Australia’s high-quality education system is flexible and challenging. Internationally, Australian education and training ranks highly. In international education and English-language training, Australia has developed a reputation as a world leader.
Further education in Australia takes two forms: higher education program offered by universities and other higher education institutions, and those offered by industry and institutions within the vocational and technical education sector.
The workforce is highly educated: one in five Australians has a university degree or higher qualification, and more than one in four holds a trade, technical or paraprofessional qualification.
There are 40 universities and over 100 other higher education institutions educate at the undergraduate and postgraduate level, undertake research and scholarship, provide expert advice and comment, and enrich the intellectual life of the nation.
Australia is one of the world’s leading providers of education and training to international students. More than 400,000 students from around 200 countries receive an Australian education each year.
Significant numbers of students come to Australia from China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, India and Taiwan.
Australian Education Programs:
There are two types of tertiary education programs: those offered by institutions and industry in the vocational and technical education (VTE) sector; and those offered by universities and other higher education providers.
Vocational Education and Training (VET)
Australia’s VET system provides individuals with the skills required in a modern economy and delivers competency-based training that is practical and career-oriented. In the regulated VET system, industry-based qualifications are delivered by registered training organisations (RTO), which include public institutions, called TAFE institutes, and private colleges.
Australian VET qualifications are designed to provide students with nationally recognized competencies that employers have identified as critical to their needs.
Students achieve the qualification when they have met the set competency standards. Through the National Skills Shortages Strategy, the Australian Government works in partnership with key industry groups to ensure training programs meet current and future industry needs.
Universities
Australian universities have an international reputation for excellence in teaching and research, with academic staff recruited from Australia and around the world. Universities and other higher education institutions offer programs leading to bachelor and a range of postgraduate degrees, including higher degrees by research.
The Australian higher education sector comprises 37 public universities and two private universities, which are autonomous and self-accrediting; four other self-accrediting higher education institutions; and about 130 non-self accrediting institutions that are accredited by state and territory governments.
All Australian higher education institutions have mechanisms in place to ensure that the high quality of their courses and services is maintained at an international standard.
