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When international borders began to reopen in 2022 and my team prepared for a much welcome influx of new enrolments, we took a step back to ask ourselves if international students still had the same priorities as they did before the pandemic.
It was a relief that many students still had an overwhelming desire to choose our city as their preferred study destination, yet we wanted to ensure we could meet the expectations of the Covid generation, so as they started arriving we began asking them about the things that mattered most to them in the post-lockdown world.
While objectives like the quality of education and great career outcomes remained high on their list, for many of the students we spoke to there was a noticeable emphasis on being able to live in a safe environment and a desire to gain something more than just a great education – increasingly they were looking for exceptional experiences outside of the classroom.
Student priorities had shifted as they openly talked about the importance of preserving their mental health and the prospect of pursuing that elusive concept of work/life balance. Given how scary the pandemic had been these weren’t surprising responses, and while Covid may have enhanced the intersection of technology and learning, the rise of virtual study also heightened a yearning for authentic and lived experiences.
International education gives students the opportunity to discover something new and, in the process of building friendships, connections and cultural experiences, the very real prospect of self-discovery and personal growth.
The Gold Coast has long prided itself on being a multiculturally diverse and welcoming city. With a third of our residents born overseas and booking.com naming us one of the Most Welcoming Cities in the World in 2023, there’s good reason for those claims. It’s a principle we’ve carried into every aspect of the student experience here and has been fundamental to our success as Australia’s fastest growing study destination, increasing international enrolments on average by more than 10% per annum in the five years leading up to the pandemic.
One of our city’s greatest assets is the remarkable biodiversity and natural beauty that surrounds our extraordinary part of the world
As a young, dynamic, and quickly growing city, the Gold Coast continues to evolve through a proactive and forward-thinking mindset. Last year, a new city-wide organisation was launched to bring education, tourism, events, the arts and culture together under Experience Gold Coast to promote the Gold Coast as a world-class destination, creating a unified approach that reimagines the future of our visitor economy. It’s a bold move and one that will open up many wonderful opportunities for our international students.
One of our city’s greatest assets is the remarkable biodiversity and natural beauty that surrounds our extraordinary part of the world. We know that it’s a significant drawcard for all who choose to come here, so when we began to think about how we could excite students through an enhanced experience the answer was literally on our doorstep.
As we look to redefine what an international education experience can be, we’re inviting students to explore their passions and challenge themselves by trying new things they would otherwise never have had the opportunity to do – and to do so in an amazing place filled with opportunities where they can thrive!
The Gold Coast is unlike any other study destination. With world-class education providers, unparalleled student support and a diverse community, the city provides an abundance of career opportunities where a meaningful and sustainable work/life balance isn’t just an ideal, it’s a reality.
About the author: Jennine Tax grew up and studied on the Gold Coast, a city of which she is very passionate, particularly when it comes to education. Her previous roles include director of business and communications for the global property division at ABN AMRO in London and leading the management consulting offering at KPMG Gold Coast.
As the executive director of education for Experience Gold Coast, Jennine is thrilled about the organisation’s unified strategy to promote the city’s arts, culture, education, tourism and events. Jennine believes that the creation of this new entity will deliver even more opportunity for the city’s educational institutions and their students.
