Opening of IDP's IELTS Test Centre in Chengdu

When I was last in China in October 2024, I attended the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education.

In my keynote address at the Conference, I discussed how internationalisation and globalisation have permeated education and research across the world –

And how this brings both challenges and opportunities for us all.

It is a pleasure to return to China and once again reflect on the shared benefits offered by international education.

Victoria has shown a long-standing commitment to pursuing these possibilities of better futures.

Our State is outward-looking, and we are proud of our global reputation as ‘The Education State.’

This is thanks in no small part to the large numbers of international students who come to study in Victoria, as well as the quality and range of our institutions.

These include our world-class universities, dual sector institutions, TAFEs and private vocational education and training providers.

Of those international enrolments in Victoria, students from China make up 20 per cent of the total.

The internationalisation of Australia’s higher education sector represents a commitment to sharing resources and building a broad engagement with the world – including with China.

Once upon a time, this engagement was limited by the barriers of distance and language.

Today, the world seems much smaller.

And places like this are helping to bridge the gaps of language.

Education exchange is not only about learning from another country’s expertise, but rather learning from one another and together.

Through understanding, we can grow closer and share in these benefits of knowledge exchange.

As we mark the opening of this new Centre today, I am reminded of a particular Chinese proverb by Lao-Tzu:

Qiānlǐ zhī xíng, shǐyú zú xià.

(Translates to: “A thousand-mile journey begins with a single step.”)

Congratulations to IDP Education on this important step, and best wishes to all for the journey ahead.

Xie Xie.