2019 Proceedings Report

Summary of Discussion Sessions
International Education & Public Diplomacy
Moderator
Mrs Paula Henao, Director, International
Relations, ICETEX
Speakers
Ms Andrea Palacios, CEO
Blue Studies International
Mr Rongyu Li, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (External Engagement)
Mr Manuel Acevedo Jaramillo, President,
ICETEX
Mr Jerónimo Alfonso Castro, Executive
Director, Colfuturo
The Numbers Speak by Themselves
In the last seven years, the number of Colombian nationals studying in Australia due
to the support of ICETEX, has increased by 25%, bringing the number of students
benefiting exclusively from ICETEX credit lines to study in Australia now close to
1,400.
Australian universities are the second largest recipients of ICETEX deposits, only after
Spanish universities. This means among all English-speaking countries,
Australia is the top destination country for ICETEX supported students.
Another case study raised during the discussion pointed at Colfuturo, and in
particular, participants emphasised that only a few years ago Australia was not in
Colfuturo’s map.
Thanks to the regular and disciplined execution of Australian academic visits for the
last 15 years, Australia is now ranked the second destination country, after Germany,
for Colombian nationals awarded with scholarship to study overseas.
Prof Heather Cavanagh, Deputy
Vice-Chancellor (Research, Development
and Industry), CSU
Participants were surprised to learn that Colombia is Australia's second largest
market for English language students after China, and that the total number of
Colombian students in Australia is more than 20,000.
Mr Juan Guillermo Rincón,
Director, RC Australia
Mrs Tania Delgado, Director,
Mindset and Culture, Colciencias
The Australia-Colombia Dialogue | September 2019 44