Global Horizons - The Australian International Education Podcast

In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with Rick Chapman on the shores of Balmoral Beach in Sydney.Rick’s career started in fast-moving consumer goods, working with iconic brands including Guinness, Arnott’s, Tim Tams, Kit Kat and Milo. He then made the move into education, bringing deep marketing and brand experience into a sector with a very different purpose.Rob and Rick talk about what makes a great brand, why creativity still matters, and what higher education can learn from consumer marketing.They also explore the challenge of telling the story of Australian education. Universities and education providers have so much to say, but often struggle to communicate their value clearly and consistently.In this episode, we cover:✅ Rick’s career in consumer marketing✅ What made Guinness such a powerful brand✅ The move from FMCG into education✅ Why higher education needs stronger brand thinking✅ The challenge of telling Australia’s education story✅ Why relationships still matter in international educationThis is a conversation about marketing, storytelling, relationships and the value of education. It is also a reminder that while the tools of marketing keep changing, the fundamentals still matter: know your audience, tell a clear story, and build trust over time.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

Rob and Dirk are back for a new episode of Global Horizons, with Rob returning from France and Dirk recovering after a rough bout of flu.This episode covers a busy fortnight in international education, starting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia and the continued focus on transnational education.Rob and Dirk discuss Australia’s growing offshore education activity, including new developments in India and Sri Lanka, and the opportunities and risks that come with TNE. They also reflect on the importance of quality, oversight and making sure offshore delivery matches the strength of Australian education.The conversation then moves to government and regulation, including feedback from PIE Live, growing sector frustration, and TEQSA’s new consultations on TNE reporting and ESOS registration renewals.There is also a reminder about the Australian Census, and why international students should be encouraged to take part.In this episode, we cover:✅ Australia’s growing focus on transnational education✅ New TNE activity in India and Sri Lanka✅ Quality risks and oversight in offshore delivery✅ TEQSA’s consultations on TNE and ESOS✅ Why international students should complete the Census✅ Two positive stories: Gut Goose and Faizaan AtalThe episode finishes with two strong good-news stories: Gut Goose, a Queensland startup accepted into Y Combinator, and Faizaan Atal’s journey from refugee to Western Sydney University student through the Australian Refugee Student Settlement Pathway.It is a wide-ranging episode about policy, quality, data, innovation and the human stories that sit at the heart of international education.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Caroline Hartnett, Director of Study Melbourne, following the launch of Victoria’s refreshed international education strategy, Study with Victoria.Recorded at the Study Melbourne Hub in Hardware Lane, the conversation explores how Victoria is thinking about the next phase of international education after the recovery years.Caroline discusses the five pillars of the strategy: student experience, employability and alumni connections, promotion of Victoria’s education offering, global connections and partnerships, and collaboration across the sector.A major theme of the conversation is transnational education, and how Victorian institutions can support students to study with Victoria from anywhere in the world. Caroline also talks about the importance of offshore pathways, the Yes to International Student Fund, and why TNE can help students build confidence before coming to Australia.The episode also explores the importance of collaboration, with Caroline highlighting that Study Melbourne’s work only matters because of the education providers, institutions and sector partners behind it.In this episode, we cover:✅ Victoria’s refreshed Study with Victoria strategy✅ The five pillars guiding the strategy✅ Why student experience remains central✅ Victoria’s strength in transnational education✅ The Yes to International Student Fund✅ Why collaboration is key to the sector’s successThis is a focused conversation about Victoria’s international education future, and how the state is backing students, providers and global partnerships.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] reminder to colleagues that SUPER EARLY BIRD registrations for AIEC close TODAY (31st July). Get them here: https://aiec.idp.com/register-here

In this special edition of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Victorian Minister Steve Dimopoulos following the launch of Victoria’s refreshed International Education Strategy.Recorded at the Study Melbourne Hub in Hardware Lane, the conversation focuses on why international education matters so deeply to Victoria — not just as a major export, but as a source of jobs, global connections, innovation and long-term community impact.Minister Dimopoulos explains that Victoria is putting international students at the centre of its strategy, with a strong focus on student experience, welfare support, offshore study opportunities, and the role international students play in Victoria’s economy and society.The conversation also explores what makes Melbourne and Victoria distinctive: the culture, the events, the student support, the openness to the world, and the sense that international students are not just numbers in a system, but people whose families have trusted Australia to look after them.In this episode, we cover:✅ Victoria’s refreshed International Education Strategy✅ The role of the Study Melbourne Hub✅ Why student experience matters so much✅ International education’s value to Victoria’s economy✅ Victoria’s focus on offshore and transnational education✅ Why Melbourne wants international students to feel safe, connected and heardThis is a short, focused conversation about a state that is clearly backing international education and making the case for why international students matter.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

John Wood has had a front-row seat to some of the biggest moments in Australian higher education.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with John to trace a remarkable career that moves from working-class Western Australia to Oxford, the Hawke government, ECU, Notre Dame, Navitas and the Centre for Stories.John was in Canberra in the mid-1980s when the decision was made to allow Australian universities to charge full fees for international students. At the time, no one could have known just how significant that decision would become for Australia’s economy, society and global engagement.From there, the conversation moves through John’s early life, his time at Oxford, the origins and growth of Navitas, and the people and ideas that shaped Australian international education.But this is also a conversation about stories.John reflects on the importance of giving people a voice, why higher education has struggled to tell its own story, and why universities need to reconnect with their public purpose and social licence.In this episode, we cover:✅ John’s working-class upbringing and path to Oxford✅ His time working near Bob Hawke in Canberra✅ The decision to allow full-fee international students✅ The rise of Navitas and the pathway college model✅ The creation and purpose of the Centre for Stories✅ Why Australian higher education needs to tell its story betterThis is a wide-ranging conversation with one of Australian higher education’s great storytellers.It is about policy, opportunity, entrepreneurship, social purpose and the human stories that sit underneath it all.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com

Rob is in Basque country in the southwest of France, Dirk is back in western Sydney, and there is a lot to unpack in this episode of Global Horizons.It has been a massive fortnight for Australian international education, with major updates on student visa fees, national planning levels, ATEC, student housing and sector awards.First up, Rob and Dirk discuss the latest increase to student visa fees, with the main student visa rising from $2,000 to $2,500. They unpack why the sector reacted so strongly, the lack of consultation, and why this matters for students, providers and Australia’s competitiveness as a study destination.They also look at the newly announced 2027 National Planning Level, which remains at 295,000 new overseas student commencements, and what that might mean for institutions trying to plan ahead.The conversation then moves to the Universities Accord Bill and the proposed role of ATEC in allocating international student places. Rob and Dirk explore concerns about how much power may sit with the minister, how allocations could be changed, and what this means for the future shape of the sector.In this episode, we cover:The latest student visa fee increasesThe sector’s united response to the changesThe 2027 National Planning Level remaining at 295,000ATEC’s proposed role in international student allocationsVictoria’s proposed rental reforms and student accommodationThe 2026 Keystone AwardsThe episode finishes on a more positive note, with the announcement of the 2026 Keystone Awards winners, a shout-out to Rishin Shekhar’s new role at ANU, and congratulations to Dirk and The Koala News for reaching 10,000 LinkedIn followers.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com

Robert Parsonson has been part of Australia’s international education story for a very long time.His first AIEC, back when it was still the IDP conference, was in Sydney in 1994. He had just returned from four years in Japan, stood up in front of a room full of people, and gave a presentation on how to work with agents and build relationships in Japan.That presentation became a launchpad.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with Robert Parsonson on Ngunnawal country in Canberra to trace a career that has moved through Japan, ELICOS, VET, recruitment, agent networks, industry advocacy and the long, complicated evolution of Australian international education.Robert’s story starts with Japan in the 1980s, when it felt like the place to be. He went for a year, stayed for four, and came back with a deep understanding of relationship-building, humility, patience and how to work across cultures. As he explains, you do not walk into a market with all the answers. You listen. You learn. You build trust.That theme runs through the whole conversation.Because this is also a conversation about education agents, and the gap between the lazy public stereotype of the “dodgy agent” and the reality of an industry where most agents are doing the hard, human work of helping students and families navigate complex decisions, visa systems and life-changing study choices.Rob and Robert dig into the origins of SYMPLED, the creation of ISEA, the push for industry-led agent accreditation, and why accountability, transparency and student-centred practice matter so much if the sector wants to protect its social licence.They also take a wider look at Australia’s international education industry, from fax machines and the early 1990s boom years to today’s policy turbulence, visa refusals, public mistrust and the worrying rise of “mass migration” rhetoric.In this episode, we cover:Robert’s early years in Japan and what they taught him about trust, humility and cross-cultural relationshipsThe early days of Australian international education, from fax machines to rapid industry growthWhy the “dodgy agent” stereotype misses the reality of what most education agents doThe origins of SYMPLED and ISEA, and the push for industry-led agent accreditationWhy Australia needs to tell a stronger, more positive story about international educationThe danger of negative migration narratives, and why Australia still has the chance to be a beacon in the regionThere is a lot of history in this conversation, but it never feels like nostalgia.Instead, it feels like a reminder.A reminder that international education was built by people willing to travel, listen, adapt, advocate and build trust across cultures. A reminder that agents, providers, governments and industry bodies all have responsibilities. And a reminder that if Australia wants to remain globally connected, respected and open, we cannot be passive about the story being told on our behalf.We have to tell it ourselves.And, as Robert puts it, we need to be the beacon.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com

