Pre-conference program | International Education 101 Info Session

The session will include afternoon tea and networking.

Registration is essential as places are limited. To register, please tick the RSVP box when completing the AIEC 2024 Online Registration Form.

Register here

Join us for this informative session that will provide you with the basics of international education in Australia and set you up for a successful AIEC.

Our presenters will introduce valuable tools and resources to: update and refresh your knowledge; help you identify and focus on professional development opportunities; and ensure that the conference ahead isn’t a blur of unfamiliar acronyms and terminology.

Attendees will be equipped with: 

• an introduction to the governance of international education in Australia as well various peak bodies
• an overview of the regulatory framework for international education in Australia
• professional development opportunities at AIEC and beyond
• a beginners’ guide to international education data
• a summary of current market trends and key challenges
• tips and tricks for navigating your first AIEC. 

This workshop will be facilitated by presenters who are international education leaders and experts, including IEAA Board members and AIEC Steering Committee members. The session will also include afternoon tea and networking.

Learning objectives

Participants will learn about:

• the strengths, opportunities and challenges for international education in Australia 
• governance mechanisms and regulatory frameworks
• datasets used in international education, both in Australia and globally
• market trends and patterns.

Participants will also be able to network with each other, meet other international education ‘newcomers’ and AIEC ‘first timers’, and learn about professional development opportunities including tips on navigating AIEC effectively.

Audience

This session is designed for:

• ‘first timers’ – those attending their first AIEC
• ‘newcomers’ – those who have started working in international education within the past 18 months
• attendees who would like to refresh their knowledge around international education basics.

Speakers

Phil Honeywood

CEO, IEAA
AIEC Steering Committee member

Phil Honeywood is CEO of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA). He was a Member of the Victorian State Parliament, Australia, for 18 years (1988–2006). During this period, Phil served as the Victorian Minister for Tertiary Education, Training and Multicultural Affairs and was Deputy Leader of the Opposition from 2002 to 2006.

Since 2006, Phil has held positions as Marketing Director and CEO at Stott’s Business College and Cambridge International College, Melbourne. He also served on the Governing Council of Swinburne University of Technology.

Phil is Convener of the National Council for International Education and a member of the Higher Education Standards Panel, New Colombo Plan Steering Committee and the Education Visa Consultative Committee. He is Chair of the Australian Government’s Global Reputation Taskforce.

Dr Kirrilee Hughes (Facilitator)

Research Manager, IEAA

Dr Kirrilee Hughes is an international education consultant, IEAA’s Research Manager, and has nearly 20 years of experience in the global higher education and schools sectors.

Kirrilee has held leadership and strategy roles for global education organisations (Cognita, AFS Intercultural Programs) and strategy, teaching and research positions at four leading Australian universities (ANU, UNSW, UWA and The University of Newcastle). Kirrilee is an IEAA Senior Fellow and holds a PhD in Asian Studies from the Australian National University as well as postgraduate qualifications in marketing and Australian migration law and practice.

Kirrilee has special expertise in Indonesia and the broader South-East Asia region and is based in Singapore.

Tanya Perera

Client Director, IDP Connect APAC
AIEC Steering Committee member

Tanya Perera started working in the international education sector nearly 23 years ago, with her first role being to manage and reply to enquiries from international students. That role as an account manager led to senior roles and developing expertise across operations and client success, which gave Tanya the opportunity to work in London and Malaysia. As Commercial Director at Hobsons APAC, Tanya managed the client success function for more than eight years and then moved to consulting and business development roles. The amazing people (colleagues and students), the warm collegiality and the extraordinary effort and dedication are just some of the reasons why she believes international education is a special ‘place to be’.

Marnie Watson

Chief Commercial and Partnership Officer, Sannam S4 Group
Board Member, IEAA

Marnie Watson has 25 years of experience in the international education industry and has recently returned to Australia after many years based in Indonesia, Vietnam and Singapore. During Marnie's career she has held responsibility for managing university partnership relationships and leading teams to recruit students from global source markets into Australia, NZ, the UK and the US while overseeing the delivery of outstanding university pathways education and student support.

Her first role in the industry was with the University of New South Wales in Sydney and Indonesia. She later moved to Study Group based in Vietnam and Singapore, until joining UP Education, initially as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer and most recently as CEO of UP Education’s University Partnerships division.

Marnie has recently been appointed as Sannam S4's inaugural Chief Partnership Officer for Australia and New Zealand, where she is responsible for growth across the range of Sannam S4’s services including research and consultancy, enrolment solutions, transnational education and in-country representation.

Professor Ren Yi

Pro Vice-Chancellor International, University of Southern Queensland
Vice-President, IEAA
AIEC Steering Committee member

Professor Ren is the Pro Vice-Chancellor International at the University of Southern Queensland, providing leadership and strategic guidance across the university for internationalisation and global engagement. He has worked in the higher education sector for more than 20 years and has previously held positions at The University of Melbourne, The University of Queensland, Victoria University and Macquarie University. Professor Ren is Vice-President of the IEAA, having previously served as a Board member and Chair of the Research Committee. He is a member of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice-Chancellors International Executive Group and was recognised in 2022 as a Fellow of the Australasian Research Management Society (ARMS) for his distinguished service. He is an experienced researcher with a keen interest in the effective management of international education and global partnerships and is actively involved in the research management profession.

How to register

Simply tick the RSVP box to attend when completing your registration for AIEC 2024.

Register here

Key dates

21 March - Call for proposals opens

12 April - Call for proposals closes

30 May - Registration open

July - Program released

31 July - Super early bird registration closes

13 September - Early bird registration closes

22–25 October – AIEC 2024

Register now

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