This award recognises the work of an individual or team that has contributed to international education through a ground-breaking development in international development, internationalisation of the curriculum, marketing or communication, international support programs, pathway, mobility or social inclusion initiatives.
2024
Winner: Shaping the Future: The World's First Homestay Quality Standards by Study NSW and NEAS Australia
Study NSW, NEAS Australia, and homestay service providers collaborated to establish an Australian- and world-first, government-supported and industry-led set of quality standards for homestay accommodation. Addressing a lack of sector-wide guidelines, the standards created a unified framework in partnerships with the education sector, government agencies, associations, and legal experts. The standards were supported by the Homestay Symposium in March 2024 and prompted the reintroduction of a homestay-dedicated insurance product, reflecting renewed confidence in the sector's quality management. Within the first six months of launching, the initiative endorsed over 25,000 homestay beds, attracting new hosts and alleviating pressure on the rental market.
High commendation: National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS) by Student Accommodation Association
The Student Accommodation Association (SAA) implemented a strategy to improve the perception, clarity, and messaging consistency about student accommodation in Australia through the National Property Accreditation Scheme (NPAS). NPAS assists national education stakeholders in identifying, promoting and supporting quality-managed student accommodation businesses. The NPAS Framework, created through extensive collaboration with members, government and education stakeholders, focuses on four elements: Business Profile, Facility and Amenity, Management Model, and Operational Plan. Properties assessed to meet NPAS standards are awarded the NPAS stamp of quality/license for up to three years. ensuring high-quality, student-exclusive housing that supports the educational journey of students across Australia.
High commendation: Student Communication and Needs Analysis (SCANA) by Katherine Olston, Alexandra Garcia Marrugo and Josh Aarts
The ‘Student Communications and Needs Analysis’ (SCANA) initiative supports the early identification of academic language needs and barriers. SCANA is an online screening tool which measures students’ academic language proficiency and suggests tailored learning support to students. Online text completion task and speed-reading activities assess comprehension skills, and recommend a combination of targeted support workshops, and other support offerings provided by the Learning Hub. In 2023, the SCANA program was delivered to a total of 8,356 students. Students who attended at least one SCANA support workshop were half as likely to fail in their targeted unit of study.
Proudly supported by Monash University
2023
NSW Jobs Connect for International Students
Study NSW and Seek
Study NSW partnered with employment platform SEEK, education providers, and NSW employers to deliver NSW Jobs Connect for International Students, recognising the value of international students to the Australian skills-mix and economy. Connecting international students directly with employers, is a win for international students, education institutions and the education sector, while contributing to business and employer skills shortages.
High Commendation
Advancing STEM Education in Papua New Guinea
-
Associate Professor Vinesh Chandra
- Professor Dann Mallet
- Mr David Kozar
- Dr Chris Blundell
- Dr Charisse Farr
- Dr Andy Yeh
- Ms Danielle Gordon
- Dr Senka Henderson
- Mr Matthew Readette
- Associate Professor Terri Bourke
- Associate Professor Denise Beutel
Following the launch of Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape’s ‘Schools of Excellence Policy’, QUT has developed award-winning, contextually-appropriate capacity-building projects in STEM Education. As part of the Australian Government’s foreign aid program, the Australia Awards Graduate Certificate in STEM Education course was successfully delivered to three cohorts of 73 high school teachers, with a success rate of 98%. QUT has continued to design professional development and capacity-building projects in PNG.
2022
Cross-cultural engagement with students from the subcontinent: academic and professional staff resource kit
- Monika Kansal
- Ritesh Chugh
- Stephanie Macht
- Anthony Weber
- Mahsood Shah
- Robert Grose
The Cross-cultural engagement with students from the subcontinent: academic and professional staff resource kit was developed by a research team within CQUniveristy to educate new and existing academic and professional staff to better understand the unique cross-cultural challenges that confront international students, especially relating to cultural communication styles, learning barriers, learning styles, and learning practices. The resource kit is available to any university.