Rob is in Paris, Dirk is in Sydney, and this episode of Global Horizons covers UNSW overtaking Melbourne as Australia’s top-ranked university in QS, the latest net overseas migration figures, and what the OECD is saying about the future of international student growth.They also discuss why students are only one part of the migration story, why universities need to share more positive stories, and the opening of major awards including the Shaping Australia Awards and Northern Territory International Student Awards.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

Nicola Bate’s story begins, in a way, with a woman loading bags at Heathrow.Her mum, a single mother in West London, took a job with British Airways because it paid a little more, came with staff travel, and gave her the chance to show her young daughter the world. So while other kids came back from school holidays with stories from around the corner, Nicola came back with stories from Australia, Canada, China, Dubai and beyond.Which is probably one of the more extraordinary origin stories we’ve had on Global Horizons.In this wide-ranging and deeply human conversation, Rob Malicki sits down with Nicola Bate to trace a life shaped by travel, curiosity, relationships and the strange, wonderful, interconnected world of international education.From her early years growing up near Heathrow, to an unexpected first international education role that sent her to Delhi with little more than a passport and a willingness to learn, Nicola’s journey is full of the kind of sliding-door moments that make you realise careers rarely move in straight lines.But this conversation is also much more than a career story.Rob and Nicola dig into what universities often miss when trying to differentiate themselves, why communication and trust matter just as much as product, and why the people standing in front of students, parents and agents hold more influence than they sometimes realise.Nicola shares, with enormous honesty, her experience of being diagnosed with a brain tumour, undergoing surgery, recovering, and quietly returning to work before most of the sector knew what had happened. In this episode, we cover:Nicola’s childhood near Heathrow and how her mum’s job at British Airways opened up the worldThe letter-writing adventure that first brought Nicola and her mum to Nowra and Jervis BayA teenage trip to China that shifted Nicola’s understanding of travel, privilege and cultureHow Nicola fell into international education after being asked one simple question: “Do you have a passport?”Why agents, students and parents are often looking for trust, reliability and confidence, not just a glossy productWhether Australian universities are doing enough to differentiate themselvesWhy sales in education should not feel like manipulation, but like influence in service of the other personPractical lessons in communication, storytelling, persuasion and asking better questionsNicola’s tuk-tuk adventure around Sri Lanka, including the terrifying, stressful and magical bitsHer brain tumour diagnosis, surgery, recovery and what it taught her about resilience, vulnerability and carrying hard things quietlyWhy everyone is carrying something, even when we cannot see itWhat Nicola might do next, from Federation University to future humanitarian work, travel support, or possibly even a return to airport lifeThere are moments in this conversation that are funny, strange and beautifully unexpected.There are also moments that stop you in your tracks.Because underneath all the stories about planes, agents, Sri Lanka, sales training, Nowra, Macquarie, Federation and international education, this is really a conversation about people. The people who open doors for us. The people who teach us how to move through the world. The people who help us when life suddenly tilts sideways. And the people we become because of it all.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

Perhaps it’s time we chose them.That line sits near the heart of this episode of Global Horizons, and it lands with a bit of a thud — in the best possible way.In this news episode, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are both on the road: Rob in a rainy Brisbane on Turrbal and Yuggera land, and Dirk in a very warm, very sunny Darwin on Larrakia country. Which, naturally, leads to a brief weather comparison, a petrol price timestamp, and a reminder that life on the road can make you feel more than a little geographically and temporally confused.But once they get into the news, this episode quickly becomes a bigger conversation about the story Australia tells about international education — and whether that story is good enough.First up, Rob and Dirk look north to Cairns, where Study Cairns has been building stronger connections with Indonesia and developing its student ambassador program. And what stands out is not just the strategy, but the reminder that international education is not only a Sydney-and-Melbourne story. It reaches deeply into regional cities and local communities, from Cairns to Darwin and beyond.Then the conversation turns to student accommodation, and some pretty substantial numbers. With tens of thousands of purpose-built student accommodation beds in the pipeline, Rob and Dirk unpack why the housing narrative around international students is far more complicated than some of the political rhetoric suggests.And then, as awards season begins, they look at the IEAA Excellence Awards and the Victorian International Education Awards — both important reminders that there are extraordinary people, students and stories across this sector that deserve to be recognised.The episode finishes with a powerful opinion piece from Adrian De Luca of We Are Australia, focused on the trust that families place in this country when they send their children here to study. It is a reminder that behind every international student is a parent at an airport, a family making sacrifices, and a human story that can too easily get lost in policy debates, housing arguments and migration headlines.In this episode, we cover:Study Cairns’ work in Indonesia and its growing student ambassador programWhy international education matters in cities beyond Sydney and MelbourneThe growing pipeline of purpose-built student accommodation across AustraliaThe IEAA and Victorian international education awards now open for nominationsWhy authentic student stories matter more than generic marketing messagesAdrian De Luca’s reminder that Australia should actively choose international studentsThere is a lovely thread running through this episode about stories.Not polished corporate stories. Not rankings slapped onto a brochure. Not another generic photo of smiling students who could be anywhere in the world.Real stories.The kind that help students see themselves in Australia. The kind that remind communities why international education matters. The kind that push back against lazy assumptions at barbecues, coffee catch-ups and in the media. The kind that say, clearly and without apology: we want international students in Australia.Because when families around the world place their trust in us, that should mean something.And perhaps, now more than ever, it is time we said so.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

When Rob Malicki sits down with Mark Pettitt, the conversation begins in a place few people would expect: Rostov-on-Don in the mid-1990s.What starts as a childhood fascination with Russia, sparked by reading Animal Farm, turns into a story about teaching English in a city near the Ukrainian border just a few years after Perestroika. Mark reflects on arriving in a place that felt harsh and unfamiliar on the surface, only to find extraordinary warmth and generosity once he was invited into people’s homes. It is also, as it turns out, where he met his future wife. From there, the conversation moves through travel, family, entrepreneurship and the work of building Edified. Mark talks about the kind of life he and his wife wanted their children to experience, including a period living in Paris, and why he believes young people benefit from both roots and wings. He also reflects on his first experiments with business, the attraction of starting new things, and the challenge of scaling a company without losing the human quality that made it valuable in the first place. There is also a thoughtful thread running through the episode about failure, resilience and what it means to keep going. Mark speaks candidly about the emotional side of entrepreneurship, the need to recover quickly when things do not work, and the importance of building ideas with clients rather than simply hoping the market will appear once something is finished. Highlights include:how a childhood curiosity about Russia led Mark to teach English there in the 1990swhat it was like living in Rostov-on-Don just after the Soviet erameeting his wife while teaching overseasthe kind of travel experiences he wanted his own children to havewhy entrepreneurship suited him more than business-as-usual workwhat he has learned about failure, risk and building new ideasthe challenge of growing Edified without losing its personal touch It is a conversation about business, certainly, but also about place, identity, family and the experiences that quietly shape a person over time. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com

