chief marketing sales and marketing officer Marnie Watson said ACG was looking forward to exporting their New Zealand experience to Australia.

“The University of Tasmania is a very special opportunity for us given our strong track record of delivering international student growth to New Zealand, which is arguably a more difficult geographic destination to sell,” she said.

“We see similarities between our New Zealand university partners and the University of Tasmania, given the need to position the offering against east coast Australian universities with significantly larger international cohorts.”

The agreement, which came after an extensive tender process, will see ACG enter a market already dominated by several big name third-party providers for the first time, and Watson said the company’s focus on bespoke partnerships would lead its position.

“Being proudly a niche provider who is successful in terms of size of recruitment and academic outcomes … that’s our difference and why we believe we can come to Australia and do this differently,” she said.

“A pathway provider is only successful when it has the closest relationship possible with the university partner.”

Last year, ACG Education recruited 3,000 international students to its various schools, pathways and vocational programs.