Programs & Initiatives

Programs & Initiatives

DEEWR’s role in international education

Australian Education International (AEI), the international arm of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), leads strategic policy regulation and government-to-government engagement in the international education sector.

Through its national office in Canberra and 16 offices in Australian diplomatic missions around the world, DEEWR is active in:

International cooperation in education and training

  • Government‐to‐government policy engagement.
  • Bilateral cooperation including agreements, Joint Working Groups, educational/training input to free trade agreement negotiations, and multilateral forums.
  • Support for academic and institutional policy engagement and exchange.

International education quality and regulation

  • Manage the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000 and associated legislative framework and activities.
  • Implement Government’s response to the Baird Review.
  • Supporting the implementation of Government policy in relation to the higher education and vocational education and training sectors.

International education research and information

  • Develop international education statistics and research.
  • Manage international student data (for publication by Austrade through its Market Information Package).
  • Provide information on host country education policy.

Scholarships

  • Manage the Endeavour Awards.
  • Liaise and engage with foreign government bodies on inbound and outbound scholarship opportunities.

Education Agents

  • Develop and provide information on regulatory requirements and Australian education issues to education agents.
  • Monitor provider obligations under the ESOS Act.
  • Engage with other governments concerning overseas education agents.

Qualifications recognition

  • Manage international qualifications recognition including educational and professional recognition information services and support.

Intergovernmental cooperation

  • Implementing the Council of Australian Governments’ International Student Strategy.
  • Manage the Joint Committee on International Education Secretariat.
  • Ensure a whole‐of‐government approach to international education.