Canada, we have a problem.And, if we’re being honest, Australia might have a very similar one.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder unpack a week in international education that starts with Canada’s positioning problem and quickly turns into a much bigger conversation about policy clarity, political trust, skilled migration, international students, VET, and whether governments are actually pulling the right levers.Prompted by a sharp op-ed from Christine Wack at IDP, Rob and Dirk dig into one of the biggest questions facing countries like Canada and Australia: if we want to attract global talent, build skilled workforces and compete for bright minds, are our policy settings actually helping us do that?Spoiler: not necessarily.The conversation then turns to Australia’s 12-month freeze on new CRICOS applications for parts of the VET sector, with exemptions for government schools, state-owned TAFEs and public universities. Which, depending on how charitable you’re feeling, either looks like an integrity measure, a migration-management tool, or something uncomfortably anti-competitive.Also on the agenda: the Coalition’s budget reply, the political temptation to keep blaming migration, why international education keeps getting caught up in the broader net overseas migration debate, and whether major parties are missing what voters are actually angry about.Along the way, Rob and Dirk also find time for the important things: Sydney rain, Milo weather, NAFSA FOMO, petrol prices, and the enormous success of the Choosing Your Uni National Virtual Expo, which attracted more than 5,600 registrations and 13,000 unique visitors during expo week.In this episode, we cover:Canada’s international education positioning problem, and why Australia should pay attentionWhy prospective students are increasingly looking for employability, quality, safety and policy clarityThe Australian Government’s 12-month freeze on new CRICOS applications in parts of the VET sectorWhat the VET freeze could mean for private providers, ELICOS, TAFEs and workforce shortagesThe Coalition’s migration rhetoric and what it might mean for international educationWhy the net overseas migration debate keeps dragging international students into the political spotlightIDP’s new IELTS centre in Chengdu and why it matters for the company’s China strategyThe Tertiary Scholarship Fund’s 2026 Awards for Excellence, and a lovely Melbourne story of generosity through educationA tribute to Neale Daniher, his remarkable public fight against motor neurone disease, and the power of not walking past the chance to do a little bit of goodThere are some weeks where international education feels like a sector.And then there are weeks where it feels like a mirror, reflecting back bigger questions about trust, politics, workforce planning, national identity and whether our leaders are thinking far enough ahead.This is one of those weeks.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. Global Horizons is the official podcast of the ⁠AIEC conference⁠! Registrations are already open... grab your spot early!

This week on Global Horizons, we're doing something a little different. Last week, Rob Malicki delivered a keynote for the Choosing Your Uni National Virtual Expo. It was a huge event with thousands upon thousands of attendees. His keynote was titled "Getting Started with Choosing a University", but it was actually much broader, focusing on career directions, how to know when it's time to change, and overcoming decision inertia. Like lots of Rob's stuff, it's full of stories, and actionable, honest tactics, so makes a perfect little side-door for Global Horizons listeners. We hope you enjoy it!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference! Registrations are already open... grab your spot early!

In this episode of the Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder record on budget day and work through a packed run of developments affecting international education.They start with two major new research releases from IDP and Studyportals, both pointing to the same broad shift: visa certainty is becoming a much more important factor in student decision-making. From there, they discuss what that means for Australia at a time when policy uncertainty is already weighing on the sector. The conversation then moves into a series of stories that each, in different ways, point to the same underlying tension. Home Affairs is promoting recruitment in emerging markets, even as visa settings continue to create frustration and uncertainty. A new report from the Migrant Justice Centre highlights the scale of wage underpayment affecting international students. And Mike Ferguson offers a thoughtful reflection on the Simplified Student Visa Framework, including a number of practical ideas for how the system could be updated to better reflect current conditions.Highlights include:what the latest IDP and Studyportals research is saying about student behaviourwhy visa certainty is now playing a much bigger role in destination choicethe tension between recruitment ambitions and current Home Affairs settingsa major new report on international student underpaymentMike Ferguson’s ideas for improving the student visa systemAIEC 2026 news and the opening of the Australian Export Awards This episode covers a lot of ground, but the thread running through it is fairly clear: international education is being shaped not just by demand, but by confidence, consistency and trust. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

What does it take to stay calm in a sector that seems determined to keep everyone on their toes? If you ask Guie Hartney, it might start with a smile, a little perspective, and a willingness to embrace the chaos.In this warm, funny and wide-ranging conversation, Guie reflects on a life shaped by travel, language, resilience and curiosity. From growing up in Mexico and moving to Australia, to working in Japan’s seafood trade, backpacking through Mongolia, and eventually finding her place in international education, her story is full of unexpected turns and hard-won wisdom. We also talk about leadership, mentorship, stress, and the habits that help us keep going when things get tough. Highlights include:Guie’s wonderfully honest reflections on stress and perspectivea brilliant origin story involving languages, Japan and a surprise career turnbackpacking tales from China and Mongoliainsights on mentoring others and leading with calmone unforgettable Korean business dinner involving live octopus Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

In this episode of the Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder focus on one issue that is dominating the sector right now: visas.They begin with John Chew’s recent commentary on the growing lack of clarity, consistency and trust in Australia’s student visa system, and what that means for institutions, students and the country’s reputation more broadly. From there, they unpack new data on just how much money the government is making from international education visa fees, including a striking figure tied to rejected applications, and ask what that says about the way the system is currently operating. The conversation then turns to Nepal, where visa grant rates have dropped sharply in a short period of time, raising deeper questions about transparency, financial assessment and the burden being placed on institutions to interpret rules that do not appear to be clearly published or consistently understood. Rob and Dirk also reflect on what this kind of uncertainty may be doing to trust in Australia, particularly for students and families making major financial sacrifices simply to apply. There is also some more constructive news in the episode. Rob and Dirk discuss the launch of the new Australian International Education Consultants Association, which brings together two existing agent bodies into a single national association, and they touch on IDP’s move into Malaysia, a sign of how student mobility patterns may continue to shift as the major destination countries become more difficult to navigate. Highlights include:John Chew’s argument that the visa system is becoming harder to trustnew figures on how much revenue is being generated from international education visa feesthe sharp fall in visa grant rates for Nepalquestions around financial scrutiny, transparency and fairnessthe launch of a new national association for education consultantswhy Malaysia is becoming a more significant destination in the global mix Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When I sat down with Tom Gifford, I knew we’d end up talking about international education. What I didn’t quite expect was that we’d begin with a backpacker visa panic, a wrongly dated Qantas ticket, and one very stern airline employee who may, in her own quiet way, have changed the course of his life.Because that’s the thing about conversations like this one. What starts as a chat about careers and universities quickly becomes something bigger. In Tom’s case, it’s a story that runs from Birmingham to Sydney, through the APY Lands of remote South Australia, into state government, on to the University of Adelaide, and eventually into a major leadership role at RMIT. Along the way, there are stories about service, community, mobility, ambition, and the very human moments that shape a life more than any carefully laid plan ever could.Tom is thoughtful, grounded and refreshingly practical. He talks with real warmth about the communities he worked with early in his career, the complexity and energy of university life, and the challenge, and opportunity, of making student experiences better at scale. There’s also a fascinating thread running through this episode about admissions, AI, and what it might actually mean for universities to embrace change rather than simply talk about it. In this episode, we get into:Tom’s very British backpacker arrival in Australia, and the airport moment that nearly went very differentlyworking in remote South Australia with young Indigenous students preparing for employment opportunitiesthe sense of community and care that left a lasting impression on himhow a single cold email led to an unexpected role in South Australian state governmentthe winding path into international education, and eventually into leadership at RMITwhy admissions might be one of the most important, and most overlooked, parts of the student experiencethe way AI is already reshaping universities, from student support to leadership thinkingwhy Delhi is one of Tom’s favourite places in the world, and what he loves about its energy and chaosthe challenge of leading at scale while still keeping sight of the individual student journey What I enjoyed most about this conversation is that Tom never sounds abstract, even when he’s talking about very big things. Whether it’s an admissions system, a team of 180, a walk through Delhi, or a memory from the outback, he brings it back to people. To service. To human potential. To that little spark that can change someone’s direction.And maybe that’s what sits at the heart of this episode. Not just leadership, or strategy, or the future of universities, but the reminder that careers are often shaped in messy, unexpected ways, by landscapes, by timing, by risk, by luck, and by the people who decide to back us when they don’t have to. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