2021
International Student Driver Delivery Training Program
- Desma Smith, Associate Director, International Student Advisory & Support, Swinburne University of Technology
- Peta Simpson, Acting CEO, Fit2Drive Foundation
- Zana Bytheway, Executive Director, JobWatch Inc
- Gabrielle Marchetti, Senior Lawyer, JobWatch Inc
- Gino Carrafa, Directing Manager, D’Accord OAS
- Olivia Doyle, Employability Adviser - International, Swinburne University of Technology
- Steve Kirkbright, Education Officer, Swinburne University of Technology
- Annie Peake, International Student Adviser, Swinburne University of Technology
The International Student Food Delivery Training Program is an educational training program on work rights, road safety, and legal rights and responsibilities for international students who supplement their income in Australia through this gig-economy. The Program was created under funding from Study Melbourne by the Fit2Drive network, Swinburne University, D’Accord OAS, and JobWatch Inc to educate new arrivals and existing vulnerable cohorts on road safety, reducing personal injury, occupational health and safety, and reporting and business keeping obligations. These materials can assist education providers to meet Standard 6 of the ESOS National Code of Practice.
International Students to Responsible Information Systems Professionals
- Dr Craig Parker, Senior Lecturer, Deakin University
- Dr Bardo Fraunholz, Associate Professor and Director Analytics, Deakin University
- A/Prof Harsh Suri, Associate Professor, Deakin University
- Dr Lasitha Dharmasena, Senior Lecturer, Deakin University
- Dr Van-Hau Trieu, Lecturer and Director of the Master of Information Systems, Deakin University
- Dr Vivek Venkiteswaran, Digital Resource Coordinator, Deakin University
Australian business schools face two main challenges: developing international student employability and building Environmental and Social Responsibility (ESR) capabilities. With an innovative approach, a team from the Deakin Business School has motivated large cohorts of Master of Information Systems students, over 90% being international students, to plan and prepare for professional employment in Australia and overseas. The program engages students with industry expectations and ESR using real business problems and practice, and supports students in developing transferable skills and evaluative judgement. An overwhelming number of alumni have expressed how this approach helped them in securing and progressing in professional careers.
2020
Global Immersion Guarantee
- Sharon Pickering, Dean, Faculty of Arts, Monash University
GIG leads the way in mobility with transformative TNE experiences based on innovative funding models and best practice in program design and outcomes assessment. The GIG model delivers student mobility at scale and removes mobility barriers for low-SES and other minority groups. GIG paves the way for more Australian-educated graduates to enter the workforce with a deep understanding of global challenges and the skills needed to strengthen engagement and succeed globally. For Monash, GIG has amplified global presences in key locations, fostered engagement and facilitated mobility through multifaceted partnerships with businesses, non-profits, and partnerships universities.
Victorian Certificate of Education Offshore Program
- Lisa Hayman, International Manager, Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority
The VCE Offshore Program, established by the VCAA in 2000, comprises 26 programs in China and one each in Malaysia, the Philippines, Timor Leste and Vanuatu. In 2020, the program expanded to Sri Lanka and Vietnam. Over 5,600 offshore students have graduated with 94% of students choosing Australia for their tertiary pathway. VCE Offshore is delivered through an international school partnership model promoting strong global connections for Victoria and Australia and nurturing future global leaders. The program benefits a wide range of stakeholders including students, teachers at offshore schools, teachers at Victorian partner schools, Australian tertiary institutions, and Australian and Victorian governments.
2019
Insider Guides
- James Martin, Managing Director
For over a decade, Insider Guides has addressed two major information gaps in the sector (social inclusion and high-quality pre-departure information), provided employment to students and assisted government and institutions to support international students. Today, free copies of the guides are distributed to over 70 per cent of new international students each year and over 500 institutions and other businesses across Australia.
2018
Professional Language Development Program in Nursing
- Dr Amanda Müller, Senior Lecturer (English for Specific Purposes), Flinders University
Measured over a four-year period, the international students who attended Flinders University's Professional Language Development Program (about a third to half of the cohort) achieved higher grade point averages, and those attending more classes achieved significantly better grades. The improved performance of students, and expert support for at-risk students, reduced the pressure on academic staff and enabled students to have a better educational experience.
