International education showcases Australia to the world as an attractive destination for people to live, study, work, invest and travel. Through international education Australia can elevate broader engagement to support global and regional democratic development, human rights and economic stability. Australia’s continued commitment to international education, training and research is central to Australia’s soft power. These influential linkages forged through students, alumni and education providers support and develop Australia's capacity to build stronger partnerships with countries in the region and around the world. Improving partnerships and connections is strategically important for Australia in the Indo-Pacific region.

Australia has a lot to gain from international students choosing to live and study here. The delivery of a world class education to future leaders of countries, primarily in our own region, creates future goodwill, social licence and trade opportunities.

The COVID-19 pandemic revealed the reliance some institutions have on a small number of countries when sourcing international students. The top five student source markets (China, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Colombia) represented 59 per cent of enrolments across the international education sector in 2021 and the two largest countries alone made up almost half of all international enrolments.

The purpose of this interim report is to produce a timely report on the international education sector. Whilst acknowledging that there is an intersection between tourism and international education as Australia rebuilds these sectors post-COVID, the Committee was focused on making specific recommendations to government in a timely manner on international education. The Committee was mindful of the government’s interest in this topic and the intersections it has with the Migration Review report, and the Universities Accord report due to be published in December 2023.