Candidates were asked to submit a one minute video on how they would promote Queensland as a study or tourism destination and show how a gap year would benefit their careers.

The winners will be required to document their journeys through their own social media networks over the next 12 months.

“The students will aim to establish positive industry relationships between their country and Queensland”

Queensland Treasurer and Minister for Trade Tim Nicholls said the students will be “ambassadors” for the state working to “establish and maintain positive industry relationships between their country and Queensland.”

International education is Queensland’s fourth largest export and the campaign targeted students in the state’s top student source markets: Brazil, Columbia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea. A prize was awarded to a student in each country.

“While everyone has heard of Sydney, not everyone has heard of Brisbane, Cairns or the Gold Coast,” Patrick Hafenstein from the International Education and Training Unit of Trade and Investment Queensland told The PIE News.

“The aim of the campaign was to get prospective international students or working holiday makers to consider Queensland as their preferred destination.”

The campaign ran between April and May this year and received over 300 applications, 150,000 votes and 42,000 likes on its Facebook page.

Hafenstein explained that almost AUS$500,000 was raised from 37 sponsors, the majority of which are ELICOS centres, which he described as a “great feeder” to VET and HE sectors.

“English is an important part of every student’s ‘gap year’ and we feel that this campaign is an amazing opportunity to showcase Queensland as study, work & travel destination for young people,” commented Anna France of Langports a school which sponsored two scholarships for two months of English studies to the campaign.

“We have contributed to ideas for next year and hope that students from more countries can get involved,” she said. “We would like to see some European countries like France, Italy and Spain be involved.”

After the initiative’s success, Hafenstein said there has been “very strong support” for future campaigns from current and prospective sponsors and  Queensland’s International Education and Training Unit is planning to launch a similar project in 2015.