In this episode of the Koala News Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder discuss the economic and policy backdrop shaping international education right now.They unpack growing recession concerns, the role international education plays in local and national economies, and the gap between the public narrative around the sector and what the data may actually be telling us. They also look at the government’s delayed response to the international education inquiry, and a more positive initiative out of Victoria that connects international students with community through the AFL.They’re then joined by Nico Chu from Sinorbis, who brings a practical perspective on what has changed in international student recruitment over the past few years. Nico talks about a market that is not simply shrinking, but becoming more competitive, more price-sensitive and more demanding. He also shares insights from recent research on student communication, including why speed matters, why fragmented communication causes real frustration, and why institutions can no longer rely on the old playbook if they want to convert student interest into enrolments.Highlights include:recession concerns and what a contraction in international education could mean economicallythe difference between policy, perception and sector realitythe government’s response to the long-running international education inquirya Victorian initiative using AFL to build student inclusion and connectionNico Chu’s take on competition, conversion and the changing expectations of prospective studentsGlobal Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. Global Horizons is the OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC... a real privilege for us since it is the "do not miss" event of the year. Check out the conference website at ⁠aiec.idp.comThis episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When I sat down with Michelle Teasdale at UWA, looking out across Matilda Bay on one of those impossibly beautiful Perth days, I knew we’d have a good conversation. What I didn’t quite expect was just how far the conversation would travel.What starts with a slightly-too-familiar international education story about lost luggage quickly opens out into something much richer: childhood in the Pilbara, an exchange to Germany at 16, opening up new student markets like Mongolia, reflections on leadership, and the strange, wonderful way curiosity can shape an entire life. Michelle is one of those people who makes you feel, almost immediately, that international education is still, at its core, about people. About listening. About being open to the world and to each other.There’s also something beautifully full-circle in this episode. Michelle has spent so many years helping students step into the unknown, and now she’s watching her own daughters do the same, heading out into the world with roots, wings, and just enough independence to make it all interesting.This is a conversation about travel, yes, but also about confidence, family, mentorship, leadership and what it means to stay curious, whether you’re sitting in a boardroom, on a plane, or in the middle of nowhere in the red dirt of Western Australia. In this episode, we get into:what Michelle loves most about UWA, and why campus culture matters so muchhow international education has changed over two decades, and what hasn’tgrowing up in Tom Price and Karijini, with a childhood that feels almost mythic in retrospectgoing on exchange to Germany at 16 without speaking the languageopening up Mongolia as a recruitment market, with no blueprint and no prior connectionsleadership, mentoring and the difference between listening to hear and listening to respondraising daughters who are now beginning their own international adventureswhy curiosity might be one of the most underrated qualities in both work and life Michelle comes across in this conversation as grounded, thoughtful and quietly adventurous. She’s clearly someone who has grown alongside the sector itself, and who has managed to hold onto the human side of the work even as universities have become faster, bigger and more complex. I suspect a lot of listeners will hear parts of themselves in this one, whether it’s the early-career uncertainty, the love of travel, the challenge of leadership, or simply the joy of a really good conversation with someone who is genuinely interested in the world. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. Global Horizons is the OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC... a real privilege for us since it is the "do not miss" event of the year. Check out the conference website at aiec.idp.comThis episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Evidence levels are out, the “new to Australia” data paints a sharper picture of what’s really happening, Randwick Council blocks new student housing near UNSW, and Allianz Partners drops a standout student wellbeing report. Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder unpack the implications, then bring in guest Sam Eid to talk through what the 2025 State of Student Healthcare Report reveals about student life in Australia right now. In this episode:Evidence levels and the growing frustration with inconsistent visa outcomes “New to Australia” commencements down 18%, with VET and private providers hit hardest Randwick’s student housing moratorium, and why it pushes pressure into the rental market The State of Student Healthcare 2025 report, cost of living, meal skipping, and the healthcare knowledge gap A rare good-news milestone: Deakin graduating its first cohort from its GIFT City campus in India, and what that says about Australia’s offshore education footprint Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

What begins as a lively conversation at AIEC quickly becomes something much deeper. In this episode, Tanya Perera reflects on migration, mentorship, values, and the quiet experiences that shape a life in international education. From arriving in Australia from Sri Lanka at 13, to navigating identity, leadership and belonging, Tanya brings warmth, insight and more than a little humour to a conversation that ranges from pub quizzes to professional purpose. Highlights include:Tanya’s journey from Sri Lanka to AustraliaHer thoughtful take on purpose and profitability in international educationThe mentors who shaped her careerWhy she sees this sector as a place of inclusion and possibilityA very entertaining explanation of how she became a pub quiz legend Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

In this episode of the Koala News Global Horizons podcast, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki unpack another big week in international education.They discuss the ongoing uncertainty around student visas, why inconsistent decision-making is creating real problems for providers, and what that could mean for institutions in the months ahead. They also touch on the Queensland Exporters Conference, some of the latest thinking around AI and productivity, new moves in student accommodation accreditation, and the value of initiatives like the upcoming Study Melbourne International Student Careers Fair.  They’re then joined by Ian Pratt from Lexis English, who brings a grounded, direct perspective from the front line of the sector. Ian talks about what the past five years have looked like for English language and vocational education providers, the commercial and human impact of policy instability, and why some of the biggest consequences of recent changes may not show up in the data for years. He also reflects on regional delivery, student demand, and why investment decisions are increasingly being pushed offshore.  Highlights include:why visa subjectivity is becoming such a major issue for providerswhat universities may need to prepare for if current patterns continuekey takeaways from the Queensland Exporters Conferencea new national approach to student accommodation qualityIan Pratt’s take on what recent policy settings are doing to ELICOS, VET and regional Australia  We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference. This is the conference's 40th anniversary and is being held in Sydney, so it's going to be bigger and more impactful than ever... and AIEC not to be missed!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Naresh Gulati has been in international education since the mid-90s. He helped build one of the largest education agencies in India, then founded BPO Intelligence, and now is driving the rise (pun intended) of Ascent One, a modular ecosystem designed to reduce admin chaos by helping systems talk to each other. But instead of giving you a standard “here’s how I scaled” playbook, this conversation offers something more human: a philosophy for staying steady when business, and life, get messy.It's a very personal conversation with one of Australian international education's leading entrepreneurs. In this episode, we get into:Naresh’s early story, including failing Year 10, selling candles on the roadside, and what those years taught him about resilienceWhy he makes decisions largely on gut feel, and how that’s shaped every business he’s builtThe “leaf on the river” metaphor, float, bump into rocks, rest when you reach shore, then move againRob also brings in something many listeners will recognise, that 3am spiral where your brain turns into a to-do list machine. Naresh’s response is simple, practical, and surprisingly hard to argue with: stress rarely solves the problem, it usually just doubles it. From there, they explore the difference between happiness and contentment, why we get used to carrying tension, and what awareness actually looks like when you are in the middle of a tough season.You’ll also hear:Why schools teach competitiveness, but rarely teach stress management, and what that costs laterA grounded take on collaboration, and why “me versus them” thinking leaves opportunities on the tableA personal COVID-era moment that reminds you everything changes, even the hardest chaptersIf you want an episode that feels like a deep breath, without pretending the world is easy, this is it.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Who would have guessed? Out of the blue on Sunday, the Government announced the doubling of the cost of one of the key student-related visas. Dirk Mulder and Tracy Harris from The Koala News were right on it, with the breaking news hitting inboxes within hours. It just shows why industry news is so important!This week is a bumper episode of the podcast, including our special guest Michael Holaday from Prometric. Prometric are the administrators of the Celpip English test, one of the new English language tests approved by the Department of Home Affairs last year for visa purposes. It's a great conversation about Michael's career trajectory through international ed, as well as a dive into this new offering (in Australia, at least) in the English language testing market.And alongside that, we've got the mission critical news that you simply can't miss. Thanks for joining us!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]

When I sat down with Ainslie Moore, I thought we’d spend 45 minutes doing what we’ve almost never done in the past 25 years: talk without an agenda.We made it about 30 seconds.Because Ainslie opens with the kind of confession that tells you exactly what sort of episode this is going to be, she has a “flight home story” she “will not tell the rest of the world”… and then casually admits she once booked a train from London to Brussels because she thought that’s where The Hague was. From there, we’re off. Travel disasters, sliding-door moments, and the deeper thread underneath it all: how someone goes from being a 17-year-old international student with a life-changing exchange experience, to becoming a proper policy operator who can move a whole system with the right alliance, the right incentives, and the right message. This conversation keeps flipping between the “romance” of international education (travel, language, identity, becoming more yourself) and the machinery that makes it possible (policy settings, incentives, and the behind-the-scenes work nobody sees). It’s two sides of the same coin, and Ainslie lives right at the centre of it.This episode is a cracker. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

