NEW YEAR, NEW OPPORTUNITIES
Happy New Year!
We hope you had a joyful and well-deserved break after a big year for our sector. The team at Experience Gold Coast is energised and ready to make 2025 a year of growth and opportunity.
We’re kicking off with exciting initiatives, including the 2025 Mayor's Student Ambassador Program, a trade mission to China in February, co-hosting the ICEF ANZA Conference in April, The PIE Live Asia Pacific Conference in July, and the Gold Coast Careers Festival in May.
We’re excited about what’s ahead and look forward to working with you to continue building a thriving education sector. Here’s to a successful and rewarding year!
WE ARE LOOKING FOR 2025 MAYOR'S STUDENT AMBASSADORS
Applications for the 2025 Mayor's Student Ambassador Program is now open.
This initiative is curated to develop student’s personal and professional skills while fostering meaningful connections with the local community and industry. As an Ambassador, students will have the chance to represent the City of Gold Coast and their respective educational institutions, gaining exclusive access to unique experiences. Through the program, they will acquire invaluable insights into leadership, teamwork, and community engagement, which enhances their personal growth and professional development.
This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity! Encourage your students to apply and make the most of this incredible experience.
Any questions regarding the program, please email: education@experiencegoldcoast.com.
EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE NOW OPEN FOR THE CHINA AND THE GREATER BAY AREA TRADE MISSION
In case you missed it, Experience Gold Coast, in partnership with Trade and Investment Queensland and Austrade, is thrilled to announce the 2025 Education Trade Mission to China and the Greater Bay Area, taking place from 20 – 27 February 2025.
This mission is a unique opportunity to elevate the Gold Coast’s profile as a premier study destination and vibrant economic hub.
The program includes educational and industry visits, events, and networking opportunities in Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, and Chengdu. Gold Coast sector leaders, academics, and education representatives are encouraged to express interest.
For details and enquiries, email education@experiencegoldcoast.com or register your interest.
INDUSTRY UPDATES
GOLD COAST INTERNATIONAL STUDENT DATA - SEPTEMBER 2024
As of September 2024, the total number of international student enrolments on the Gold Coast reached 31,856, reflecting a 3% year-on-year increase. The Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector continues to be the most popular choice among students, followed by Higher Education and English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS).
From a student nationality perspective, Brazil continues to be the leading source country, followed by India, the Philippines, Colombia, China, Japan, Spain, South Korea, Chile, and Thailand. While Brazil retains its position as the top contributor, its market share has slightly decreased, while India and the Philippines have shown considerable growth in enrolment numbers.
At Experience Gold Coast, we are closely monitoring these trends to provide you with the latest and most relevant data to inform your planning and strategy development.
MINISTERIAL DIRECTION 111
The Australian Government has introduced Ministerial Direction 111 (MD111), effective 19 December 2024, replacing MD107. MD111 establishes a new framework for offshore student visa processing by prioritising applications based on providers’ enrolment thresholds.
Under MD111, Priority 1 – High applies to applications linked to higher education and vocational education providers that have not yet reached 80% of their 2025 indicative allocation of new overseas student commencements (NOSCs). Once the prioritisation threshold has been reached for a provider, visa processing will continue at Priority 2 - Standard.
For the Gold Coast, this supports a more balanced distribution of international students, benefiting smaller and regional providers. It ensures visa processing aligns with the region’s growth potential while reinforcing our reputation as a diverse, world-class study destination. Students are encouraged to apply early with complete documentation to avoid delays.
MEMBER OPPORTUNITIES
INTERNATIONAL LEARNING OPPORTUNITY FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS
The Department of Education, Taipei City Government invites Gold Coast based school teachers and students to participate in their new initiative - My Global Classroom (MGC) Program.
MGC is designed to foster a unique international collaborative learning experience by connecting school educators and students from across the globe. Participants will engage in both synchronous and asynchronous online learning activities, creating a vibrant, diverse learning environment. These collaborative sessions will take place from April to May 2025.
Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to expand your and your students' global perspective and enhance cross-cultural learning.
For further details and to sign up, contact Ginny Huang, Curriculum Advisor at Taipei Department of Education, at piperginny@gmail.com.
THE GOLD COAST STUDENT HUB IS GETTING A MAKEOVER!
The Gold Coast Student Hub is temporarily closed for renovations as we embark on an exciting transformation to better serve our student community. These upgrades will expand the space, enhance facilities, and create a more collaborative and purposeful environment to support student success.
We appreciate your patience during this time and look forward to welcoming you and your students back soon.
Stay tuned for exciting events happening in January.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Experience Gold Coast acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we are situated, the Kombumerri families of the Yugambeh Language Region.
We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging, and recognise their continuing connections to the lands, waters and their extended communities throughout Southeast Queensland.