1 | IET Summit Report – Gold Coast 2017

Overview

Trade and Investment Queensland’s (TIQ’s) International Education and Training Unit (IETU) received unprecedented support from industry in delivering the inaugural International Education and Training (IET) Summit at the Gold Coast on Tuesday 28 March 2017. The Summit is one of the three enabling initiatives under the International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland 2016-2026.

The Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, Treasurer, Minister for Trade and Investment, and Ministerial Champion for International Education, opened the Summit and emphasised the Queensland Government’s commitment to working with the sector to support strong and sustainable growth in the IET industry. Mr Pitt also announced the first round of fast-track projects from the $1.2 million IET Partnership Fund.

The Summit brought together over 300 leaders from across the Queensland education sector for the first time. Participants discussed how to make Queensland a leading destination for international education and training in the Asia-Pacific region.

The Summit focused on the partnerships that make this possible, the ways we can strengthen them, and the solutions we can forge to seize opportunities to continue to build Queensland’s reputation as a world-class study destination.

Delegates explored the theme of the Summit, ‘Embracing disruption to support the growth of our sector’. They discussed how government and industry can work together to redefine and improve the student experience; attract students to Queensland; create an alternative value proposition for regions; leverage global trends, networks and partnerships; reach new audiences; and provide a voice for students.

Presentations can be downloaded here.

Outcomes

Connecting the industryThe impressive turnout from all sectors signals the high levels of interest, passion and energy in the industry to get behind the Government’s $25.3 million International Education and Training Strategy to Advance Queensland and transform the sector.

Participation spanned across all sectors and regions, which included attendance by 47 international delegates from 14 countries, along with the 13 TIQ education business development managers (BDMs), who also attended the Summit as part of an inbound familiarisation visit.

Delegates from all sectors of the industry met with government partners and overseas counterparts. The Summit gave participants the opportunity to listen and learn from each other, and to expand local and international networks. It created a supportive and open environment with a uniquely Queensland perspective on industry issues and opportunities, while providing context from international colleagues to explore our place in the global arena.

International Education and Training (IET)

Summit Report

to support growth

28 March 2017, Gold Coast

2 | IET Summit Report – Gold Coast 2017

Other key highlights from the day included:

• Keynote speaker Gus Balbontin who, through his engaging and energetic style, outlined how disruption brings opportunity; he challenged us to focus on the real problems and stay close to the customer through disruption; how to look forward during times of disruption; how business systems and structures can hamper transformation; and how investing in people and culture can reinvent your business.

• Ms Jane Caro, commentator chaired our very own “Gruen does international education — selling Queensland as a study destination to millennials ”. Two creative agencies, Zakazukha and Totem, pitched their concepts. Totem won the audience and panel vote for their pitch, which followed the experience of five international students who had studied in Queensland.

Delegate profile locations

• Brisbane• Gold Coast• Toowoomba• Cairns• Sunshine Coast• Logan

• Hervey Bay• Rockhampton• Townsville• Bundaberg• Ipswich• Maryborough

• Cleveland (Redlands)• Fraser Coast• Gladstone• Moreton Bay

63%19%

4%

2%

2%

2%1%

1%1%

1%0 25 50 75 100 120

Other

International Delegates

Universities & Higher Ed

VET & Private Colleges

Schools

Local & State Government

Elicos

Delegate profile, Sector

Overseas60 (19%)

Interstate19 (6%)

Queensland241 (75%)

SummitAttendees

by Location

Mr Tim Westonm, Chief Executive OfficerStudent One ”

I know how much effort it takes to put one of these events on and it appeared to go like clockwork. There were some great speakers and breakout sessions. I can quite confidently say that it was one of the best conferences I have attended. Well done to you and your team.“

3 | IET Summit Report – Gold Coast 2017

Attendees expressed satisfaction with the summit

95% of attendees rated of keynote speaker Gus Balbontin as good/excellent

12%

5%

83%

73% of attendees rated the student panel as good/excellent

4% 3%

33%

40%

20%

Ms Shannon Willoughby, Chief Executive OfficerStudy Gold Coast

86% of attendees rated the summit as good/excellent

13%

39%

46%

2%

Social media was an active tool for the SummitSocial media results included:

#IETSummit2017

702Posts

106Users

270,617Reach

1,300,992Impressions

Thank youOur Summit Steering Committee provided invaluable advice and support in creating the first IET Summit.

Stephen Biggs (DET International)

Janelle Chapman (TAFE)

Dion Lee (CISA)

Therese Phillips (TEQ)

Professor Sarah Todd (Griffith University)

Shannon Willoughby (Study Gold Coast)

Thank you IETU-Queensland in delivering an exceptional summit, hosted on the Gold Coast. You attracted a great crowd who shared informative content. Congratulations on your success to date and we look forward to continuing our growing partnership.