“This report reads almost like a postmortem of a world-class Aussie industry being systematically dismantled.” That’s how this week’s conversation starts, and honestly, it sets the tone.In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and I sit down in the week of 16 February and try to make sense of a sector that feels like it’s accelerating in ten different directions at once. New data, new panels, new policy pressure, and the kind of political rhetoric that has a habit of turning complex issues into easy headlines.We begin with English Australia’s newly released 2025 visa data, and it is bleak reading for anyone who cares about the health of the broader international education ecosystem. The numbers point to a sustained contraction in independent ELICOS visas, and the flow-on effects are not abstract. They are people, jobs, institutions, and capability.Then, we shift to the International Student Representative Council, which is making a meaningful move towards rebuilding a stronger national student voice, appointing an inaugural expert panel with serious credentials. It is one of those developments that might sound procedural on paper, but could matter a lot if it helps restore advocacy and legitimacy in a space that has been battered since COVID.Along the way, we dig into an unusual sign of public pushback from within the sector, a change.org petition targeting the onshore commission ban, and what that might signal about the next phase of industry response.A few highlights we unpack in this episode:English Australia’s 2025 data, and why the visa fee settings hit ELICOS differently to higher educationThe estimated job impact, and what it means when an industry loses capacity, not just revenueThe International Student Representative Council’s expert panel, and why student voice has been missing for too longThe onshore commission ban petition, the ethics, the optics, and the unintended consequences for genuine student supportGermany’s record-breaking growth as an alternate destination, and why it keeps coming up in these conversationsAIEC is already on the horizon, key dates, and a gentle nudge to new voices to put their hand upWe also take a quick detour into AI, not as a gimmick, but because it is becoming impossible to ignore how fast expectations are shifting, especially for students. The default is rapidly becoming instant answers, personalised guidance, and always-on support, and that changes the bar for everyone.By the end, this episode is less about one headline and more about a pattern. Where policy settings land hardest. Who gets protected, who gets squeezed, and what the global market does when Australia decides to “de-scale” an export industry that has spent decades building trust.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When I sat down with Ian Aird, the CEO of English Australia, I expected we’d talk mostly about the sector’s current policy turbulence, and what it’s like trying to advocate when the rules keep shifting.We absolutely go there.But what I didn’t expect was how quickly the conversation turned into something more personal, more human, and (weirdly) more useful for anyone trying to make sense of careers, leadership, and what “good decisions” actually look like in real life.Because Ian’s path to the “big chair” wasn’t a neat, straight-line plan. It was part instinct, part risk, part luck, and part turning up in Spain with basically no plan at all, walking the streets with a CV, and hoping the bank account didn’t hit zero first. And then there’s the moment that still makes me laugh: he was lined up to go to Japan… until he found out he’d have to cut his hair. Except it’s not really about the hair. It’s about the sliding-door moments, the tiny decisions that end up shaping the whole story, and what happens when you actually ask the question you’re “not supposed” to ask. In this episode, we get into:What it’s really like stepping into a CEO role mid-whirlwind, including Ian’s brutally honest version of “strategy” in a small organisation (hint: triage). Why the last two years have felt uniquely chaotic, from visa and legislative change through to constant policy pivots. COVID as a career breaker and a career re-route, and the uncomfortable realisation that the world has now learned it can shut borders fast, and do it again. What today’s students need that they did not used to, including the hidden “life skills gap” for students who lost formative years to lockdowns, and why support needs are higher than many people realise. Why language is not just words, and why the “earpiece that translates everything” still misses the point of learning how humans actually communicate. There’s a part of the conversation where we’re talking about Year 12 exams and the pressure young people feel to “get it right” right now, and Ian says something that should be printed on a sticker and slapped onto half the careers advice floating around out there: “Don’t convey that what you do now will lock you in for life.” It’s a simple line, but it cuts straight through the panic. Yes, some decisions matter. But the myth that one choice defines you forever is, in Ian’s words, absolute garbage. And because I can’t resist a good left turn, we also end up in Southeast Asia, the chaos of learning how to cross a road in a new country, and why being overwhelmed is sometimes exactly the point. If you work in international education, advocacy, student experience, or you’re just trying to build a career that does not feel like a straightjacket, I think you’ll enjoy this one.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

I didn’t think, in my life, that I’d be recording a podcast… and I definitely didn’t think I’d be talking about taxation in India. Yet here we are. In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are back for 2026, slightly dazed by how January vanished, and diving straight into the stories that are shaping the international education conversation right now.We start with the politics-meets-perception problem. Net overseas migration is down (the numbers have shifted materially), but the public debate is still running at full volume. Dirk breaks down the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics release and why departures are a big part of the story that often gets missed. Then we get into student housing, including the latest student accommodation signals coming through.A few highlights we unpack along the way:What the latest migration figures suggest, and why the “bubble” effect post-COVID is still working its way throughWhy departures matter just as much as arrivals when people talk about students and housingThe global trend in purpose-built student accommodation demand, and what’s changing in student expectationsThe surprisingly important India tax changes that could reduce friction and cost for families sending money overseasThe submissions closing for the Australian Tertiary Education Commission legislative review, and why the sector is nervous about how decisions get madeThen we bring in our guest, Jessie Gardner Russell, National President of Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations. Jessie takes us inside the reality of postgraduate life right now, including food insecurity, cost-of-living pressure, and why career support is showing up as a much bigger need for international postgrads than domestic students.Jessie also explains CAPA’s work on a big, practical question: if PhD stipends sit below the poverty line, what does that do to research productivity nationally, and what happens if you fix it?We also cover:The HECS repayment threshold change, and why it matters for fresh gradsThe placement payment, what it solves, and where the gaps still are (hello, allied health)The employment support problem for international postgrads, and why it’s a missed opportunity Australia can’t really affordGlobal Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Dominic de Moura McCarthy is one of those guests who makes you quietly sit up straighter.He’s 24, he’s done ballet for 15 years, he taught himself how to build a personal brand before most of us even knew what that meant, and he’s the kind of person who doesn’t wait for an “official invitation” to start something meaningful. When Dom joins me on Global Horizons, we go back to Mackay, regional North Queensland, where a teenage decision to study French (because ballet terminology is French, of course) became a hinge moment that eventually led him overseas, into the New Colombo Plan, and deep into youth leadership work across the Pacific and Latin America.There’s a sliding-doors moment early on too: Dom moves to Brisbane to study dance at QUT, hears a blunt “this course isn’t for you unless you want to dance every day”, ends up in hospital that first week, and makes the call to switch to business instead. That one decision quietly changes the trajectory of everything that follows.Along the way, we get tactical about visibility and influence. Not the braggy kind, but the “how do you show up and contribute when you don’t feel like the expert” kind. We talk imposter syndrome, tall poppy syndrome, why community service can be the best personal brand strategy going around, and how Dom’s faith and sense of service keep him moving when most people would hesitate.In this episode, we cover:Dom’s “French via ballet” origin story, and how Distance Education pre-COVID shaped his confidenceThe New Colombo Plan experience that turned curiosity into a global pathwayThe QUT-to-business switch, and how to make a call when you’re terrified of closing doorsPersonal branding without the show pony energy, plus practical ways to build the muscleWhy volunteering and youth development work can become your sharpest leadership trainingA rare honest chat about setbacks, and why most people don’t reflect on them enoughGlobal Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

A student storms into Melanie Duncan’s office in tears, shaking with certainty that Australia is an “awful place”… because we eat our dogs.The evidence? He saw “dog bones” at the supermarket.It sounds ridiculous, until you realise what Melanie has spent nearly three decades learning the hard way: without context, even the most well-meaning support can miss the mark. Recorded at the IEC conference, this episode is a warm, funny, occasionally brutal reality check on what international student support really looks like when it is done properly. Melanie takes us from the classic student-services moments you laugh about later, to the high-stakes cases that stay with you for years, and the quiet expertise it takes to hold it all together.Along the way, we unpack:Why the best practitioners become masters of the right question at the right timeWhat “visa-informed” support actually means, and why it cannot be replaced by a knowledge baseThe cultural faux pas that shaped Melanie’s early years, and the training that changed everythingHow “international student services” is being mainstreamed, and why Melanie calls it a dying artThe political rhetoric that has fuelled uncertainty for students, and frustration across the sectorThe part nobody wants to talk about: COVID, staff cuts, and losing experienced practitioners when students still needed themWhat it is like to step out of institutions and build a consulting business built on one idea, compliance done well should equal a better student experienceThere’s mentorship, nostalgia, a few sharp edges, and a genuine reminder that international education is still full of people who care deeply, even when the systems around them make it harder than it should be.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

It’s the first Global Horizons News episode of 2026, and Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are back at the desk with that familiar mix of “happy new year” energy and “wait, what changed while we were away?” realism. They start with PRISMS and a South Asia assessment-level update that feels, frankly, out of cycle and out of sync. The headline move is Bangladesh, which only recently moved up, now dropping two assessment levels in one hit, and it sets off a wider conversation about policy volatility, recruitment strategy, and just how hard it is to plan when the goalposts keep shifting. Along the way, you’ll hear them unpack:The South Asia assessment level changes (including Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka), and why the timing matters for providers trying to plan recruitment responsibly The question hanging over it all: what triggers these changes, and should a ministerial trip be enough to reshape settings this quickly? A rare moment of mainstream coverage, including a news.com.au write-up, and a longer sit-down interview with Phil Honeywood on Channel 7’s The Issue Then the conversation moves to ATEC and a detail that could easily slip past most people unless you’re watching legislation closely. Dirk draws on analysis from Andrew Norton to explain how international student allocations, and the power to cap, could be embedded through the proposed Australian Tertiary Education Commission, with serious questions about independence, process, and years of compounding uncertainty. They also cover:What ATEC’s role could mean in practice if international student allocations become one of its key functions, and why that design choice raises eyebrows TEQSA’s new requirements for offshore delivery approvals, including the looming reality of application fees and yet more compliance weight on transnational education activity And then, in the spirit of not leaving you in a pure regulatory fog, they finish with an actual milestone worth pausing for: Adelaide University is now live, the new combined institution born from the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia. There’s congratulations, curiosity about rankings impact, and a few side-eye questions about what happens next, in Adelaide and possibly beyond. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is AngeloAblao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

