Universities on both sides of the Tasman Sea are mounting a charm offensive in Beijing, amid concerns that enrolments from China could be peaking.

New Zealand universities minister Shane Reti is headlining this year’s China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE), where his nation is “country of honour”.

Auckland University of Technology vice-chancellor Damon Salesa is scheduled to deliver a keynote speech at the 30 October conference, touted as one of the “largest and leading international education events” in the Asia-Pacific.

Also on the bill is Universities Australia (UA) chair Carolyn Evans, who is leading a 14-strong delegation including vice-chancellors and senior executives from 10 universities.

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According to speech notes, Evans will talk up student flows and joint research and “innovation ecosystems” between Australia and China while lauding the “extraordinary” research achievements observed by her group.

“From the development of next generation medical technologies, to cutting-edge genomics, to electric cars that will be part of the fight against climate change, we have witnessed truly impressive, research-driven developments,” she will say. “But we are not just here as witnesses to this flourishing of Chinese innovation. We are here also to partner.

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“We must share innovation ecosystems when appropriate, bringing together universities, start-ups and industry across both nations to create shared hubs of creativity and entrepreneurship.”

The tour, described by UA as “one of the most significant higher education missions in years”, is happening as data suggests a post-pandemic surge in new higher education students from China might have run its course. The tally of commencements over the past three years has barely changed, according to the latest year-to-date figures from the Education Department.

While China remains Australia’s largest foreign source market for degree-level students, insiders warn this will not last as the country’s stuttering economy strips its middle class of disposable cash – a phenomenon reflected in the reported across the nation last year.

Austrade said it expected strong student flows from China for at least the next half-decade. The agency’s Shanghai-based trade commissioner, Stephanie Smith, cited economic growth rates that dwarfed those of the West and survey findings that parents continued to prize international education.

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“There may be a slowdown in the economy [but] I think we’re sweet for now,” Smith told delegates to the recent Australian International Education Conference in Canberra. “Over these next five years – no problem.”

China also dominates overseas enrolments in New Zealand, which are recovering from the island nation’s extended Covid border closures. “We are proud that Chinese students consistently rate their time in New Zealand highly, especially the connections they make and the quality of their education experience,” Reti said, ahead of the Beijing conference.

“This is a valuable opportunity to connect with existing partners and explore new opportunities for education and research cooperation between our countries.”

The conference follows the renewal of UA’s longest-standing international partnership – a 26-year-old memorandum of understanding with the China Education Association for International Exchange.

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“Australia and China understand the importance of education, and this has helped bring our countries closer together for over a century,” Evans said.

She will tell the conference that the two countries’ educational relationship, which began with the arrival of the first Chinese student Down Under in the 1920s, preceded Australia’s formal recognition of China by 50 years.

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john.ross@timeshighereducation.com