$2.47bn international education boom in SA following Covid restrictions
International student enrolments are up, even on pre-Covid numbers as part of a $2.47bn sector boom.
SA News
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The South Australian international education sector has bounced back and even grown since a slump during Covid when border closures prevented students from coming to the state.
International education is the third largest export sector in the state, worth $2.47bn annually to the economy, latest figures from StudyAdelaide have revealed.
There are more than 54,000 international student enrolments in SA, up about 9000 from figures prior to border closers arising from the pandemic.
Higher education accounts for 50 per cent of the international student cohort, with 32 per cent studying a VET course and English language instruction makes up 11 per cent.
About four per cent of international students are in South Australian high schools and three per cent are in non-award pathways.
StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said students have flocked to SA from abroad because of its “welcoming environment”.
“International students often comment that that’s something that they love about South Australia,” Ms Johnston said.
“What we hear from students is that in South Australia, we get international students close to opportunities in the community, but also in terms of being able to learn from experts in their classroom.”
Growth in the sector can also be in part, attributed to word of mouth.
“The biggest promoter is the student and they are also ambassadors back home” she said.
“When they’re going out and exploring South Australia they’re sending those images, they’re sending those amazing experiences back home.”
About 63 per cent of international students’ family and friends have visited or intend to visit South Australia.
On each international flight arriving in Adelaide, about 13 per cent of the passengers are students from abroad.
“That driver in terms of what they’re doing for the economy is far more than what is just going to focus on the institutions,” Ms Johnston said.
The key to further growth in the sector, Ms Johnston said, is to “promote the opportunities for international students while they are here”.
“That’s on everybody in South Australia to be understanding the value of this sector,” she said.
“It’s considering as a South Australian, how international students can be welcomed into your community is one way that we can make sure South Australia remains on the map.”
But the state faces challenges in drawing students to SA as it is “competing on the global stage”.
“It is about making sure that Adelaide is top of mind when an international student and their families are considering where in the world they will study,” Ms Johnston said.
She also highlighted the merger between the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide and the establishment of a city campus at Flinders University as drawcards for potential international students.
Flinders University vice-president and pro vice-chancellor Sebastian Raneskold called the new campus “a watershed moment” for the higher education sector.
“Flinders University is uniquely positioned to embrace the resurgence of the international student sector, marked by the recent opening of our new Flinders City Campus,” Mr Raneskold said.
The location of the new campus, at Festival Plaza and located next to Adelaide Railway Station, makes it easy to access for international students, ensuring “seamless travel”.
And having students from overseas benefits more than the economy, Mr Raneskold said.
International students enrich “our social and cultural fabric” and are “unlocking future opportunities for our state on the international stage”.
“It cannot be overstated just how important it is to make international students feel welcome and valued,” Mr Raneskold said.
Deputy Premier Susan Close said international education is “an important pillar” of the SA economy and that “it is pleasing to see it bounce back”.
Dr Close said the students are a boost to the state “by attracting family and friends to our state and play a key role in growing the number of international flights into Adelaide”.
But, the state must not become too reliant on the same source countries, Opposition education spokesman John Gardner warned.
Before Covid hampered growth in the industry, the state was diversifying its source countries from where international students were drawn.
This diversification is key to building a more resilient sector, he said.
“Having students come to South Australia from a wider range of different countries enhances the cultural benefits of the program, it builds a wider network of advocates and contacts for our state around the world,” Mr Gardner said.
“It also protects the long term resilience of our international student sector from short term or isolated issues in any specific market.
“Going forward it is important we keep that diversification strategy going.”
International students play a “crucial role” in attracting new airline services, Adelaide Airport managing director Brenton Cox said. “The growth in international student numbers in South Australia plays a very important role in our ability to attract more international airlines to Adelaide,” Mr Cox said.
Making the most of Adelaide
International graduate Vrinda Bhutani chose Adelaide over Melbourne before moving to the state from India in 2019.
Ms Bhutani, 23, said she “cannot recommend” South Australia enough to her friends back home because of the state’s liveability and welcoming nature.
“I thought if I go to Melbourne it would be quite expensive for me and I would have to look for jobs,” the Flinders University finance and economics graduate said.
“In terms of prices for everything it’s quite reasonable and students can survive.”
After graduating university in 2022, she quickly won a temporary role with loans company Plenti.
She also brought her family to SA in December to see popular tourist destinations such as Victor Harbor, the Barossa Valley and Harbour Town for shopping.
“They saw Adelaide in a very different lens and December was the best time to come here,” Ms Bhutani, 23, said.
And she has taken advantage of the vibrant arts scene in SA.
“I did arts in my school (in India) and then I realised South Australia is called the festival state,” she said.
Through networking in the arts community, last year she performed in the Fringe Show The Good Immigrant, a comedy about the journey of immigrants to SA.
This year, she acted in the show, A Girl which is about “female empowerment and the struggle for women all over the world”.
“I never in my wildest dreams thought I’d be performing in a different language, to a different audience in a different country,” Ms Bhutani said.
Becoming part of the community
Chinese university student Max Wang feels it is his duty to volunteer during his time in South Australia.
“Even though I’m not Australian, I live here so when I see some people need help, I like to help out,” Mr Wang, 20, said.
He came from China to Adelaide for the first time in 2019 for his sister’s graduation and then Mr Wang was sold on the idea of studying in SA.
In 2022 he came back to Adelaide and finished his secondary schooling at Eynesbury College in the CBD before starting an engineering degree at The University of Adelaide in July last year.
About a year ago, he began volunteering with the SES Eastern Suburbs unit.
“The teamwork here is just amazing, you can learn a lot of English here,” Mr Wang said.
“When I first joined you didn’t have a uniform and all other people were wearing uniforms.
“But all the other members came up to me and told me don’t be shy and to ask questions.”
Mr Wang said his first call-out was a memorable one, tending to a tree which had fallen on power lines near his Norwood SES unit.
“It was pretty exciting, I’ll remember my first call-out for the rest of my life,” he said.
Mr Wang is a part of the 37 per cent of international students who spend their free time volunteering according to StudyAdelaide data.
“They’re an amazing group in terms of getting into the community,” StudyAdelaide chief executive Jane Johnston said.
“They become really valuable members of those volunteering teams, but they also bring a different set of diversity experiences and skill sets into those volunteering organisations.”
Students from abroad are filling gaps that otherwise may have been left open.
“They are plugging essential volunteering roles in a number of different organisations,” Ms Johnston said.
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