In this episode of Global Horizons, Peter and I wander through three and a half decades of international education, from the days when Wollongong was considered “aggressive” for opening an office in Japan, to the launch and heartbreaking end of The Scholar Ship, to his 15 years shaping JMC’s international work in the creative industries. Along the way we talk about caps, fairness, and why policy settings have hit the private sector so much harder than universities.You will hear us dig into:How The Scholar Ship created a “university at sea” focused on intercultural leadership, and why the GFC and oil prices brought it undoneWhat it felt like to watch that ship sail into Sydney Harbour and realise you had helped build something genuinely world classThe leap from federal government land surveyor to running Wollongong’s Japan office, and then setting up ANU’s regional office in BangkokThe strange joy and terror of consulting life, from currency swings that wipe out your margin overnight to clients who keep pulling you backWhy Peter fell in love with Japan, Sweden and Vietnam, and what those countries taught him about creative talent and mobilityFrom there we shift into the creative industries and the future. Peter reflects on 15 years at JMC, why he is bullish on performance and the arts in an age of AI and virtual production, and how Swedish arts high schools and emerging Vietnamese creatives are reshaping the pipeline of global talent. Music is still music, he argues, and performance is still performance, even if the tools keep changing.We also get very real about the past few years in Australia:How the student caps and immigration debates have disproportionately damaged the private sectorThe quiet injustice of private provider students being shut out of the New Colombo Plan and OS-HELPWhy Peter thinks Australia’s historic strength in relationship building is being undermined by bureaucracy and short term politicsThe danger of becoming a “fairweather friend” to partners who remember who stuck with them when times were hardOne of my favourite parts of the conversation is Peter’s story of COVID at JMC. While others were cutting, he bet that, like previous crises, the downturn would last about two years. JMC kept its international team intact, especially in-country staff in Indonesia and Malaysia, moved people onto projects where needed, and doubled down on relationships. The result was their best ever international intake in February 2022, up 35 per cent on 2019.We finish with advice for students and early career professionals. It is simple and hard to argue with: go somewhere. It does not have to be Australia, or any particular country. Just go. Peter went to Japan with a backpack and a bit of Japanese, and everything that followed, from Bangkok to Latin America to the creative industries, unfolded from that single decision to leave home.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

On the way back from his honeymoon, Mike Ferguson and his wife are walking across a square, headed for the airport.Two guys come up from behind.A knife to his throat. A gun to his wife’s head. And somehow, unbelievably, what follows is not just a story about being mugged, it’s a story about negotiation, keeping your head, and walking away with the things that actually matter. Including, in a twist I genuinely did not see coming. This episode starts with that kind of energy and then keeps going. Because Mike is one of those people who, the more you talk, the more you realise he’s lived about five careers and 60 countries worth of stories.He’s worked in government, including designing the simplified student visa system, and he’s now on the university side, which means he can see the cracks, the incentives, and the misunderstandings from both directions. Along the way, we get into the stuff the sector often talks around, but rarely says plainly: what public servants can actually commit to, why policy “boom and bust” cycles keep repeating, and why genuine consultation is not a nice-to-have, it’s the whole game. A few highlights to listen out for:The honeymoon mugging story, including how you “negotiate” your way out of a nightmare. Mike’s case for broader engagement, consultation, and genuine co-design between government and sector, especially when integrity and sustainability are on the line A lighter moment that still says a lot: childhood dreams of being a bus driver and a train driver, which might explain more about international education careers than we’d like to admit. It’s part travel yarn, part policy masterclass, and part reminder that international education is, at its best, built on relationships, trust, and shared goals. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

G'day and welcome to Season 4 of the Global Horizons podcast! To open up the season, Rob Malicki reflects on some of the highlights from Australian higher education from the past 12 months. Over the past 12 months, the narrative of universities "losing their social licence" was shown to be a simply ridiculous, click-bait headline. Here's the proof: In the latest data, our universities taught 1,676,077 students, up 4.7%, with success also up, at 87.9% and attrition down to 12.2%.Equity and access to higher education also moved: more First Nations, low-SES, regional and disability students getting in, and through.Institutions invested, and built, in some bigger projects than ever before: Adelaide University launches on 1 January 2026, and Edith Cowan University's $853m City campus is already energising Perth’s CBD... and it hasn't even opened yet!Deakin University and the University of Wollongong are building real campuses in India, not fly-in deals.Monash University is investing a Billion (yes, capital "B"!) in TRX Kuala Lumpur... such a big commitment that even the Prime Minister turned up to back it.In the labs and libraries across Australia, our researchers continued to punch well above their weight, delivering a Nobel prize, state prizes, and countless breakthroughs from CO2 concrete to soil ecology to brain cancer.Looking at rankings, and Australia continues to slay on a global scale. Six unis in THE top 100, ten in the top 200, and 97% of public universities ranked globally. If we look at sustainability and climate action rankings, our institutions are leading the world at just the right time, when humanity needs it most. International education has had a mixed year (read the article by Dirk Mulder in The Koala News for the best summary of that). But on the domestic front, students are better protected and supported now than when the year began: the National Student Ombudsman is live, HELP indexation has been fixed, and the Commonwealth Prac Payments (a BRILLIANT and long overdue addition to our system) are underway. Those initiatives deserve some flames (so I'll oblige: 🔥🔥🔥).If we truly care about Australia’s future, our university sector is the one doing the heavy lifting. It's educating our people, and driving research and innovation. In short, it's setting us up for the future. And there can't be a better way to fulfil a social license than that.

