The economic implications of fewer international higher education students in Australia

• Paul Koshy, John Phillimore
• Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN)

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26 September 2010This report argues that economic output associated with Australia's third largest export industry will shrink by as much as $600 million in 2011 and by $1.2 billion to 2012, unless urgent action is taken on pressing policy concerns.

The report, commissioned by the ATN from the John Curtin Institute of Public Policy (JCIPP) at Curtin University shows that:

• Higher education is the most significant part of the sector. With 32% of the International student market it generates 57% of the export revenue.
• International onshore education is now a billion dollar industry in its own right in New South Wales and Victoria, generating value-added of around $3 billion in each state. It has an overall economic impact of $1.4 billion in Queensland.
• On average each International student in higher education generates $50,874 for Australia, 36% of this being spent on fees with the remainder mainly on accommodation, food, restaurants and retail.
• For every two International students enrolled in an Australian university one extra job is created.
• This value add from International university students in 2009 saw an additional 102,387 jobs created, of which 83,050 were created outside the education sector.