DFAT launches worldwide alumni

psnews.com.au

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The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has launched a new whole-of-Government strategy to engage with overseas students who have studied in Australia to encourage them to promote Australia internationally and advance its national interest.

The Department’s Australia Global Alumni Engagement Strategy has been developed in partnership with Australian universities and other educational institutions.

DFAT said that more than 2.5 million international students had studied in Australia in the past 50 years, many of them highly talented, globally mobile and empowered by a world-class Australian education.

“They are current and future leaders, influencers and change-makers … helping to shape the world around them,” the Department said.

Overseas students targetted

It said the strategy was a public diplomacy initiative that built on the success of past international education programs and sought to unlock the full potential of Australia’s global alumni community.

“Our mission is to foster a global alumni community that actively engages and promotes Australia and advances our national interests, especially in the Indo-Pacific region,” it said.

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Julie Bishop said the strategy was one of three initiatives being launched to underpin Australia’s international education sector.

She said the Australia Global Alumni Engagement Strategy was being partnered with the National Strategy for International Education 2025 and the Australian International Education 2025 Market Development Roadmap with the joint purpose of growing the nation’s international education market.   

“Together these three strategies will help the international education sector take advantage of global opportunities and continue to flourish, ensuring we remain a world leader into the future,” Ms Bishop said.

The 20-page Australia Global Alumni Engagement Strategy can be accessed at this PS News link.

The 40-page National Strategy for International Education 2025 can be accessed here.

The Australian International Education 2025 roadmap (AIE2025) can be accessed here.