Harnessing education for regional prosperity

Harnessing education for regional prosperity

RMIT Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement Saskia Loer Hansen has expressed the importance of international and transnational education in fostering regional prosperity, in a wide-ranging interview on the ATN Perspectives podcast.

Ms Loer Hansen said RMIT’s unique partnerships and learning pathways prepared students for the globalised workforce. 

“A global classroom is a classroom where you have students of different backgrounds, different experiences, brought together, learning about one another,” she said.

“That's the richness that comes from working with diversity, we all grow from having those experiences.”

Fostering regional collaboration

She said RMIT’s transnational education programs, in key locations like India, Vietnam and Singapore, provided reciprocal benefit.

“It's something that complements and adds to [international onshore and domestic delivery] and creates opportunities for learners who often aren't able to come and study with us,” she said.

“Some of our partners, they are incredibly industry connected, they do fabulous activities, they are very advanced in their pedagogy and their ability to use technology. 

“We should make sure we also take the time to learn from them to enhance and improve, and at times change, our practise at home in Melbourne.”

Saskia Loer Hansen landscapeDeputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement Saskia Loer Hansen

Addressing skills demands

Ms Loer Hansen said international education, and cross-sector collaboration, would help address Australia’s skills demands.

“[RMIT is] very much working collaboratively with government to figure out how best to do this in a way that retains Australia’s brand as a high quality and welcoming international education destination.

“It's about how we equip learners, irrespective of background, to work either in Australia or somewhere else in the world.”

“At RMIT, we support the notion of managed growth [with regards to international education] … I think we can only address [skills demands] if we find a productive, positive way of addressing that balance between the talent we bring in, the talent we grow and the talent we'd like for the long term.

You can listen to the full interview on the ATN Perspectives podcast here.

06 March 2025

Share

Return to RMIT News
06 March 2025

Share

Engage

Related News

Dr Brendan Dyett holding a vaccine patch.

New study advances dry mRNA vaccine patch design

New research could help make future mRNA vaccines easier to store and distribute.

RMIT University Associate Professor Biplob Pramanik in the laboratory where researchers developed a dual-bubble wastewater treatment approach that significantly improves microplastic removal.

New approach boosts microplastic removal from wastewater

RMIT University researchers have developed a more effective way to capture microplastics from wastewater, using a combination of microbubbles and nanobubbles to achieve removal rates of more than 90% before pollution reaches waterways.

sec-res-hub-launch-1220x732-speakers.jpg

New RMIT Security and Resilience Hub to create a more resilient Australia

RMIT's Security and Resilience Hub will serve as a front door to industry, creating a nexus with teaching and research to drive innovative collaborations and solutions to some of Australia's most complex challenges.

eliza-the-organ-1220x732-03.jpg

RMIT to complete Capitol restoration with arrival of Eliza the Organ

The University is undertaking works to restore the historic organ to the iconic Capitol Theatre, the final part of the restoration of one of Melbourne’s most iconic venues.

Show more
aboriginal flag float-starttorres strait flag float-start

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

More information