Shannon Willoughby, CEO at Study Gold Coast, explained to guests that she was keen to push the “smart” that was as important as “sun, surf and sand”.

She nodded to recent rankings that featured Gold Coast institutions in prominent positions, such as THE’s Best Small Universities in the World (Bond University, 20th) and the individual rankings for QS’s hospitality and leisure management courses, which profiled Griffith Business School as number nine in the world and top in Australia.

“Australia’s sixth largest city offers a range of innovative courses and globally recognised qualifications”

“Home to more than 200 international and domestic education providers, including three world-class universities and specialist institutions, Australia’s sixth largest city offers a range of innovative courses and globally recognised qualifications,” explained Willoughby.

Study Gold Coast has launched a promotional video using the strapline ‘Australia’s Favourite Classroom’ and was using the trade mission – alongside Trade Investment Queensland, Gold Coast City Council and other education stakeholders – to push its rankings credentials during the Queen’s Baton Relay in the lead up to the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games.

“It’s a win-win for everybody as we count down to the Commonwealth Games as more jobs become available and innovators seek new-world nous, learned right here on the Gold Coast. We train them here, let’s keep them here,” added city of Gold Coast mayor, Tom Tate.

More than 6,600 athletes and officials from 70 Commonwealth nations and territories will take part in 11 days of competition from April 4-15, 2018. An abundance of opportunities for student interns, jobs and volunteer experience will be on offer, while the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation will need to find around 1,400 staff and 15,000 volunteers to run the event.

During the event, the governor of Queensland, the Honourable Paul de Jersey, also pointed out that Gold Coast had “hospitality in its DNA” nodding to major investments in the area transforming Gold Coast into a welcoming innovation hub.

Di Dixon, project director at Gold Coast Health & Knowledge precinct, an emerging industry hub for research and development, told guests she is encouraging companies to take up space in the zone, which will bring companies and universities side by side to explore the potential of 3D printing in surgery and other similar initiatives.