Victoria's booming international education sector received another feather in its cap yesterday after the state's top university was named Victorian Exporter of the Year at the 40th Governor of Victoria Export Awards (GOVEAs).
The University of Melbourne, which also took out the International Education and Training award, has successfully placed internationalisation across its education, research and engagement activities.
The international impact of the University ranges from collaborating on world-leading research to welcoming students and staff from over 140 countries to its campuses across Victoria.
International education is Victoria's largest service-based export generating almost $12 billion in export revenue, an increase of 89 per cent since 2014, and supporting almost 79,000 Victorian jobs. The University of Melbourne, which is the highest ranked Australian university in the 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings , is a significant contributor to Victoria's international education success.
The GOVEA Awards recognise the hard work and dedication of Victoria's exporters who are boosting the economy, creating jobs and promoting Victoria as a world leading destination for trade.
Other GOVEA winners named yesterday were:
- Business for Development
- Care Essentials
- Duratray
- FanHub Media
- FLAIM Systems
- Leica Biosystems
- Marand Precision Engineering
- Mo Works
- Pellar Technology
- Select Harvests
- Swisse Wellness
- Two Bulls
Visit our dedicated 2019 GOVEA Award winners page for more details.
About the GOVEA Awards
The GOVEA's are the most prestigious export awards in Victoria. Rewarding the state's most successful and innovative exporters with the stamp of international success, a GOVEA gives businesses recognition in local and global markets.
Celebrating a milestone 40th anniversary, the 2019 GOVEA awards spanned 13 categories with an additional two Victoria only Awards. The Awards are open to all Victorian exporters, regardless of the size of the business or their total export sales.
This year's GOVEA Awards attracted a 100 per cent increase on entries compared to 2018, lifting from 49 to 98 applicants with many businesses from Regional Victoria in on the competition – a testament to the State's exporters ambition to tap into international markets and realise their dreams of going global.
Winners of the 13 categories are automatically placed as finalists in the Australian Export Awards – a national awards ceremony which sees the Victorian winners compete against other state and territory winners for the national Awards.
Exporters across the Victoria including many local businesses from regional Victoria. All GOVEA winners are automatically entered in the Australian Export Awards held in November where a Victorian company has been crowned the nation's top exporter for the last five years running.
The patron of the Governor of Victoria Export Awards is the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, Governor of Victoria.
Helping Victorian businesses go global
The Victorian Government is helping local companies tap into new export markets and has recently launched regional trade strategies for India, China, Southeast Asia and Latin America.
The government is also driving two-way trade with its overarching trade statement, export workshops, an inbound and outbound trade mission program and the largest network of international Trade and Investment Offices of any state or territory in Australia.
By giving local exporters a platform to celebrate their achievements, the Victorian Government is committed to promoting Victoria's high-quality products, skills and expertise.
Exports make a significant contribution to the Victorian economy, reaching a record high of $55.1 billion in 2018, a 30 per cent rise since 2014.
