About IEAA

Statement of Purpose

The International Education Association of Australia is an association of international education professionals. It is a multi-sectoral organisation made up of individual members. The Association represents members from all education sectors (public and private) - university, vocational education, schools and English language - as well as from government and commercial organisations. Membership is primarily from Australia. There is also a growing international membership.

The Association has been established to serve the needs and interests of the large number of individuals working in international education across all education sectors, to encourage informed and ethical professional practice among members, and to promote international education to governments, education organisations and within the community.

Existing groups and structures have advanced international education in a variety of ways, for particular purposes and with considerable success. The field has benefited by the policy and operational inputs of governments and their instrumentalities, peak bodies, corporate and commercial interests such as IDP Education Australia and education institutions in all sectors. ISANA: the International Education Association, and the NLC (National Liaison Committee for International Students in Australia Inc) have been particularly successful in serving the professional needs of their memberships. A great deal has been achieved by committed individuals in these bodies.

There is, however, a critical need to serve the professional interests of the thousands of individuals at various levels, and with widely different professional responsibilities and experience, working in international education across all education sectors. The needs of individual professionals are best served by a broadly-based, member-oriented, member-driven association, whose role should complement and through appropriate alliances, facilitate the work of other groups and bodies within the international education field in Australia.

IEAA is an Australian based association and includes individuals in all education sectors and at all levels, in institutions, in government and elsewhere, who are active or interested in international education. This includes individuals involved in executive/senior management, marketing, student support, study abroad, student exchange, admissions, and teaching and learning. While Australian based, it includes international membership and relates to counterpart international associations such as the EAIE, NAFSA and AIEA.

IEAA aims to work in close collaboration with governments and their instrumentalities, industry peak bodies, corporate and commercial interests.

Mission

IEAA is a member-oriented, member-driven professional association of international education professionals in Australia, broadly defined to include individuals in all education sectors and at all levels, in institutions, in government and elsewhere, who are active or interested in International Education. This includes individuals involved in teaching, research, management, marketing, admissions, student support services, study abroad, student exchange administration and policy.

IEAA's Mission is to:

serve and support the professional needs and interests of individuals working in international education;
encourage informed and ethical professional practice among members; and
promote international education with governments, education institutions and organisations and within the community

The work of IEAA is intended to complement the work of other groups within the International Education field in Australia to further enhance Australia's reputation in International Education.

Professional Development is critical to furthering the understandings, skills and professionalism of members and advancing the quality and integrity of Australian International Education. IEAA, in its professional development strategy, has identified gaps in current provision that are appropriate to the missions and resources of the Association. It seeks to complement current professional development through strategic alliances with relevant government departments, peak bodies, associations and commercial entities.