PJ Drake
Chair
Australian Education Office (North America) Inc
September 1996
The period October 1995 to October 1996 has been the most successful year of the Australian Education Office (AEO) since its incorporation in April 1992. The AEO operates from offices in the Australian Embassy, Washington, and discharges a dual role: generic promotion in the United States of America and Canada of Australian education, research and training (with a current emphasis on higher education); and the provision of services to member Australian universities.
Since July 1995, the AEO has functioned as the contracted operator for the Australian International Education Foundation (AIEF) in North America. For this role, the AEO has enjoyed from AIEF the provision of financial support proportionate to the amount of annual subscriptions received from those Australian universities and their affiliates which are members of AEO.
In 1995-96 the number of university members expanded from twenty-four to twenty-nine, and affiliate members from one to two. These numbers represent AEO's highest ever level of membership. This year the contract with AIEF to act for the Foundation in North America was renewed and extended to 30 June 1997.
The interest by North American students in Australian study opportunities has continued to grow. Thus, the number of student visas issued to students in higher education increased to 3,200 in 1995 from 2,800 in 1994.
There has been a change in the governance of AEO during the year. One of the founding members, the American Australian Studies Foundation (AASF) withdrew, voluntarily and gracefully, so that IDP Education Australia becomes the sole founding member of the company. I should like at this point to acknowledge with warm appreciation the contribution made to AEO in its birth and infancy by Mr John Hatton of AASF. Mr Hatton has now retired from AEO's governing Board and his place has been taken, ex officio, by Professor Di Yerbury who is President of IDP Education Australia.
In October 1995 the foundation Chair of the AEO Board, Professor C D Blake and Professor R D Guthrie retired from the Board in accordance with the AEO constitution; in their places Professor Raoul Mortley and Professor David Beanland were elected by the Vice-Chancellors of 1995-96 member universities.
Professor Robert H T Smith (Executive Director), Dr Denis Blight (Chief Executive Officer of IDP), Mr Robert J Tyson (designated alternate for the Australian Ambassador to the USA), Professor Claude Lajeunesse (co-opted senior Canadian educator), Professor G V H Wilson and myself have continued to serve on the Board throughout the year under review.
Since the October 1995 Annual General Meeting of the Company (held in-person at Australian Catholic University, McAuley Campus), the Board has met by teleconference in February, May and August 1996. The current in-person general meeting in Adelaide concludes the duty cycle of the present Board. Professor Wilson and I now retire, to be succeeded by Professor R D Terrell (ANU) and Associate Professor L Davidson (Murdoch). With Mr Tyson's impending posting back to Australia, Ms Penelope Amberg (Director, Cultural Affairs in the Washington Embassy) becomes the Australian Ambassador's designated alternate member of the Board.
In 1996 the AEO has promoted and conducted highly successful study tours of Australia for American educators. Of particular note are the Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Study Tour in June (seventeen participants) and the American Association of Community Colleges Presidents Study Tour in July (twenty-seven participants). Enthusiastic post-tour evaluations have been received from both of these groups.
As already indicated, student visas issued to North American students are at record levels. The level of interest and enquiries has lead to the provision by AEO of printed and electronic-based information about Australian education. The AEO maintains a vigorous publications program not only to serve student enquiries but also to reach a wider audience. The main titles are: Australia: Education Quality, Education Excellence; Study Abroad Advisors' guide to Australian Higher Education 1996-97; Study in Australia (newsletter of the Australian Education Office); an Annual Report and Quarterly Activity Reports. I visited the AEO office in Washington in February 1996 and found that, despite inadequate office space, the small staff worked enthusiastically and effectively in dealing with enquiries and providing published information.
The AEO staff complement is four persons: Executive Director (Professor RHT Smith), Associate Director (Mr John D Wells) and two Program Assistants (Ms Carri Kendrick, and Ms Deana Paolella appointed to replace Ms Mary Frances Gillespie who resigned from the company in April 1996 after giving exceptional service since November 1994). The staff are assisted from time to time by secondees from Australian universities, who have the opportunity to broaden their own experience and also undertake a project of value to their home university. In the past year the secondees have been Mr Mark Leary (Australian Catholic University), Ms Janine Grey (The University of Newcastle), Ms Naomi Porter (Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology) and Ms Bronwyn Ives (University of Tasmania). John Wells and Bronwyn Ives exchanged positions for the period August-October.
The AEO is currently in a sound and strong position. If both institutional subscriptions and support from the Australian government (through matching funds from the AIEF) can be maintained, the company can be expected to be even more effective in future years. It is well established and favourably known among educational leaders in the United States and Canada, and most Australian universities now understand that its work goes well beyond the promotion of Australian study opportunities. In fact, the AEO opens doors to very valuable connections in North America.
In retiring from the Chair, and the Board, I wish to record my appreciation of the support of fellow Directors, and especially of the Executive Director, Professor Robert H T Smith, whose outstanding commitment and energies have built AEO into an organisation of very great value to the Australian and North American education communities.
On behalf of AEO and personally, I would like to thank Mrs Jan Buckley and Mrs Pattie Owen, my Executive Assistant and Personal Secretary, respectively, who have gladly and capably done work for AEO extra to their other onerous duties.