2017
Victorian Young Leaders to China
- Department of Education and Training, Victorian Government
Victorian Young Leaders to China is a flagship student mobility initiative that provides the opportunity for 1,500 Victorian Year 9 students from government, Catholic and independent schools to travel to China to complete a six-week immersion program. It represents the single largest investment made by a state government in Australia to develop a “China aware”, “China engaged” student cohort through student mobility.
International Postgraduate Paediatric/Nurse Certificate
- Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network
The International Postgraduate Paediatric Certificate (IPPC)/ International Postgraduate Paediatric Nurse Certificate (IPPNC) team empowers healthcare professionals treating children and young people globally with best practice in paediatrics. Its business model includes scaled course fees in each country so as to be affordable by young doctors and nurses and participants in developing countries are cross subsidized by those in developed countries.
2016
BRIDGE School Partnerships Project
- Aaron O’Shannessy, Manager, International Programs, Asia Education Foundation
- Bonnie Hermawan, Senior Project Officer, International Programs, Asia Education Foundation
The BRIDGE project has better connected students with their counterparts in Asia and enabled the development of global competencies, skilling teachers to provide deep learning experiences for their students.
2015
Teaching Advantage Program
- Dr Dominique Greer, Senior Lecturer, Queensland University of Technology
- Associate Professor Abby Cathcart, Queensland University of Technology
- Professor Larry Neale, Queensland University of Technology
The innovative Teaching Advantage Program prepares doctoral students for current and future teaching. Since its inception, it has improved the teaching self-efficacy and career prospects of doctoral students from 27 countries.
Study Melbourne Student Centre
- Andrea Brookes, Senior Case Worker
- Li Chen, Case Worker
- Kimberlea Cooper, Case Worker
- Diana Crvenkovic, Manager Student Experience
- Wei Jiang, Case Worker
- Adriana Mendiata , Administration and Project Officer
- Alex Prentice, Manager Study Melbourne Student Centre
- Tammy Vu, Case Worker
2014
Picture Yourself in Perth, Chengdu Competition, StudyPerth
- Mike Ryan, StudyPerth
- Leo Yu, StudyPerth
- Jessie Ying, StudyPerth
The inaugural ‘Picture Yourself in Perth (PYP)’ Chengdu Photo Competition was launched in 2011 to support the newly-established sister city relationship between Perth and Chengdu.
Improving International Work Readiness and Employability of Engineering Graduates: Monash-RMIT CIP Framework in Electronic Testing
- Dr Melanie Ooi, Monash University Malaysia
- Dr Serge Demidenko, RMIT University Vietnam
- Ms Moi Tin Chew, RMIT University
- Dr Ye Chow Kuang, Monash University
Teaching International Students in Vocational Education – Ly Tran, Deakin University
Teaching International Students in Vocational Education: New Pedagogical Approaches is a unique resource that provides 114 examples of good practice as well as conceptual knowledge underpinning effective approaches to teaching international students in VET. This project was funded by the Australian Research Council through a Discovery Grant.
2013
Griffith English Language Enhancement Strategy (GELES)
- Dr Ben Fenton-Smith
- Ms Pamela Humphreys
- Dr Ana Lobo
- Mr Christopher Madden
- Mr Andrew Monaghan
- Dr Rowan Michael
- Mr John Smith
- Ms Kerry Sutcliffe
- Dr Ian Walkinshaw
thedesk – Promoting Resilience and Wellbeing in Tertiary Students
- Professor David Kavanagh, Queensland University of Technology
- Associate Professor Alan Ralph, The University of Queensland
- Dr Helen Stallman, The University of Queensland
thedesk is the first strengths-based internet intervention in the world specifically aimed at improving the success and wellbeing of tertiary students.
English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program
- Katherine Brandon, English Australia
- Professor Anne Burns, The University of New South Wales
- Dr Hanan Khalifa, Cambridge English Language Assessment
The English Australia Action Research in ELICOS Program offers ELICOS teachers the opportunity to learn the skills needed to investigate their own teaching practices.
