Future Gold Coast 2025: How Griffith University is selling the Gold Coast dream to students

Once looked down upon, the Gold Coast is now the place to be for university students, with a key factor seen as driving the sector’s growth. READ OUR SPECIAL REPORT

Griffith University’s Gold Coast campus in Southport. Picture: Richard Gosling

The “Gold Coast dream” is a vital part of the attraction - rather than turn off - for new international students, a university business school director says.

The Gold Coast - for many a party hub and tourism hotspot - is known around the globe for its beautiful, golden beaches and thriving night-life scene.

But the stereotype of being a city famous for fun with unrivalled weather and a beachfront city lifestyle is being used by universities to their advantage.

Director (International) of Griffith Business School, Associate Professor Anna Kwek, said the Gold Coast’s incredible lifestyle appealed to many students.

“You have the sun and sand and the beautiful weather,” she said.

“We have a fabulous lifestyle here. Although we are a regional city, it is a very lively and bustling city.

“A lot of students look for that lifestyle, especially international students.”

Associate Professor Anna Kwek.

Professor Kwek said selling the “Gold Coast dream” was vital to enticing new students to study here, which helped to boost the city’s image as an education powerhouse.

Bond University’s Deputy Provost Education, Professor Jeffrey Brand said the Gold Coast’s education sector had dramatically changed in the past 30 years.

“The education industry on the Gold Coast has become increasingly world-class and that is evident in all of the metrics used around the world to evaluate the quality of research and teaching,” he said.

Griffith University is ranked 286 in the world out of more than 1400 institutions, according to recent QS World University Rankings.

Bond University is ranked 591st and Southern Cross University placed 638.

Professor Brand said there were multiple destinations around the globe which were hubs for entertainment and tourism where universities also flourished, including the University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Sydney.

He said the city’s reputation as a tourist hotspot was necessary for its education sector to grow.

“I don’t think they are mutually exclusive,” he said.

“The first way to get on the map is to have awareness ... people need to be aware of (the opportunities available) on the Gold Coast is the first criteria.”

“Historically, the reputation of the Gold Coast as a tourist economy rather than a complex economy was dominant but now ... there is a lot of interest in locating here for students (around the globe).”

Griffith University is ranked 286 in the world out of more than 1400 institutions. Picture: Richard Gosling.

Professor Brand said the city’s growth in population and various sectors, including health and construction, has led to a natural progression of improvements to its education providers.

According to the Gold Coast council’s economic report, released in May this year, education was a key area that had the potential to generate the greatest economic growth for the region.

The city’s education industry added about $2.4bn to the local economy and was one of the largest employment sectors with 32,000 workers.

WHY THIS STUDENT LOVES GOLD COAST’S SEAT OF STUDY

Natan Nogueira, also known as ‘Nate’, is an international student studying a master of Environmental Science at Griffith University. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Brazilian international student Natan Nogueira could have studied anywhere in the world, but a transformative year on the Gold Coast more than a decade ago sealed his future.

Nogueira first arrived as an exchange student at Miami State High School in 2014.

“I was 16 and looking back I think I was sort of a depressed teenager in Brazil and it was an attempt to explore,” he said.

“But it was just a really awesome year. My family came and visited … we all just loved the culture.”

Natan Nogueira could have studied anywhere in the world, but chose the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson.

The 28-year-old has since returned to the Sunshine State, on Griffith University’s prestigious Vice Chancellor’s International Scholarship to complete his Master of Environmental Science.

“It’s in my heart now,” Nogueira said of his adopted home.

When choosing universities, Griffith University remained top of mind.

“When I was last here, Griffith was the uni that was most talked about,” he said.

“I guess it stuck in my memory. And of course the cost was a big one for me.

“I saw Griffith had a few scholarship opportunities for exclusively international students.”

And the Broadbeach Waters residents says the Gold Coast’s growth hasn’t diminished its appeal.

“I tell people despite being a big city – definitely much bigger than 10 years ago – you’ve still got suburb vibes,” he said. “Everywhere you go there’s a beautiful park five minutes walk from where you are. The public infrastructure is so good, like the public pools I go to are all amazing and they’re cheap.”

The keen surfer, who’s been riding waves since age four, says Griffith’s Work Integrated Learning program and mentoring opportunities also appealed to him, while the Gold Coast’s “laid-back lifestyle” convinced him to stay.

“I hope to apply for a graduate visa and stay for at least another two years.”

“I’m leaning towards something with animals and wildlife conservation,” he said.

Editor’s note: The Bulletin acknowledges the Future Gold Coast sponsors for supporting this important series and notes sponsors have no control over the content or views expressed.

Originally published as Future Gold Coast 2025: How Griffith University is selling the Gold Coast dream to students