Swinburne enhances international strategy with UP Education

Australia’s Swinburne University of Technology has teamed up with New Zealand provider UP Education in a joint venture partnership to promote its English language and pathway programmes internationally. 

The strategic collaboration will help international marketing and recruitment efforts at Swinburne and further its mission to grow as a higher education industry leader with a global presence and reputation.

With various market factors pointing to overall enrollments flatlining across Australian higher education, the sector has amplified its internationalisation strategy to remain globally-competitive, rolling out initiatives to boost foreign student numbers and lift industry engagement.

“This partnership creates new opportunities that will benefit the university and our students, aligned with Swinburne’s 2025 vision and strategy,” Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Linda Kristjanson AO said in a media release.

“The joint venture will enhance Swinburne’s existing marketing and recruitment capability, providing access to new and emerging international markets.”

The venture, named Swinburne Academy, will deliver the university’s English language (ELICOS) pathway programmes, Foundation Year courses, UniLink diplomas and Masters Qualifying Programme at the university’s Hawthorn campus.

UP Education Group CEO Mark Rushworth said the partnership will help draw more international students to the prestigious university. Foreignn students currently make up 13.5 percent of the Swinburne student body, lower than the national average of 21.3 percent, according to 2017 data from Study Move. 

“We are thrilled to be working with Swinburne University of Technology on this joint venture. Swinburne is a globally ranked university and a leader in science, technology, innovation, business and design. 

“Having a large university partner in Melbourne, one of Australia’s leading education centres, creates great opportunities for our students.”

The partnership is the latest in a series of other strategic academic partnerships inked by the university this year. 

In February, Swinburne linked up with the Education Centre of Australia, a leader in the international student market, to deliver a small suite of internationally in-demand postgraduate programmes in Parramatta, Sydney. 

In October, the university established Swinburne Vietnam to deliver a small suite of undergraduate programmes in partnership with the technology-focused FPT University.

“Swinburne is committed to providing excellent outcomes in learning and is dedicated to delivering outstanding experiences for our students to help them achieve their professional purpose,” said Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) Professor Duncan Bentley.

Swinburne Academy is anticipated to be in place for a 2020 delivery. 

Apart from Swinburne, UP Education also works with University of Tasmania and Charles Darwin University in Australia and the University of Auckland, Victoria University Wellington and the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.