In a difficult and contested world, all tools of statecraft are needed to contribute to Australia’s international aims. Australia’s education sector – schools, technical education, universities, research and education policy – is a significant national asset which is often overlooked. It is an extraordinary resource to help achieve Australia’s international goals.

Education is a key focus in the battle for the 21st century, with countries throughout the world making efforts to build their education sectors as a competitive edge. This options paper looks at the way that education underpins Australia’s foreign policy and defence goals including social cohesion, economic prosperity, national security, resilience and global influence.

The paper takes a broad view of education, defined here as the systematic development and dissemination of knowledge, skills, values and cultural understanding. It encompasses learning systems of all levels and types – from kindergarten to tertiary study, academic and vocational, and formal and informal – as well as pure and applied research. 

The paper finds there is a danger of parochialism and Australia seeing education primarily in domestic terms. Conceivable worst-case scenarios – such as a precipitous decline in the sector’s international reputation or the collapse of universities – would severely limit Australia’s ability to pursue its development, defence, diplomacy and trade objectives. 

Australia needs to recognise how education contributes across multiple domains. It is a domestic asset that underpins the foundations of national power – in terms of national resilience, productivity and skills – and is a tool for influencing the world outside – through development impact, diplomatic links, trade relations and security.