A Deloitte Access Economics report released today by the Marshall Government highlights the massive economic benefits of attracting international students to live and study in Adelaide.
The report shows that the average international student contributes $36,600 to South Australia’s economy, with international students injecting $1.54 billion into the economy in 2017.
Premier Steven Marshall said that the results were a clear indication that the new Liberal Government’s ambition to grow our international student numbers was more important than ever.
"I have the strong view South Australia must lift our own population growth rate if we are to become the vibrant and resilient State we once were – and international students are core to growing this population," said Premier Steven Marshall.
"We now know that for every four international student enrolments, one job is created in South Australia to accommodate for the growing demand for more services and accommodation.
"This report confirms that international education is unequivocally critical to South Australia’s economic future, and the State Government is committed to working across all sectors to accommodate for this projected increase.
"We inherited a position where South Australia has been attracting less than 5 per cent of the international students coming to Australia, and under the new government that figure is simply unacceptable because we know how important a rise in international students will be to the economy."
Minister for Trade, Tourism and Investment David Ridgway said that to support the potential growth outlined in the report, a new international education strategy for South Australia will be developed that outlines specific measures to increase the state’s international student enrolments.
"The Marshall Liberal Government is committed to growing the international education sector so that we can increase international student enrolments, because we know the huge benefits this brings to our state," said Minister Ridgway.
"The State Government has already established the Ministerial Advisory Committee for International Education (MACIE) which meets quarterly to facilitate a coordinated approach across education institutions, peak bodies, government and private providers.
"What we know is that having more international students drives construction in the CBD, improves city vibrancy and has a great effect in terms of retail spend and tourism."
This will be leveraged further with last week’s State Budget announcement of an increase to $2.5 million in annual funding to StudyAdelaide, to market the city as a centre of education excellence, to entice more international students to live and study in the state.
To view the Deloitte Access Economics Report, ‘International Education in South Australia’ visit http://dtti.sa.gov.au/international-education
