In this week’s episode of The Koala News on Global Horizons podcast, Dirk Mulder (The Koala News) and Rob Malicki (The Global Society) we’re digging into the latest InternationalEducation News. 

-  A new Purpose Built Student Accommodation provider is entering Australia.

- Another ELICOS/VET provider has closed as a result of the Government’s ongoing catastrophicpolicies.

- Big news in the Learning Abroad space as Australia’s leading third party provider, CIS Australia, merges with CEA Capa.

Dirk and Rob are also joined by Brett Blacker, Managing Director Australia-New Zealand for Duolingo to talk about English language testing and what’s going on in thatspace.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company.

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by ⁠Choosing Your Uni⁠, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]⁠

Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

Monty Singh’s first night in Australia was in a Canberra backpackers, bunking with a complete stranger from Pakistan. He thought the city was under curfew when Belconnen Mall shut down at 6pm. And when he finally made it to uni? He thought “IT” meant “income tax.”

It’s safe to say things didn’t go to plan. And yet somehow, they went exactly right.

In this heartwarming and hilarious episode of Global Horizons, Rob catches up with Monty Singh, now Pro Vice-Chancellor Global and Chief International Officer at Victoria University, to talk about a journey that started with a misunderstood acronym and ended up transforming thousands of lives.

👀 Some of what you’ll hear in this episode:
• Why Monty nearly became a salvage diver instead of a university leader
• The culture shock of early 2000s Canberra (and that first trip to Woolies!)
• The moment Monty discovered he was dyslexic—and how it changed everything
• What makes VU’s Block Model so successful for students from diverse backgrounds
• Why education’s future lies in fit-for-purpose tech and individualised learning
• His dream of ticking off all seven continents (spoiler: Antarctica is still waiting!)

Monty’s story is about the possibilities that open up when education meets opportunity—and how today’s institutions must keep evolving to meet the needs of tomorrow’s students.

You’ll laugh. You’ll learn. And you might just look at your CD collection differently.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company.

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by ⁠Choosing Your Uni⁠, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]⁠

Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

Between record-high visa fees, deep policy uncertainty, and dramatic drops in English language student numbers, the sector is feeling the pressure.

In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder catch up from opposite sides of the world — Paris and Wurundjeri Country in Melbourne — to unpack the latest news, including:

• The Lowy Institute’s polling on Australian attitudes to international students

• StudyMove’s projections of a 5–10% decline in international student commencements for 2025

• The policy wrangling underway in Canberra as a new Parliament settles in

• Financial volatility hitting universities’ revenue and expenses since the pandemic

• Some good news from the Sunshine Coast, with a young researcher recognised by UNESCO

  
  

But the highlight is an extended conversation with Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, who joins to share an unflinching look at what’s happening inside the English language sector. Ian unpacks:

• The devastating impacts of the $2,000 visa fee on shorter-term English language programs

• How the ELICOS sector (English language) was uniquely hit by COVID and is still struggling to bounce back

• Why policy blind spots in Canberra put a critical part of the education system at risk

• Hints of optimism for differentiated visa pricing in the future

• What he hopes the sector — and government — will learn from this painful moment

Ian’s reflections are grounded, authentic, and brimming with hard-won perspective from decades of experience. Whether you work in international education or you’re simply fascinated by how policy shapes people’s lives, you’ll find this episode deeply worthwhile.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company.

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

What happens when you cross an ambitious Dutch engineer, a life-changing stint in Japan, and a goal to outnumber soldiers with students?

You get Edwin van Rest.

In this wide-ranging and unexpectedly hilarious conversation, I sit down with the founder and CEO of Studyportals to unpack a journey that started with a dream to study abroad and turned into a mission to make global education transparent, equitable and accessible for all.

From dressing up as “RoboCups” at an AIEC dinner (yes, really) to grappling with the challenge of cultural humility, Edwin speaks candidly about what it takes to build a company with real impact — and how scaling Studyportals was just the beginning.