2012
Western Australia Science Roadshow to Vietnam
- Mike Ryan, Perth Education City
- Sophie Waddell, Perth Education City
The Western Australia (WA) Science Roadshow was part of a five-year strategy to improve WA’s positioning in Vietnam and showcase Australia’s science research and innovation.
Connections for Learning Program
- Professor Robyn Nash, Assistant Dean (Learning & Teaching), Faculty of Health
- Rena Frohman, Language and Learning Skills Adviser, Student Support Services
- Pamela Lemcke, Lecturer School of Nursing, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology
CLP has played a key role in helping students overcome feeling left out, rejected, marginalised or discriminated because of language difficulties and facilitating successful academic and professional outcomes.
Master of Hospital Administration Program, China
- Dr Arthur van Deth, Flinders University
Dr van Deth has been awarded for his role in the development of Flinders University’s Master of Hospital Administration in partnership with Nankai University in Tianjin, China.
2011
Best Practice in Agent Management: A Guide for Education Providers
- Victorian TAFE International
Submitted by Kate Dempsey, Executive Officer on behalf of the group, this document builds on work done to date in relation to agent monitoring and management and provides a checklist for VTI member TAFE Institutes to ensure they are engaging in best practice when they select, contract with Education Agents and provide ongoing information and liaison with Agents.
Finding Common Ground: Enhancing Interaction Between Domestic and International Students
- Sophie Arkoudis, The University of Melbourne
- Chi Baik, The University of Melbourne
- Xin Yu, The University of Melbourne
- Helen Borland, Victoria University
- Shanton Chang, The University of Melbourne
- Ian Lang, The University of Melbourne
- Josephine Lang, RMIT University
- Amanda Pearce, Victoria University
- Kim Watty, Deakin University
Student Welcome Desk, City of Melbourne
- Sharon Smith, City of Melbourne
- Adrian Wong, City of Melbourne
- Evelyne Deshaies, City of Melbourne
- William Nguyen, City of Melbourne
2010
Diagnostic English Language Assessment (DELA), University of Melbourne
- Laurie Ransom, The University of Melbourne
- Professor Pip Pattison, The University of Melbourne
- Professor Geoff Stevens, The University of Melbourne
- Kellie Frost, The University of Melbourne
Student and Community Support Program, Study Adelaide
- Bill Spurr, Education Adelaide
- Mark Osborne, Education Adelaide
- Tejinder (TJ) Malhi, Education Adelaide
This program helps create distinctive and stimulating experiences for international students ensuring they interact with one another and make friends. It provides real insights into the Australian lifestyle an encourages students to become StudyAdelaide ambassadors.
My Bond MBA, Bond University
- Professor Ray Gordon, Bond University
- Anita Unwin, Bond University
- Dr Kenichi Ohmae, Business Breakthrough Inc, Japan and Bond University
- Kazushi Wakabayashi, Business Breakthrough Inc, Japan
The MyBondMBA (or Bond-BBT MBA) program is the result of an enduring 10 year partnership between the School of Business at Bond University, Australia and Business Breakthrough Inc, Japan.
2009
Welcome to International Students, City of Melbourne
- Cherry Brinwade, City of Melbourne
- Gary Lee, City of Melbourne
More than 3,500 students attended the third annual City of Melbourne Welcome to International Students on Sunday 1 March 2009, organised by the Youth Team at the City of Melbourne office.
Chilean Technical Scholarships; TAFE Queensland, Xstrata Copper & the Government of Chile
- TAFE Queensland
- Xstrata Copper
- Government of Chile, Ministry for Education
Demonstrated best practice in international collaboration through high level government-to-government negotiations
Online Pre-departure Program; Education Queensland International (EQI) and Mediasphere Pty Ltd
- Martin Gunsberg, EQI
- Wendy Gilbert, EQI
- Tony Carrucan, Mediasphere
- Geoff Franklin, Mediasphere