Australia released its National Strategy for International Education 2025 in April this year – a 10-year plan aimed at developing Australia’s international education sector. Three key pillars form the basis of the strategy: 1) “Strengthening the fundamentals” via high-quality education and student experience, 2) “Making transformative partnerships” at home and abroad, and 3) “Competing globally” by promoting excellence and embracing opportunities for growth. In particular, it recognises the importance of innovation in achieving its goals. Although traditional forms of education will remain in high demand, the strategy outlines new and emerging forms of education – such as blended delivery models and online professional development – as opportunities to grow Australia’s international education offerings. This strategy, together with a 10-year roadmap, signals the sector’s and the government’s commitment to work together to advance Australia's reputation as a global leader in the international education sector.

According to Education New Zealand, emerging student markets, new competitors, different expectations on the learning experience and the increasingly important role of technology are all fostering an international education environment where innovation and adaptation is necessary. In response to the changing international education market, Education New Zealand launched a collection of roadmaps to guide future growth and success towards 2025. Five key strategic themes have formed the basis for roadmap development, including: 1) Resourcing, 2) Products and Pathways, 3) Capability and Leadership, 4) Markets and 5) Partnership. The industry roadmap is also accompanied by six sector-specific roadmaps to guide each segment of the industry on how it can position itself to respond to new opportunities and challenges and contribute to success in 2025.

Canada’s international education strategy aims to double the number of international students to more than 450,000 by 2022. The report lays out a blueprint for enhancing Canada’s education brand abroad, particularly in six priority markets: Brazil, India, China, Vietnam, Mexico and North Africa/the Middle East. Other important elements of the strategy include a commitment to “brand” Canada to maximum effect, and to establish stronger links between Canadian and international institutions. The strategy also outlines how international education contributes to success on many levels – both domestically and globally. While inviting international students and researchers helps create new jobs for Canadians and address looming skills shortages, the report puts forth that more importantly, international education fuels the people-to-people ties crucial to long-term success in an increasingly interconnected global economy.

Malaysia’s commitment to being a world-class knowledge economy – and a regional education hub – received a boost with the launch of a new higher education strategy in 2015. The blueprint sets new targets for 2025, including its demonstrated commitment to increase the number of international students from 108,000 in 2014 to 250,000 students by 2025. Key initiatives to achieve these outcomes include: 1) Collaborating with other ministries to streamline immigration procedures to match international best practices (e.g. multiple year student visas), 2) Increasing the proportion of postgraduate international students and students from high priority markets such as ASEAN nations, and 3) Strengthening the promotion and marketing of Malaysia’s higher education system through targeted measures such as hosting major international education conferences and strengthening its alumni network.

In 2025, China will continue to be the top source country for international students globally, followed by India and Nigeria, according to the British Council. While the UK and the US are projected to remain the top destination countries for international students, an increase in regional mobility programmes and improved local provision in the source countries will contribute to an erosion of global international student market share for these two countries. The report calls for institutions to be more strategic and target more diverse nationalities in order to operate in an increasingly competitive environment. Beyond the traditional picture of source and destination countries, factors such as transnational models, digital technologies and shifting political situations will contribute to a harder-to-predict international education landscape in the future.

1. From 10 leading study destinations: A stocktake of international enrolment targets around the world.

2. Top global student recruitment trends for 2016. An analysis on declining markets, titan markets and emerging markets.

3. On the need to diversify student markets: Institutions cannot rely on China growth any longer. 

4. New data reveals major slowdown in Canadian growth. Universities can no longer be complacent when it comes to attracting international students.

5. In a ranking of global soft power, the US tops the education index. This is followed by UK, Canada and Australia.