Next week, over 1,800 representatives of education will be headed to Melbourne/Naarm to learn and discuss major industry trends within Australia’s international student sector.

The annual Australian International Education Conference (AIEC), happening from October 22 to 25, will bring together educators, researchers, policymakers and thought leaders committed to improving the international student experience in Australia. 

The event will see sessions covering important topics for international education today. Expert panels and presentations, as well as interactive session formats to facilitate learning and discussions, will be prominent throughout the conference too. 

From the caps on international students or changes to the graduate work visa, every discussion aims to help the regular international student in Australia thrive during and after their studies. 

AIEC 2024: ‘The human element’

This year, AIEC dives into “the human element,” inviting conference participants to explore the multifaceted dimensions of human interactions across the international education landscape in this rapidly evolving digital era.

A student’s international education experience is marked by personal connections, community engagement, cultural understanding, and shared in-person events. At AIEC, these human elements will be core of every discussion made. 

One topic that will be covered is the concerns international students in Australia have about the rental market.

At AIEC, this contested topic will be discussed through “Research versus reality – financial pressures relating to cost of living and accommodation.”

In this panel, Independent Higher Education Australia’s Board Director Professor James Adonopoulos will be joined by IEAA Senior Fellow Alison White to speak on survey results relating to the cost of living and accommodation pressures.

They will be joined by students, both self-funded and international scholarship recipients, to share their stories and experiences during their studies in Australia too. 

To tackle the universal worry of job hunting that every student encounters, AIEC will be hosting a panel, “Creating human connections between Australian employers and international students.”

In 2024, Austrade and Study Australia Partners enhanced international student and graduate employment outcomes by facilitating in-person interactions between students and Australian employers. This has allowed them to have better insight into the best practices in international student and Australian employer engagement.

This panel presentation will outline learnings from employability workshops, expos, and other in-person events that were designed to enhance the job readiness and employment outcomes of international students and graduates.