IDP Education Pty Ltd
ABN 59 117 676 463
Melbourne
Level 8
535 Bourke Street
Melbourne VIC 3000
Tel +61 3 9612 4400
Fax +61 3 9614 0534
info.melbourne@idp.com
MEDIA RELEASE
Date Issued: 12 October 2009
AUSTRALIA STILL NUMBER ONE FOR SAFETY
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NEW INDIAN STUDENT SURVEY
Australia still ranks number one for international student safety, according to a new
survey of 1,130 Indian students and graduates to be unveiled at the Australian
International Education Conference in Sydney on Wednesday 14 October.
The finding from wider research of over 6,000 students worldwide by IDP Education
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the nation's leading recruiter of international students - also confirmed Australia as
number one among Indian participants for best Government policies to protect
international students – outranking all the other major English-language education
countries Great Britain, the United States, Canada and New Zealand. Australia also
scored highest on access to student visas and permanent residency.
Some 26 per cent of those surveyed ranked Australia number one for safety, ahead
of Britain on 20 per cent, Canada 20 per cent, New Zealand 13 per cent and the
USA on 5 per cent.
On best Government policies to protect international students, Australia won 19 per
cent of the vote, followed by the USA 12 per cent, Britain 11 per cent, Canada 8 per
cent and New Zealand 2 per cent.
"These results are very encouraging in the light of recent challenges to Australia's
reputation as a quality, safe, and good value provider of education to Indian
students," said IDP Education chief executive Mr Tony Pollock.
"We are seeing the benefits of the solid work that has gone in over time in building
our reputation among Indian students, graduates and their families, as well as the
work done recently by Government and education bodies to reassure them."
Indian students also ranked Australia the clear number one for access to permanent
residency, with 47 per cent nominating Australia, followed by Canada 16 per cent,
New Zealand 14 per cent, the USA 5 per cent and Britain on 2 per cent. The finding
on immigration follows a call this week by leading demographer Bernard Salt of
KPMG for Australians to "put up welcome signs" to international students, because
those who stayed on here after study made ideal immigrants and were vital to
Australia's economic future.
Rankings for best access to student visas were Australia 40 per cent, New Zealand
17 per cent, Britain 9 per cent, Canada 5 per cent and USA 4 per cent.
Over 1,300 delegates from 40 countries will hear the full findings of the new IDP
research at this week's Australian International Education Conference at the
Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour, from Tuesday 13 to
Friday 16 October.
Another highlight of the conference will be a special plenary address from The Hon
Julia Gillard MP at 10am on Thursday 15 October.
Other presentations include:
1.50pm Wednesday 14 October: Bernard Salt, KPMG,
leading demographer, on the social impact of international students
on Australia.
4.30pm Wednesday 14 October: IDP Education research on international
students – up-to-the-minute findings on current issues.
10.30am Friday 16 October: Chris Richardson, Head of
Access Economics’ Macroeconomic Group and one of Australia’s
leading macroeconomists on economic impact.
11.35am Friday 16 October: Jennie Brockie of the SBS Insight
program, hosts a forum – International Education: Transforming Australia?
The line-up of high-profile speakers and attendance from around the world
reflects heightened interest in international education, which is Australia’s
third largest export industry and largest services export.
Australian universities consolidated their place internationally this year with eight
universities in the 2009 The Times Higher Education rankings of the world’s top 100
universities, and the award of the Nobel Prize for Medicine to an Australian
woman Dr Elizabeth Blackburn, who graduated from the University of Melbourne.
The conference provides an opportunity to hear the latest research on international
students and developments in international education.
Further information, including full program details:
http:twitter.com/AIEC
Interviews, photo opportunities and media accreditation for conference:
Meredith Jackson 0408 057 862 (+61408 057 862) mj@meredithjackson.com.au
Tim Dodd 0407 440 160 (+61 407 440 160) tim.dodd@idp.com
NEWS 
