Minister to lead delegation to China to promote WA as education destination

12/10/99
Western Australian Education Minister Colin Barnett will lead a high-level university delegation to China tomorrow to promote the advantages of WA as an education destination for overseas tertiary students.
The Minister will be accompanied on the 10-day visit by the Vice Chancellors of each of Western Australia's five universities, which collaboratively market themselves overseas as the 'Universities of Perth'.
While overseas, the Minister will also give the keynote opening address to the prestigious Metal Bulletin China Steel and Raw Material International Conference.
The conference will be a significant forum for representatives of the international iron ore and steel industry, with Chinese delegates expected to address issues including imports and exports of finished steel products, steel industry reform and longer-term strategic development.
China is WA's second largest market for iron ore with 28 million tonnes shipped last year, worth $800 million in export revenue. China is also expected to become a major importer of direct reduced iron as its electric arc furnace steelmaking sector expands.
The Minister said the export of WA LNG to China would be a significant boost for the State and that discussions would also continue regarding large-scale exports of LNG to China as an alternative fuel for power generation.
During meetings with Government representatives, Mr Barnett will also present a report regarding the distribution of WA LNG throughout China's provinces.
The report shows how from a central receival terminal, it would be economic to distribute smaller quantities of LNG to China's coastal cities and inland cities accessible by river systems, using smaller ships or barges rather than by pipeline.
The research was carried out after a request from the Mayor of Shanghai to Mr Barnett during a meeting in May.
Mr Barnett will be joined on his visit to Malaysia and China by Professor Lance Twomey from Curtin University of Technology; Professor Millicent Poole from Edith Cowan University; Professor Steven Schwartz from Murdoch University; Professor Deryck Schreuder from the University of WA and Professor Peter Tannock from the University of Notre Dame Australia.
It will be the second visit to Asia in two years by such a senior delegation.
"WA's five universities are at the forefront of developing international education in Australia and the number of enrolments from overseas students continues to increase as our universities promote the many good reasons why studying for a tertiary education in Perth is worthwhile," Mr Barnett said.
"I am pleased the universities are working collaboratively to promote WA as a higher education destination.
"We are ideally placed to attract Asian students and the State benefits in many ways, culturally and economically, with the international tertiary education sector injecting around $270 million each year into our economy.
"Enrolments are steadily increasing, with the State's four public universities taking on 10,800 international students this year, compared with7,800 three years ago.
"The overwhelming majority of overseas students in WA come from Asia but only around 100 students are from China, compared with about 3,600 from Singapore and 2,600 from Malaysia.
"Both the State Government and the universities would like to see the number of students from China increase in future years.
"This visit will strengthen the high level senior Government and education relationships already in place and show that we are committed to providing a high standard of education opportunities to students from neighbouring countries."
While overseas, the Minister will also participate in a foundation stone laying ceremony for Curtin University of Technology's new permanent campus facilities in Sarawak, the second branch campus of an overseas university in Malaysia.
The campus opened this year in temporary facilities and is expected to offer an expanded range of courses next year with a long term aim to cater for 10,000 students.
At the Metal Bulletin Conference, the Minister will outline the current state of WA's iron ore industry and provide predictions on the industry's potential future growth
He will discuss the strength of WA's relationship with Asia and the important role the State's iron ore industry plays in the growth of Asian economies.
For the third successive year, China is the world's largest crude steel producer with production totalling close to 114 million tonnes last year and forecast to be around 174 million tonnes by 2010.
Media contact: Justine Whittome, (08) 9222 9699