The International Education and Training Strategy 2019-2025 sees ‘the Top End’ region seek 10,000 international students through the three aims of improving the student experience, destination marketing and strengthening growth of the sector.

“It’s not just about whether they get their degree or not, it’s the whole student experience”

“The new International Education and Training Strategy 2019-2025 supports the Northern Territory Government’s commitment to attract people to the Territory,” said Sibylle Brautigam, Department of Trade, Business and Innovation deputy chief executive.

“It provides a framework for international education providers, Territory, national and international partners who look for stability and reassurance.”

The new strategy also sees the Northern Territory’s international education industry reposition itself five years after the release of its 2014-2024 plan.

Brautigam told The PIE News that the industry had seen significant change since 2014, and a new strategy was needed to meet the demands of international students.

She added the document, which was developed through collaboration with educators and business, had already received strong buy-in from Territorians.

“Territory employers welcome international students, as casual employees while they’re studying, as interns as part of their studies, and, with the right visa, for post-study work in the area of their qualifications,” she said.

Andrew Everett, deputy vice-chancellor global strategy and advancement of Charles Darwin University, said the release of new strategy fell in line with his university’s plans to also increase student numbers and was supportive of the student experience aspirations of it.

“We’re doing everything we can, we’ve recently reinvigorated our stadium structure and so on… so there’s different things we’re putting in place to make sure that it’s the whole student experience,” he told The PIE.

“It’s not just about whether they get their degree or not, it’s the whole student experience, it’s the lifestyle, so we’re doing everything we can to put the infrastructure in place to make sure that they return home very well.”