The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, will chair the meeting in Brisbane where three students selected at the Roundtable will be given the opportunity to deliver their communiqué directly to State Ministers.

The students were selected from the 31 representatives who met earlier this month in Canberra. More than 1300 applications to attend the roundtable were received from all states and territories, broadly representing the diversity of international students studying in Australia.

The Roundtable is part of a comprehensive suite of activities designed to ensure that the vitally important international education sector continues to enjoy its enviable international reputation.

At MCTEE, Education Ministers will also hear progress reports on the International Student Strategy being developed at the request of COAG (Council of Australian Governments). The strategy will:
•    Improve the experience for international students through better information before they arrive and then once in Australia
•    Improve the engagement of international students with the broader Australian community
•    Improve the safety of students through State and Territory police services
•    Enhance general educational offerings that develop cultural understanding, tolerance and language skills
•    Ensure the quality of education providers.

For information and advice on studying in Australia, read the new issue of i-studentadvisor Australia online now.

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.