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North Asia (China, Japan and Republic of Korea)
Cooperation in education, training and research is a major component of the bilateral relationships between Australia and our North Asian partners. Australia has a long history of education collaboration with China, Japan and the Republic of Korea, with a strong focus on policy dialogue, information sharing and partnerships to achieve mutual benefits. The education and research relationship between Australia and China spans more than 40 years with a strong focus on policy dialogue, information sharing and partnerships to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes. The Australia-Japan partnership is mature and fundamentally important to both countries strategic and economic interests. Underpinning this closeness is a long history of engagement on education, which can be drawn on to increase university-industry engagement, research capabilities and student and academic mobility. The Republic of Korea is a strong partner of Australia’s, as marked by over 60 years of diplomatic relations and upgrade of the relationship to a strategic partnership. Australia and Republic of Korea can build on our longstanding relations to collaborate for mutual benefit on shared education and research challenges. Our bilateral relationships with these countries provide important economic benefits, institutional linkages and underpins Australia’s strong people-to-people connections with these countries.
Key priorities
- Strengthening government-to-government engagement in areas of mutual priority
- Supporting Australian stakeholders operating in and with North Asian partners, including by providing information on each country’s regulatory and policy environment
- Strengthening partnerships to increase student mobility numbers in both directions and supporting the delivery of transnational education, and
- Building on research linkages to increase research collaboration and awareness of Australia’s research sector in a way that protects and enhances the national interest.
Minister-Counsellor for China
Counsellor for Japan and Korea
South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka)
Australia has long-standing education relationships with South Asian nations. These strong, mutually beneficial relationships are underpinned by high levels of student mobility, close government-to-government relationships, and a significant diaspora within Australia. Australia hosts large numbers of students from South Asia, particularly from India and Nepal. Australia also has a long history of education collaboration with South Asian nations, with a strong focus on policy dialogue, information sharing and creating partnerships to progress our mutual objectives. As our relationships in the region further strengthen and diversify, the presence of our Australian education providers in the region is growing, as is our collaboration in research and vocational education and training.
Key priorities
- Engaging with governments in the region to share knowledge and best practices on education, training and research systems
- Information sharing with partners in South Asia on quality assurance, online education and qualifications recognition
- Developing opportunities for Australian education institutions to establish markets in the region, share information and provide technical expertise
- Reducing barriers to research collaboration and promoting greater institutional relationships with South Asia, and
- Increasing two-way student and academic mobility between Australia and the region.
National office contact
For enquiries relating to engagement with South Asia, email: IndiaandSouthAsia@education.gov.au
Minister-Counsellor for South Asia
First Secretary for South Asia
Southeast Asia (Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam)
Southeast Asia is a significant priority region for Australia with increasing importance due to geographical proximity, economic importance, increasing global influence and warm people-to-people links. In particular, the economic growth trajectory, growing young population, and identified need for quality education, training and research in both Indonesia and Vietnam make them key partner countries for Australia’s international education sector. Australia and Malaysia have a longstanding and prosperous education relationship extending back to Australia’s original Colombo Plan from the early 1950s, and our strong historical ties present numerous opportunities for Australian education providers looking to establish an in-country presence. Australia’s relationship with Thailand is mature and developed across mutual interest areas, with education, training and research a significant pillar of our cooperation. Australia engages with key partners in this region to foster deeper connections on policy alignment, create opportunities for trade in education services and enhance our reputation for education excellence.
Key priorities
- Encouraging growth and reducing barriers to trade in education services to facilitate the provision of new and existing Australian higher education courses onshore and offshore, including through ongoing policy advice, both bilaterally and in multilateral fora
- Growing collaboration with key partners in higher education cooperation (including in online and hybrid delivery) to help meet future workforce needs
- Growing research cooperation and mobility by strengthening the bilateral research relationship,
- Encouraging qualification and course (including short courses and micro-credentials) recognition through multilateral fora (for example to progress the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework).
National office contact
For enquiries relating to engagement with Southeast Asia, email: Southeast.Asia@education.gov.au
Counsellor for Indonesia
Counsellor for Malaysia
Counsellor for Thailand and Vietnam
Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Chile and Argentina)
The department has two Education and Research Counsellors based in Latin America. The Education and Research Counsellor based in Mexico City has responsibility for Australia’s bilateral education, training and research relationships in Mexico, Chile, Colombia, Peru and multilateral education engagement with the Pacific Alliance forum. The Education and Research Counsellor based in Brasilia has responsibility for Australia’s education, training and science relationships with Latin American countries outside of the Pacific Alliance, with a primary focus on Brazil and Argentina. Australia engages with our partner countries in this region to enhance Australia’s reputation for excellence in education and research, foster deeper connections on policy alignment, create opportunities for trade in education services, and increase research cooperation. An increasing number of international students from Latin America choose Australia as a study destination, particularly from Brazil and Colombia.
Key priorities
- Growing collaboration with key government and institutional partners in the region to increase awareness of Australia as a quality education partner and strengthen two-way mobility.
- Deepening government-to-government cooperation with a focus on qualifications and course (including short courses and micro-credentials) recognition, best practices in higher education and English language teaching policy.
- Engaging through multilateral fora such as Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Pacific Alliance, G20 and UNESCO to progress issues of mutual benefit, such as quality industry skills training standards, national qualifications frameworks and qualifications recognition.
- Reducing barriers to research cooperation through targeted policy dialogues and collaboration events, under treaty-level agreements and Memoranda of Understanding.
National office contact
For international education engagement with Latin American partners, email: Americas@education.gov.au
Counsellor for Brazil
Counsellor for Mexico
Europe (including the United Kingdom, European Union and OECD)
Australia’s relationship with Europe is incredibly valuable, with deep-rooted connections in education, research, trade and investment. The department engages primarily through the European Union (EU) and its Member States, as well as with the United Kingdom (UK), and is committed to being a strong and effective global partner working with the EU. The department’s Counsellor to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) is based in Paris.
Key priorities
- Supporting greater collaboration and policy connections on a range of issues across the education landscape, including education and research
- Representing Australia at OECD meeting discussions to promote Australia’s broader national interests and contribute to the evidence base for national policies
- Facilitating policy dialogues in the region concerning education matters with the aim to share best practices and lessons learnt and explore collaboration opportunities, and
- Monitoring key issues in the region that relate to education, research, qualification assessment and recognition.
National office contact
For international education engagement with European partners, email: Europe@education.gov.au
For matters regarding the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), email OECD@dewr.gov.au