ITI Articles

227 of the world's top education agents from 59 countries came to Sydney to meet 113 Australian and New Zealand education institutions

The inaugural Australia New Zealand Agent Workshop (5-7 May 2008) was a great success with 465 participants from 59 countries in attendance. The International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) was just one of those institutions there for the first time. Many other ITI members were also in attendance, including Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design and Natcoll Design Technology.

Fifty-eight Australian and 55 New Zealand education institutions from all sectors (university, vocational, secondary, language) were in attendance to showcase their schools and to build partnerships in order to increase their international student enrolments.

Claire Huxley from ITC was happy that the workshop took place close to New Zealand: "It was so great to have an event like this in Australia finally! By the agents travelling to Australia it created an automatic awareness of the country and culture, something that is so much better to see first-hand instead of on paper. It was a well-organised event. I enjoyed meeting with existing and new partners and feel this will be very beneficial."

The event enabled educators to hold pre-scheduled, one-to-one business appointments with 227 high quality education agents from 59 countries, who collectively send tens of thousands of international students to this region each year. The agents were carefully selected and pre-screened by event co-organiser ICEF – well known for having the most stringent education agent selection process in the industry.

Delegates also benefited from valuable networking opportunities at social events such as a Harbour Cruise, cocktail receptions and a dinner/dance featuring an aboriginal dance show, as well as at the numerous familiarisation trips showcasing Australia as an education destination.

The event is co-organised EdMedia and ICEF and supported by Australian Education International, English Australia, the Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET), Education New Zealand, English New Zealand and the New Zealand Association of Private Education Providers (NZAPEP). According to English New Zealand's Chairman, Rob McKay, "The organisation of the workshop was first rate and the value gained by those attending was about as good as it gets. English New Zealand is very pleased with the quality of this event."

Next year the ANZA workshop will be hosted at SKYCITY Auckland Convention Centre from 22-24 April 2009.