Gunner Government banking on attracting more international students to the NT

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner says his government will do ‘everything (it) can’ to attract more international students to the NT

CHIEF Minister Michael Gunner says his government will do “everything (it) can” to attract more international students to the NT following the news international enrolments in the Territory have risen by almost two-thirds in the past three years.

According to Federal Government figures, the number of international students enrolled in the NT grew by 1270, or 62 per cent, between 2016 and 2019.

Between October 2018 and October 2019 alone, numbers rose by 25 per cent.

That growth brings the number of international students studying in the NT to more than 3300 – a number the Government says contributed $113 million to the Territory economy and supported 484 jobs in 2018-19.

International student Sunday Mishu says Darwin is a fantastic place to study. Picture: Che Chorley

The NT Government has a target of 10,000 international students by 2025.

Mr Gunner brushed off concerns NT institutions were over-reliant on international students.

“I think it’s really important to do everything we can to have as many students learn in the NT as possible, whether it’s domestically from the NT, from broader Australia, or from overseas,” he said.

“International students are really important. They’re the lifeblood of the university, which helps support a sustainable university here in the NT.”

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Bangladeshi student Sunday Mishu, who is one semester into a Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies at Charles Darwin University, said the Territory held a wealth of opportunities for international students.

“Darwin is close to home, and the weather’s great … (as are) the opportunities like employment and wage rates,” he said.

“When you’re a student studying abroad, away from family … all these little things matter.”

A CDU spokesman said the growth in international students at the university in recent years could be attributed to the success of its strategic initiatives.