Deakin Geelong has welcomed efforts from the State Government to attract more students from China with the university experiencing a fall in student enrolments post-Covid.
Tertiary education was a focus of a recent visit to China by Premier Jacinta Allan.
Education is Australia’s fourth biggest export and the number one export industry for Victoria, pumping hundreds of millions into the Commonwealth and State economies.
However, a proliferation of universities in China and an increased in the costs of student visas have been attributed to a decline in numbers.
Deputy Vice Chancellor Partnerships David Halliwell says while the Chinese cohort is smaller, international enrolments across its campuses remain buoyant.
“In terms of Geelong, we have about three-and-a-half thousand students at our two Geelong campuses; either at Waurn Ponds or Waterfront,” he said.
“But of those only 221 are from China. So, we’re refocusing on growing our numbers a little bit out of China”.
Halliwell is a big supporter of international students furthering theor education at Deakin or other Australian universities and colleges.
“International students really do enrich the education experience and I think they make an important part of the university ecosystem in Australia.
“At Deakin, we have a strong focus of diversity with our international cohort and I think our campuses are better for it.”
It has yet to be seen whether the Premier’s ‘good will’ tour of China has brought results for Deakin Geelong.
