The Australia Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, today announced the names of the students who will form the International Student Roundtable to be held on 14 and 15 September 2009 in Canberra.

Thirty-one international students from across Australia have been selected to participate in the roundtable, which will focus on addressing student concerns and experiences. The students were selected from a range of Australian institutions including Flinders University, the University of Tasmania, Curtin University of Technology, Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE and Cambridge International College.

The roundtable participants were drawn from all states and territories and broadly represent the diversity of international students who come from more than 190 countries to study in Australia each year.

More than 1300 applications were received from international students and Minister Gillard thanked everyone who expressed an interest in being part of this important event. All will be offered the opportunity to be kept informed of the roundtable’s outcomes. The roundtable will complement the Government’s proposed amendments to immediately strengthen the Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act and inform the review of the legislation currently being undertaken by the Hon Bruce Baird.

The roundtable is one of many initiatives to further enhance the quality and sustainability of Australian international education.

The outcomes of the roundtable discussion will inform the ESOS Review and be presented to the Ministerial Council on Tertiary Education and Employment at its next meeting in September 2009.

Click here to view the full list of participants.