When we sat down to record this episode, it felt a bit like opening a time capsule from twelve months ago and asking, “So, how wrong were we?”At the end of 2024, Dirk predicted a country divided into two halves, pre-election and post-election, with migration politics sitting right in the middle of it all. I went the other way and suggested life in the sector might simply slide back to “normal”. In this end-of-year wrap for 2025, we revisit those predictions, look at what actually happened, and try our luck again for 2026. We start with the big structural shifts that have shaped the year. The ESOS bill, national code changes and constant migration rhetoric have all put pressure on different corners of the sector, from public universities with level one allocations to ELICOS, colleges and private VET providers, whose backs are firmly against the wall. At the same time, purpose-built student accommodation has been booming, TNE has become the new frontier, and TAFE has suddenly become the star of a lot more domestic conversations than it used to.In this episode we get into:Policy and politics: ESOS reforms, looming national code changes in early 2026, and why migration is still the easiest lever for politicians to pull, even when the public seems tired of the debate.Winners and strugglers: Why public universities feel relatively comfortable, while ELICOS providers, English-only colleges and parts of private VET are staring down some real pain.Higher education shake-ups: From the UniSA and University of Adelaide merger and restructures at Western Sydney, to the quiet turbulence inside a range of institutions that do not always make the headlines.New builds and new bets: Edith Cowan’s striking new CBD campus in Perth and the broader re-shaping of the city, plus the rapid expansion of TNE in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and what “TNE done well” actually has to look like.TAFE and the domestic pivot: The rise of trades, free or fully subsidised TAFE places, and why parents, students and careers advisers are talking about vocational routes in a very different way.AI hype and reality: Rob's prediction that we are heading into a disillusionment phase for AI, even as something genuinely game-changing is likely to land in the next twelve months, especially in video and teaching.We also take a moment to look behind the microphones. Dirk opens up about the growth of The Koala News, from a gap he spotted in the market to a fully fledged independent news outlet with hundreds of thousands of views and 1.4 million events on the site this year, and why he launched a supporters campaign to keep independent media healthy. And because it would not be a Global Horizons wrap without a bit of chaos, we finish with our annual outtakes reel. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When James Martin says that AI has decimated web traffic for universities, he is not being dramatic. In the space of a year, how to articles and evergreen web pages have been quietly pushed aside by AI summaries and chatbots, and a whole lot of marketing strategies are suddenly looking very 2019.So what do you do when you cannot rely on Google anymore?In this episode of Global Horizons, I sit down again with James Martin, managing director at Insider and self-confessed content tragic, to unpack what is really happening in the world of content right now, and what it means for universities and international education. We dig into the collapse in organic search, why AI engine optimisation is the new buzzword, and why James believes your greatest secret weapon is not your website at all, but your students. Along the way we get into the messy, practical reality of user generated content. The tension between funny, throwaway TikToks and serious storytelling about the journey into, through and beyond uni. The pain of trying to turn well meaning ambassadors into content creators. And the opportunity that opens up when you treat student stories as a strategic asset, rather than a nice extra when someone happens to send you a video.You will hear us explore:How AI summaries and chat tools are stripping away 10 to 30 per cent of web traffic from some universities, and what that does to traditional content strategiesWhy Reddit and other public platforms are suddenly more influential in AI answers than your carefully crafted blog postsThe power of students as a trust engine, and why James calls authentic student stories the new currency in marketingThe common mistakes universities make with UGC, from throwing everything at ambassadors to ignoring training and editingHow to think about content pillars, decision stages and platforms so your TikToks, Reels, campus tours and long form YouTube videos are all pulling in the same directionThe nuts and bolts of repurposing one great story into multiple formats, languages and channels without cannibalising your brandWhy I am experimenting with my own AI avatar on campus, and what happens when AI can generate complete videos at the click of a promptJames’s prediction for the next 12 months of content: a flood of AI generated junk, and a premium on anything that feels genuinely humanIf you are working in international student recruitment, marketing, future student engagement or content creation of any kind, this conversation is part reality check, part playbook. James’s core message is simple but challenging: AI is here, the flood of content is coming, and the only way to cut through is to lean harder into authenticity, trust and the lived experiences of your own students.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Australia keeps saying it wants a “Future Made in Australia”. But what happens when you starve the labs, research institutes and universities that are supposed to build that future, while talking tough on “integrity” and migration instead? In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki unpack the Senate committee’s final report on the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill, and what the so called “final hearing” really means for international education, universities and research in Australia.They trace the politics behind the ESOS changes, the push to give the minister sweeping powers, and the convenient narrative that keeps framing students as the problem, while much bigger issues in the migration system are left largely untouched.Along the way, they connect the dots to the CSIRO job cuts, Australia’s anaemic research investment and a public debate that keeps missing the point on university surpluses and social licence.In this wide ranging conversation, Rob and Dirk move from Parliament House to the lab bench to Circular Quay, where they also reflect on the NSW International Education Awards and what genuine sector leadership looks like.In this episode, you will hear:Why the Senate committee has recommended the ESOS integrity bill pass “as is”, despite serious concerns from the sectorHow expanded ministerial powers risk undermining procedural fairness and certainty for institutions and studentsThe growing problem with the “integrity” narrative around agents, commissions and international studentsThe massive visa backlog that no one wants to talk about, and the curious lack of focus on graduate visasWhy university surpluses are not the smoking gun people think they are, and what really drives uni financesHow CSIRO job cuts reveal a research system “running dangerously low on fuel”What it would actually mean to treat research funding as core national infrastructureVictoria’s refresh of its international education strategy and why you should have your sayA snapshot from the NSW International Education Awards, including Dirk’s quietly awkward moment as a finalistIf you care about the future of Australian higher education, international students and research, this is one of those episodes that helps you see how all the threads tie together, from Senate hearings to social licence to who actually pays for the ideas that power our economy.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When Elissa Newall from Edified walks into a room, you know you’re about to learn something meaningful about the international education sector. Fresh off the release of Edified’s newest global Mystery Shopper results presented at AIEC, Elissa breaks down what’s really happening when prospective students reach out to universities. The wins, the misses, the opportunities, and the uncomfortable truths we avoid until the data forces us to look directly at them.We unpack why student engagement has improved worldwide, why Australian universities now lead on personalised communication, and why WhatsApp is quietly becoming the most powerful recruitment channel in the sector. We talk human connection, the X-factor students are hungry for, and why a warm, tailored message can be worth far more than a lightning-fast reply.And then we widen the lens. Elissa shares her honest concerns about where the sector is heading, the challenges we keep cycling through without solving, and what it might look like if Australia actually aligned around a shared national purpose for international education.It’s sharp, insightful, and absolutely packed with actionable intelligence.In this episode, we cover:• The newest findings from Edified’s global Mystery Shopper program• Why personalised responses are 7x more influential than fast ones• The rise of WhatsApp as the most effective student engagement channel• How universities can humanise their enquiry responses without adding workload• What Australian institutions are doing better than anyone else right now• Why students increasingly want “the insider view” – not generic info• The deeper sector-wide challenges we still haven’t solved• How international education could play a bigger national role if we aligned around shared goalsIf you care about student experience, future-proofing recruitment, or understanding where international education is heading, this conversation is unmissable.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Koala News founder Dirk Mulder unpack what MD 115 really does, where the tech and systems may not be keeping up, and why some of this feels more like political theatre than serious system reform.Highlights in this episode include:How one tiny forgotten setting killed their live recording in front of work experience studentsWhat MD 115 actually changes, and how the new processing “lanes” could play out in practiceWhy the ESOS reforms have been bundled with other legislation, and what that means for timing and scrutinyThe optics of a billion dollar Australian campus in Malaysia at the same time as “social licence” debates at homeWhether AI driven verification can genuinely free up staff to focus on students, rather than just cut teamsThe return of a national student voice and why it matters that international students are back at the policy tableThere is plenty of policy in this episode, but also plenty of raised eyebrows, uncomfortable questions and a few good laughs at their own expense. If you are trying to make sense of where international education in Australia goes next, this is one of those conversations that helps you see the bigger picture rather than just the latest headline.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

We recorded this episode in Macquarie University’s central courtyard, a place that feels like home to both of us. Tanveer has spent 17 years here, through new vice-chancellors, rebuilt precincts and a metro line that now puts the campus 18 minutes from the CBD. He laughs that it feels like working for three or four different organisations, because the thinking and the work keep evolving. Then he tells me a sliding-doors story, the day he had a PhD interview and a university admissions interview at the same time. He flipped a coin, chose admissions, and never left international education.Tanveer takes us back to the fax era, thick stacks of paper and month-long turnarounds, then forward to StudyLink, online enrolment, and now generative AI. He is optimistic about AI in teaching and admin, as long as pedagogy and assessment adapt, with students brought onto campus for real project work and community. We get into social licence too. Too many people think international education is only about bringing students in. Tanveer argues the real story is broader, soft diplomacy, industry links, alumni impact, and community service. He shares two decades of fundraising for Cancer Council NSW’s Biggest Morning Tea, nearly half a million dollars raised with his community, and wonders whether institutions truly capture the impact staff make beyond the campus gates. We finish with a challenge close to his heart, training the profession. Counselors and advisers carry enormous responsibility for life-changing decisions, yet there is no robust, global training pathway. AI can help, he says, but it will take intent, not just tools.HighlightsFrom faxed offers to StudyLink to generative AI, how admissions and enrolment evolvedA campus transformed, from brutalist concrete to a green, people-first courtyard, new schools and a health precinct with its own hospitalThe metro changed everything for talent and students, frequent services and easy access creating a city-connected campusWhat AI is already changing in assignments and marking, and why universities will feel every shift firstThe policy temperature today, less heat, more stability, and why a modernised ESOS framework still mattersCommunity contribution as reputational capital, why volunteering and local ties build trustUntold success stories, from students earning on minimum wage to alumni building billion-dollar companies and giving backTraveller’s tales, a sleepless first night in Pakistan, a hotel booking in Iran made for the wrong year, and a wish list flight to AfricaWhy trust is the currency in student decision-making, and how to earn itA call for proper training for counsellors, onshore and offshore, to lift capability across the ecosystemA simple philosophy from his mum, dream big, then grow to the size of your dreamGlobal Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

It’s day two of the AIEC conference in Canberra, and co-hosts Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder have barely caught their breath. The expo hall’s buzzing, the NOSC allocations have just dropped, and everyone’s trying to figure out what it all means.From the latest on the government’s New Overseas Student Commencement numbers to AI quietly making visa decisions, this episode of Global Horizons takes you right into the thick of it — straight from the floor of Australia’s biggest international education gathering.In typical Rob-and-Dirk style, it’s equal parts analysis, banter, and behind-the-scenes insight.🔹 Highlights include:What the new NOSC allocations mean for universities vs private providers — and why “normalisation” might not mean what you think.Dirk’s bold prediction: a major student shift from universities to private HE providers come March.How AI is already influencing visa decisions — and why that’s raising red flags for transparency.A peek into this year’s IEAA Awards — including well-deserved wins for Kerry Ramirez, Sophie O’Keefe, and Eleanor Williams.The challenges (and joys) of trying to write stories, attend meetings, and survive on conference-hall coffee.Why, despite all the uncertainty, the vibe this year feels different — lighter, warmer, and more connected.By the time the episode wraps, you’ll have a front-row view of the policy shifts, people, and politics shaping Australian international education right now — and a few good laughs along the way.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected].

