Education Technology in Australia

In Australia, ICT played and continues to play a significant role in ensuring access to education by remote and rural communities, said Elodie Journet, Trade Commissioner, Singapore & Asean Industry Team Leader (ICT, Health and Medical), Australian Trade Commission (Austrade).

Journet’s role in Austrade demands that Australian education and training is marketed and promoted internationally and it certainly helps the agency’s case when “Australia has become a leader in e-learning content and educational technology systems”.
“Since assuming this role, we have developed a strategy and delivered a number of initiatives to further promote Australia as one of the high quality education providers and to encourage deeper engagement with regional stakeholders,” said Journet to FutureGov Asia Pacific.
One project Journet highlighted to FutureGov Asia Pacific was the US$71.58 million Le@rning Federation initiative. The Le@rning Federation, managed by Education Services Australia on behalf of the Ministerial Council for Education, Early Childhood Development and Youth Affairs (MCEECDYA), has since created more than 7000 online curriculum materials.
“This gives classrooms an enhanced learning experience,” said Journet.
Also, Australia completed the US$121 million Clever Networks programme in June 2010, enabling the rollout of broadband infrastructure and services to regional, rural and remote areas of Australia. This project has since given students in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia easy access to “online learning tools, at home and within their communities”, benefitting more than 1330 schools and education institutions.
Together with the Digital Education Revolution initiative, Austrade has been well positioned to perform its role—“continue to position Australia as a high quality education partner worldwide and support Australian education providers by providing access to global networks, business and investment opportunities as well as strategic regional and global partnerships”.

SOURCE :http://www.futuregov.asia/articles/2011/mar/25/education-technology-australia/
AUTHOR :  XINGHUI GUO