On the first day of his official visit to China, the Premier met China’s National Vice Minister of Education, Ms Lin Huiqing, to discuss Victoria’s credentials as a top destination for high school and tertiary education, and new initiatives to further enhance the safety and wellbeing of students who choose to study here.

Melbourne is currently ranked as the second best city in the world for international students after Paris. In 2015, more than 58,000 students from China enrolled in Victorian schools and tertiary education providers.

The Memorandum of Understanding signed today with the Chinese National Government will establish a biennial China-Victoria Education Leadership Dialogue to discuss a range of education issues from early childhood to higher education and research.

The Premier was joined in Beijing by representatives from the Victoria’s leading education providers, including the University of Melbourne, Victoria University, Monash University, Deakin University and a number of TAFE colleges from across the state.

Chinese students make up more than a third of international enrollments in Victoria.

The Premier today announced new measures to support the students while they work towards their qualifications, including:

• More welcome and orientation support for international students
• A new mobile ‘Welcome App’
• An International School Student Experience Victoria Program to familiarise new school students with Victoria’s culture and environment
• Increased resources to help Chinese students in Victoria engage with the community to gain skills and build local connections while they are here.

The Andrews Labor Government also hopes to promote two-way exchange by encouraging Victorian students, young professionals and public servants to study in China, and increasing opportunities for Victorians to learn about China and the Chinese language.

Applications open in early 2017 for the Government’s Hamer Scholarships program, which provides up to six months of language study in Asia for young Victorians.