Media Releases 2005

18 April 2005

Australian universities forging links with Latin America

A delegation of Australian Vice-Chancellors today arrived in Mexico on the first leg of a two week tour to forge links within the higher education sector in several Latin American countries.

The Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee delegation, led by President Professor Di Yerbury, will visit Mexico, Chile and Brazil for talks on issues of mutual interest such as student exchanges, quality assurance, and research collaboration.

The AVCC will link up with the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Dr Brendan Nelson in Chile and Brazil.

“Australian universities are committed to internationalising higher education. This tour will strengthen this commitment by providing the opportunity to meet and establish relations with counterparts of respective universities. In addition, together with Dr Nelson, we will be meeting the Education Ministers of Chile and Brazil,” Professor Yerbury said.

“The AVCC is keen to look at opportunities to establish linkages whereby students and staff from Australia and Latin American countries have the opportunity to participate in student exchanges and study abroad initiatives; quality assurance programs; and future research collaboration,” she said.

Professor Yerbury said increasing student mobility and student and staff exchanges were important aspects of internationalising Australia’s higher education. They would deliver many social, cultural and intellectual benefits to Australia in the process.

“It is time to widen the focus of international education in Australia. The AVCC has recognised this and, in its 2004 policy paper Achieving the vision for Australia’s universities, set the target for 20% of Australian students to include international study as part of their degrees by 2020,” Professor Yerbury said.

“Australian universities want to provide students with opportunities for diverse global experiences not limited to traditional education destinations.

“Brazil, Chile and Mexico are renowned internationally as being highly competitive in various fields of science and research, including the environment, biotechnology and telecommunications,” she said.

“Strengthening the links with these nations will provide further opportunities to explore research collaboration, staff exchanges and ensure long-term contacts and networks are developed and sustained,” Professor Yerbury said.

The AVCC delegation includes the President, Professor Di Yerbury, and fellow Vice-Chancellors, Professor Peter Sheehan of the Australian Catholic University; Professor John Rickard from Central Queensland University; Professor John Taplin, Pro Vice-Chancellor of The University of Adelaide and AVCC Chief Executive Officer, Mr John Mullarvey.

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