What’s behind the Gold Coast’s education wave makes a lot of sense

THE Gold Coast is much more than a tourist destination. It’s becoming a strong education destination for international students. Here’s why.

THE Gold Coast is achieving record international tourism numbers surfing off the back of support from South American kids.

Student numbers on the Coast increased by 15.8 per cent in 2017 with Brazil becoming the city’s largest source market, Study Gold Coast’s annual report shows.

The first Gold Coast Student Hub opened in Southport supported by a three-year funding grant by the State Government.

GOLD COAST FASTEST GROWING HUB FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS

Former Premier Rob Borbidge, the Chairman for Study Gold Coast, at Evandale briefing councillors. Picture Mike Batterham

CITY’S PATCHY INTERNET A TURN-OFF FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Study Gold Coast board chairman Rob Borbidge told Gold Coast City councillors at a presentation yesterday: “We think we’ve had a pretty good year. We have exceeded all our KPIs. We’ve hosted some 39 trade events across five countries.

“And we’ve seen more than 4000 students visit the Gold Coast Student Hub and launched a partnership fund jointly with a number of educational institutions on the Gold Coast that will see additional funding to the education and training sector.”

Data provided to councillors showed the education and training sector had added $1.75 billion to the Coast economy in 2016-17, up from $1.4 billion in 2015.

Former TAFE Queensland Gold Coast Director of Business Development Alfred Slogrove who will head up Study Gold Coast.

Study Gold Coast revealed its long-term plan was to increase the number of international students by 15,000.

Department of Education and Training data shows the Coast hosted almost 30,000 international students, up from just more than 19,000 in 2014.

Two key aims were to increase the number of Coast residents with bachelor degrees, up from 14 per cent and boost employment in the education and training sector from almost 22,000 to 41,300 in 2024.

Education is the city’s fifth employing sector but the Study Gold Coast sees it strengthening to third position or even higher.

Study Gold Coast’s new CEO Alfred Slogrove told the Bulletin other countries would be targeted for student growth to build on the strength of Brazil.

“China is obviously going to be a market that continues to grow for us,” he said. “I think there’s an opportunity for us to look at India, that needs to be managed.

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“South American markets are growing for us. With Brazil, there’s obviously the linkage with the language, it’s an easier transition, likewise the climate and the lifestyle of the Gold Coast is appealing for people.”

Mr Slogrove, the former TAFE Queensland business development director, said his team was not just focusing on overseas students seeking the Coast as an education destination.

Study Gold Coast would work to improve the domestic market and ensure Coast students get qualifications allowing them to enter the workforce ensuring the sector reaches the top third for employment in the city.

“We want it to be the first. Our aspirations are high. We want to continue the work the team have done at Study Gold Coast to grow that.

“That pathway in terms of their progression, through a career, is important. We will also look at linking qualifications into degree programs. It helps them be a little bit more practically minded and practically skilled for the exit of university.”