A report commissioned by Universities Australia ‘identifies Africa as a major source of students by 2050.’
Outgoing university lobby chief Catriona Jackson says the sector needs to capitalise on the emerging African market to stay ahead in the global competition for students, while urging greater acknowledgement of education’s diplomatic clout as Australia vies for influence in the Asia-Pacific.
Her comments come as a report commissioned by Universities Australia warns against repeating America’s “mistakes” during its hunt for Chinese academic espionage, calls for education in South-East Asia and the Pacific to be at the forefront of Australia’s soft-power agenda, and identifies Africa as a major source of students by 2050.
Australian National University higher education policy expert Professor Andrew Norton said competition for African students was already emerging, and although he believed it was a good idea for Australia to play a greater role in the market, “I wouldn’t expect it to deliver massive enrolments anytime soon”.
Angus Thompson, 2025. ‘Universities urge to capitalise on growing demand from Africa’, The Sydney Morning Herald, 22 December, page 3.
https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/it-won-t-be-china-india-any-more-universities-urged-to-pivot-to-new-student-market-20231221-p5eswp.html
(behind soft paywall)