The Australian government’s role in supporting internationalisation

Australia’s education and training system is highly internationalised. International students constitute a large portion of the student body and institutions have numerous global linkages. An education system that is well connected internationally brings substantial intellectual, social and economic benefits. A sizable international education sector, however, also poses challenges for the system. How to ensure that the interests of international students are protected, that cultural and linguistic diversification is maintained, and that a desirable balance in sending and receiving students is achieved? This article describes the Australian Government’s response to these challenges and outlines how it seeks to ensure that its education system is globally connected. For this purpose, the three core components of the Australian Government’s internationalisation strategy are considered: government-to-government relations, regulatory frameworks and promotion.