When Pamela Baxter first came to Australia, it was as a wide-eyed traveller with a backpack and a dream. Decades later, she’s back, this time as Chief Product Officer at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, with a front-row seat to some of the biggest shifts happening in global education.In this episode of Global Horizons, Pamela joins host Rob Malicki in Canberra to talk about the changing face of international higher education, from her unlikely career path (including a stint in Westminster politics!) to her long tenure at Cambridge, where she’s seen firsthand how language, access, and integrity intersect in universities around the world.The conversation winds from light-hearted stories of gap years and cycling through Cambridge to deeply reflective questions about responsibility, equity, and the standards we uphold in global education.🔹 Highlights include:How Pamela went from political researcher to international education leader.What makes Cambridge one of the world’s most international cities.Why English proficiency isn’t just an entry requirement, it’s a key to student wellbeing and success.The global dilemma: universities balancing financial pressures with educational integrity.The real-world consequences of under-prepared students—from isolation to poor post-study outcomes.Pamela’s advice for universities: “Be honest with students. Set them up for success, not struggle.”You can find the report from Jobs and Skills Australia, mentioned in this episode, here. Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

You’ve sorted your sessions, booked your flights — now it’s time to talk about the fun stuff. In this AIEC Warm-Up episode, I’m joined by Catania Aviles, Conference Manager for the Australian International Education Conference, to give you the inside scoop on all the socials at this year’s event in Canberra.From florals to flannels, cocktails to costumes, Catania takes us behind the scenes of the networking events that bring 1,500 delegates together every year — and explains why these moments often spark the best professional connections of all.Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:Welcome Reception: A Floriade-inspired opening night sponsored by Study Canberra — bringing spring blooms and local flavour to the exhibition hall.Happy Hour on the Terrace: Sponsored by ELS, featuring a DJ, cocktails, and a relaxed outdoor vibe to unwind after Day 2. Gala Dinner – “A Night at the Museum (Australian Edition)”: Held at the National Museum of Australia, complete with Aussie classics, open galleries, and costume inspiration from Ben Stiller to Vegemite jars.Why social events matter: how informal conversations can lead to lasting partnerships and unexpected collaborations.A sneak peek at the behind-the-scenes bump-in (with time-lapse!) and what it takes to pull off Australia’s biggest international education gathering.Catania also shares what she’s most looking forward to — from having exclusive use of the NCC Canberra to finally putting faces to the hundreds of names she’s emailed all year.Whether you’re attending for the content, the connections, or the costumes, this episode will get you hyped for the week ahead at AIEC 2025.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When you think of AIEC, you probably think of universities, agents and policy debates — but there’s another powerhouse quietly shaping Australia’s international education story: the schools sector.In this AIEC warm-up episode, I sit down with Linda Vaughn, long-time international education professional and champion of public schooling, to unpack what’s in store for Schools Day at this year’s Australian International Education Conference in Canberra.Linda shares how the conference team has listened to the sector’s feedback and responded with a dedicated Wednesday program focused entirely on schools — giving teachers and principals a chance to connect, learn and showcase their impact.Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:Why Wednesday is officially Schools Day at AIEC — and what that means for attendees.The new Solutions Room format replacing traditional presentations with interactive problem-solving.How independent and government schools are collaborating, not competing, to strengthen outcomes for students.The importance of intercultural understanding, language learning and global competence in Australian classrooms.Why the school sector’s focus on wellbeing, mental health and student experience mirrors broader trends across higher education.Linda’s enthusiasm for the AIEC keynote line-up — including Gill Hicks and Peter Greste — and her hot take on the conference-dinner costume theme.It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation about the small-but-mighty role schools play in preparing globally aware citizens, and why collaboration across all education sectors matters more than ever.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

INCOMING!!!AIEC is now only a little over a week away. The organising teams from IDP and IEAA are in the locker rooms, stretching their hamstrings and getting ready to hit the field. So to preview a little of what to expect, I'm going to be doing a series of "mini-pods" over the coming days. Today I'm joined by Kirrilee Hughes, IEAA's Research Manager, to talk about all things research and data at the conference. And there's plenty of it!It's my first time having Kik on the podcast, so please give her a warm welcome!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. We're the OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are closing very soon! Last chance for 2025!

When you sit down with someone whose life has been shaped by travel, chance encounters, and a willingness to say “yes,” you know the conversation will be full of surprises. That’s exactly what happened when I finally had the chance to properly chat with Johan Arnberg. We’ve crossed paths for years in international education, but this was the first time to really dig into his story — and what a story it is.Johan grew up in Sweden, spending school holidays jetting around the world thanks to his mum’s job at SAS. From Beijing in the early 90s to the islands of Venezuela, his early life was an immersion in languages, cultures, and sometimes uncomfortable contrasts. Add to that compulsory military service, years spent as a tour guide, and a chance meeting with an Australian postgraduate student, and you’ve got the makings of an extraordinary journey into international education.In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore everything from life lessons in leadership to the art of running student ambassador programs — and the role that recognition, honesty, and paying it forward play in student success.Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:How Johan’s childhood of standby tickets and spontaneous trips planted the seeds for a global career.What it was really like living and working in Venezuela during the Hugo Chávez years.Why serving in the Swedish military gave him unexpected leadership skills he still draws on today.The secret ingredients of a strong student ambassador program — and how recognition really matters.Behind the scenes of shaping major scholarships at ANU, including the Tuckwell and Chancellor’s Scholarships.Life now at UQ, working with mobility, partnerships, and Australia Awards.There’s plenty in here for anyone working in international education, but also for anyone curious about how life’s detours and “side doors” shape the careers we end up having.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

There's so much attention on TNE right now, and maybe there's never been a more important time to be catching up with colleagues to work through the challenges. In this special micro-podcast, as part of our AIEC Warm Up series, Rob Malicki is joined by Peter Harris, TNE legend and Exec Director of Future Students at UTS College, to have a quick chat about what's on the agenda at AIEC and some of the biggest issues facing the sector. OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]

Christmas might still be months away, but in Australian international education the festive season seems to have arrived early. In this packed episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder cover a whirlwind of updates that have the sector buzzing. From fresh NOSC data and state-federal tensions to language-learning fun and award-season celebrations, there’s plenty to unwrap.Highlights you won’t want to miss:Breaking NOSC Data: Are public universities, private higher-ed providers, and VET on track? Dirk breaks down the numbers, sector by sector.Victoria’s China Strategy: Education, education, and… education. Can the state reclaim its pre-COVID crown while the federal government tightens the screws?The Genuine Student Test Debate: Why some say the new visa rules make it too easy to say no.Language Love: From the New Colombo Plan to the Bahasa Sesh Challenge, why learning Indonesian could be the smartest move you make this year.Canada Calling: Australia’s High Commission hosts a standout alumni event alongside the Toronto Film Festival.Awards Season Approaches: IEAA, NSW, NT and WA all roll out the red carpet for international education excellence.Along the way, Rob and Dirk share wry observations about technology gaps inside government, the quirks of state–federal politics, and whether fluency in a second language might just be the ultimate future-proof skill.OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

When Anita Van Rooyen tells you she used to be cripplingly shy, it’s hard to believe. Today she’s a dynamo of confidence—helping students everywhere discover their own courage and voice.I met Anita at a conference and was instantly struck by her energy. In this conversation she shares the turning points that took her from saying “no” to everything to becoming a sought-after coach transforming student lives. We talk about why courage comes before confidence, why words like “mental health” can push students away, and how small acts—like never walking past a compliment—can change the world.Episode Highlights:• Anita’s “lightning bolt” moment: If nothing changes, nothing changes.• The “Courage Bucket” exercise and why action creates confidence.• Why she refuses to use the words “mental health” in student programs—and what she says instead.• Quick confidence boosts: 92-second dance breaks, posture shifts, and the art of dropping a “compliment bomb.”• How universities can re-think orientation and prevention to truly support students.From corporate fundraiser to confidence coach recognised by the Australian Government, Anita proves that a shy kid from Bright, Victoria can become a global advocate for student wellbeing—and have a lot of fun along the way.OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

It's been a huge week in international education, and big stories have been dropping like the Sydney rain that flooded the city this week!In this episode, Rob Malicki (The Global Society) and Dirk Mulder (The Koala News) are talking housing supply, strategic plans, TEQSA changes, details of several reports that have dropped, and changes to international student flows. Plus, we're joined by our very special guest, Louise Goold, "conference program whisperer" for the AIEC conference, talking about more of what to expect on the overhauled and enhanced Friday of AIEC. ⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]