Gold Coast education shock: new figures show how the city rates for international students.
New research is available on international student numbers across Queensland. How does the Glitter Strip compare to other cities?
Gold Coast
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INTERNATIONAL student numbers have soared by 15 per cent on the Gold Coast, beating the growth in all cities across the state on the back of the Commonwealth Games.
Research presented by Study Gold Coast CEO Alfred Slogrove to city councillors, for the first time showcases the boom in the Coast’s education sector compared to other cities.
In terms of growth of international student numbers in 2018, the Coast (15 per cent) was ahead of Brisbane and Logan (both 10 per cent) and the Sunshine Coast (four per cent).
Toowoomba failed to record an increase, and Townsville, down four per cent, and Cairns, which recorded a nine per cent drop, compared poorly to the Glitter Strip.
The Coast has 32,435 overseas students, which compares to 91,996 in Brisbane. The Sunshine Coast has less than 4000.
The biggest growth sectors had been in vocational education, followed by higher education and schools. Coast English language schools continue to do well.
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Study Gold Coast chair Rob Borbidge said: “The big movers essentially were vocational education and training, and higher education. The growth is strong overall.
“The really good thing is the increase in Indian students. Historically, Indian students — and not just Indian students — Melbourne has been very strong in that (international) market.
“But there is solid growth here, and I don’t think we can underestimate the influence of the Commonwealth Games in boosting education numbers.
“The Gold Coast City Council needs a great deal of credit for seeing the big picture and get involved in the promotion of the education sector.”
The report to council said almost 3000 students had visited the Gold Coast Student Hub in 2019 from Brazil, Japan, Columbia, Australia and Spain.
“The new kid on the block — and we’re keeping an eye on it — is Spain,” Mr Borbidge said.
Mr Slogrove told councillors the “influences” which were attracting students ranged from access to an international airport, that the city had “300 days of sunshine” and quality education providers.
Mr Borbidge acknowledged a key part of expanding the education sector was the future employment of students who widened the city’s skills base and helped boost tourism.
“Mum and dad might come over to visit. They might come over twice, and you have an increase in tourism numbers,” he said.
“They might decide to buy an apartment. The flow-on impact to the Gold Coast economy is massive.”
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