March 4, 2019
The Group of Eight (Go8), as Australia’s leading research-intensive universities, with seven of its members in the world’s top 100 universities, welcomes the announcement that Australia has today signed the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IA-CEPA) with Indonesia.
In 2016, the Go8 recommended to DFAT that the agreement include provisions allowing the universities of both countries to establish campuses offshore. This has been partly met, with the agreement incorporating future liberalisation measures for Australian universities seeking to operate in Indonesia.
Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said this will provide a solid foundation upon which to build for greater two way mobility of our students and researchers.
“Once in place, this will pave the way for talented Indonesian students to access high quality Australian education at a lower cost, support the Indonesian government in meeting the education needs of its growing middle class and provide further opportunities for Australia’ high performing international education sector.
“The Go8 will continue to lobby for its other recommendations, including revisions to the accreditation framework to encompass online study programmes and streamlining visa processes to encourage mobility between our two countries.
“Deepening engagement with ASEAN nations – including Indonesia – is a key priority for the Go8, especially as the world’s focus shifts to our region. The IA-CEPA signed today is a positive step forward in the relationship between our two countries.”
Indonesia is one of our nation’s closest neighbours, an important strategic partner and one of the fastest growing economies in the Indo-Pacific.
Go8 universities hosted around 4,790 enrolments from Indonesian nationals in 2018, including half (50%) of those who came to Australia to undertake a research degree.
“These Indonesian PhD and Masters Research students are contributing to new discoveries in the sciences, health and engineering,” Ms Thomson said. “Through them, and others like them, research intensive universities advance the stock of world knowledge and contribute to the economic and social wellbeing of both our nations. We see this agreement as a strong signal that Australia is looking to deepen our engagement with Indonesia, and we look forward to working more closely with Indonesia as a result of this agreement.”
Contact: Vicki Thomson, Group of Eight Chief Executive on +61 438 047 155