“ ”

4 | IET Summit Report – Gold Coast 2017

Strengthening our regions

Participants discussed how to create an alternative value proposition and new approaches to achieve regional growth in the sector. Panellists provided insights into regional trends, program initiatives and community activities, including how:

• local hubs and Queensland regions are working to disrupt our approaches to student and industry engagement

• regional providers have formulated a new ‘‘study pitch’ to highlight regional competitive advantages.

• family and friends in a city or town (i.e. community integration) are becoming the primary source of information and advice in determining choice of study.

Enhancing the student experienceDiscussions at the Summit also focused on redefining the student experience in the age of disruption, including exploring how changes in pedagogy, technology and global politics are disrupting the student experience.

• Panellists discussed strategies for improving student satisfaction by increasing the quality of their experience, based on current research and on-the-ground experiences.

• Members of the newly established Queensland International Student Advisory Panel (QISAP) shared insights and provided ideas to industry on a range of issues, including affordability, accommodation, transport, employment options and regional experiences.

Promoting Queensland internationally

Participants explored opportunities to join forces with the tourism industry to maximise results for both sectors, which account for 60 per cent of Queensland’s services exports.

• Participants looked at successful branding strategies, exploring innovative ways to align with tourism, and how to position Queensland in a market of constant change.

• Delegates explored how to reach new audiences in this increasingly competitive sector. Participants heard from Queensland providers and technology partners who are pioneering new operating models to gain market share.

• Study Gold Coast hosted a tour of key education sites for delegates to show what makes the region ‘Australia’s Favourite Classroom’.

• There was strong endorsement for developing a new branding framework that will enable better segmentation and targeted messaging to promote Queensland’s diverse offerings and value propositions.

The International Education and Training Partnership FundTreasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment, the Honourable Curtis Pitt MP, also announced the first 15 fast-track recipients of funding from the pilot round of the International Education and Training Partnership Fund.

The $6 million fund’s aim is to seek out the best grassroots ideas from industry and provide support to make them a reality. These projects will energise our industry and put Queensland at the forefront of the sector.

Since the Summit, a further six successful pilot projects have been announced. The regions were big winners in the pilot round, receiving more than half of the total $1.2 million allocated for that round.

The next phase of funding, the 2017–18 Round 1 of the IET Partnership Fund, opened on 1 June 2017.

See www.tiq.qld.gov.au/iet-strategy/iet-partnership-fund for more information.

Dion Lee, Former National Vice-President, Council of International Students Australia

Congratulations on pulling off such a massive event. I thought the day went really well and the audience were thoroughly engaged. Thank you also for making the international student voice a significant focus of the Summit.

“ ”

5 | IET Summit Report – Gold Coast 2017

Best featuresof IET Summit

Key learnings

Suggestionsfor improvement

• Bringing together the whole industry with a shared purpose

• Networking opportunities and the Queensland market updates

• Keynote speaker provided thought provoking concepts

• Inclusion of the student panel

• Diversity of attendees across the sector and regions

• Opportunity to focus on and provide viewpoints on issues and to be able to input into IET Strategy future directions and initiatives

• Opportunities that exist in key markets, ability to be more agile and student focused

• The need to be agile and responsive to our customers and meet their needs rather than our own

• Everyone’s role in disruption

• How local councils support and connect with international students

• Importance of student experience and how linking local resources could benefit an international student

• Information about regional opportunities and new approaches

• Mutual understanding of issues and information from each market, both from BDMs and the international delegates

• Shorten afternoon sessions

• Global Trends session had too many panellists and information

• Encourage more interaction through the App, crowd-source questions and add more question time

• Include more presenters from non-industry and industry extension providers (public transport, accommodation and other student needs such as employment and supporting students)

• Access and virtual engagement throughout the summit

Feedback and Future Summits

After the event, IETU distributed a survey to all delegates who participated in the IET Summit. A total of 38 per cent of attendees responded to the survey. Overall client satisfaction was 86.4 per cent, and 73 per cent of delegates rated the event as helpful in their international progress.

Next stepsWe recognise that realising the potential of the industry is a shared responsibility underpinned by government and industry partnerships.

We are pleased to announce that the IET Summit 2018 will be held in Cairns on the 15th of May, 2018

Future information will be shared via our newsletter here. See more professional development activities here.

Copyright: © The State of Queensland 2017. Copyright protects this material. Enquiries should be addressed to copyright@treasury.qld.gov.au

Disclaimer: The information presented in this booklet is distributed by the Queensland Government as an information source only. The State of Queensland makes no statements, representations, or warranties about the accuracy or completeness of, and you should not rely on, any information contained in this publication. The Queensland Government disclaims all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason. Any reference to any specific organisation, product or service does not constitute or imply its endorsement or recommendation by the State of Queensland. TIQ-17-2328

Connect. Be connected.Study Queensland

+61 7 3514 3148

IETU@tiq.qld.gov.au

studyqueensland

studyqueensland

@StudyQld

StudyinQueensland