Global Horizons - The Australian International Education Podcast

Afleveringen

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  What Higher Education Can Learn from Great Brands 12.08.2026 37min

  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
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  What’s Next for International Education After the Winter Break 06.08.2026 35min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Caroline Hartnett on Study with Victoria and the Future of International Education 30.07.2026 16min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.auA reminder to colleagues that SUPER EARLY BIRD registrations for AIEC close TODAY (31st July). Get them here: https://aiec.idp.com/register-here
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  Steve Dimopoulos on Victoria’s International Education Strategy 21.07.2026 13min

  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
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  John Wood on Bob Hawke, Navitas and the Story of Australian International Education 16.07.2026 1u 7min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.auGlobal Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com
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  Visa Fees, Student Caps and ATEC: A Big Week in International Education 09.07.2026 41min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.auGlobal Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com
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  Be the Beacon: Robert Parsonson on Agents, Trust and the Industry Australia Forgot to Celebrate 02.07.2026 38min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.auGlobal Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com
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  The New Top Dog In Town (The Koala News on Global Horizons) 25.06.2026 32min

  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
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  From Heathrow Bags to Brain Surgery: Nicola Bate’s Remarkable Global Journey 18.06.2026 56min

  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
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  Study Cairns, Student Accommodation, Awards Season and Choosing International Students 11.06.2026 24min

  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
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  Mark Pettitt on risk, curiosity and building something that lasts 04.06.2026 38min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.auGlobal Horizons is the official podcast of the Australian International Education Conference. Registrations are open now: https://aiec.idp.com
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  Canada’s International Education Warning, Australia’s VET Freeze, and the Politics of Migration 28.05.2026 37min

  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!
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  Choosing Your Next Career Step (Keynote from the National Virtual Expo) 22.05.2026 57min

  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 ⁠podcast@globalsociety.com.auGlobal Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference! Registrations are already open... grab your spot early!
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  "Let's Recruit Students From Antarctica!" Not the stupidest suggestion of the year (+ real news) 14.05.2026 45min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Guie Hartney on resilience, international education and a life shaped by travel 07.05.2026 43min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Visa pressure, rejected applications and what it means for international education 30.04.2026 38min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  From a Backpack and a Near-Missed Flight to the Frontlines of University Change 23.04.2026 35min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Recession, policy pressure and student recruitment realities (with special guest Nico Chu from Sinorbis) 16.04.2026 1u 5min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Michelle Teasdale on UWA, leadership, curiosity and raising globally minded daughters 09.04.2026 47min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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  Evidence levels drop, “new to Australia” commencements slide, Randwick blocks student housing, and Allianz releases SOSH 2025 02.04.2026 51min

  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 podcast@globalsociety.com.au