An international team of education counsellors exchanged ideas with CQU staff and students about student recruitment, when they toured CQU Rockhampton facilities during a 6-hour fact-finding mission this week.

A Norwegian student explained that by coming to CQU he didn't get lost in the crowd, as most fellow Norwegians tend to study at other universities in Brisbane.

"I learned English faster and better here because I have to speak it all the time," said the multimedia student. An American from Rhode Island said she attended CQU because she "wanted to feel what Australia was really like." Hosted by CQU International, seven managers from IDP -- an independent not-for-profit organisation owned by 38 of Australia's universities and representing all education sectors -- visited the residential college and met with representatives across all faculties of the university.

"We've come here because we need to offer students every option possible," said Rene Lenssen, an IDP manager in the Netherlands.

Collete Foster, based in Brunei, said that parents in Brunei and Malaysia want their children in a quiet, safe place, away from distractions. She predicted Queensland would soon surpass Perth as the leading destination for her clients, especially since there are now three direct flights into Brisbane weekly. Only 80 to 100 Cambodian students a year come to Australia through IDP, according to country manager Paul Mahoney. Many go to Melbourne because of its Cambodian community, but an increasing number of students are making their way to Queensland due to the similar climate. Mohoney believes CQU's strengths in healthcare, tropical agriculture, and aquatic studies will be attractive to new students.

"The benefits of having International students in the region are farreaching, in terms of social, cultural and ecomonic gain to communities in which they live," explains Professor Debbie Clayton, Dean of International Programs.

"As well the networking that occurs with domestic students provides an strong international dimension to the regional education experience. " There were representatives from the Philippines, India, and United Kingdom as well.

IDP informs and advises international students on Australian education and assists in enrolment in Australian institutions.

CQU International currently hosts 210 students from 98 countries within regional Queensland. About half of CQU's 20,000 students are international students. Pictured are IDP's Paul Mahoney, Rene Lenssen and Collete Foster