Some standout moments from the episode:

• The real origin story of Studyportals — involving cigars, gospel churches, and a poster-less village in Africa

• The unexpected tipping point that launched them across Europe (spoiler: it involves the European Commission and a very bad website)

• Why he’s more interested in purpose than profit — and how that drives their BHAGs

• The dark side of misinformation in international student recruitment

• The power of cultural difference — and what Japan taught him about communication, humility and leadership

Edwin doesn’t just talk the talk — his team now tracks 2 new student journeys per second. If you’ve ever wondered how to build a mission-driven company from the ground up (or just want to hear how a guy in a Robocop costume changed the game), this one’s for you.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

This week on Global Horizons, things get heavy - and fast.

We open with shocking charges of human trafficking tied to fake scholarship schemes luring vulnerable students to Australia. Rob and Dirk unpack this disturbing case, reflect on sector accountability, and discuss why blunt regulatory tools aren’t the answer.

But that’s not all. Big moves are afoot in the offshoring game:

• UWA gets the green light for campuses in Mumbai and Chennai.

• Swinburne makes history as the first Australian university to set up shop in Qatar - offering degrees in cybersecurity, computer science, and business.

• And Qatar Airways just quietly became the world’s best airline (again).

Also in this episode:

• A spotlight on EDUtech 2025 and the NSW Government's big bet on edtech leadership.

• The IEAA Excellence Awards return: Who will take out this year’s coveted titles?

• AIEC 2025 countdown begins—early bird rego is open now (and yes, the keynote speakers are epic).

So yeah, 10 minutes was never going to cut it... we've run a minute over!

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠!

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without ⁠⁠⁠The Koala News⁠⁠⁠, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by ⁠⁠⁠Choosing Your Uni⁠⁠⁠, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

Global Horizons is a production of ⁠⁠⁠The Global Society⁠⁠⁠, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠

Bosco Anthony wasn’t supposed to be on stage that day. He was the 16th speaker in a lineup of 15 for a TEDx talk in Vancouver. But when one person pulled out, Bosco got the call-up — and what happened next changed his life forever.

In this energised and deeply personal conversation, Bosco unpacks the winding path that led him from Tanzania to Vancouver to Australia, powered by purpose, storytelling, and a love for curious detours.

We dive into the art (and ethics) of storytelling, what makes a great keynote work, how to balance creativity and data, and how AI is reshaping the global education and work landscape — for better or worse.

From growing up watching John Wayne movies to leading campaigns across 55 countries, Bosco brings both candour and clarity to some of the biggest questions facing our sector today.

Highlights include:

• The wild story behind his viral TEDx Talk (and why he rewrote it 20 minutes before going on stage)

• How he lost 50kg and found his professional purpose

• A powerful reflection on what makes great storytelling stick

• Why AI is both a creative ally and a risk if left unchecked

• What universities need to understand about student voice, localisation and identity in a post-AI world

• The future of work, and why Gen Alpha won’t be working 9 to 5

In this week's Koala News episode, Dirk and Rob are joined by Phil Honeywood, the CEO of the International Education Association of Australia.

There's plenty on the agenda: from a wrap up of NAFSA to the seismic changes going on in the US, ministerial appointments here in Australia through to the latest changes Board at Universities Australia.

Have a great end to the week!

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠⁠!

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without ⁠The Koala News⁠, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by ⁠Choosing Your Uni⁠, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

Global Horizons is a production of ⁠The Global Society⁠, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]⁠

What do family singalongs in a Kombi van, drinks with KISS, and chasing cats through Indian airports have in common? They’re all part of Emily O’Callaghan’s remarkable story through international education. In this episode, Emily takes us on a rollicking journey from her early days couriering faxes at VU to launching two businesses focused on global sustainability and learning abroad transformation. Along the way, she reflects on being a young woman travelling alone in Southeast Asia, how to build meaningful relationships in a volunteer-driven sector, and why understanding the “why” behind mobility matters more than ever.

We also talk about Berlin bike tours, how to escape a smoking combi, what it’s like to crash into the learning abroad scene at 20 with no passport, and the joy of seeing real change unfold in climate action—and in students' lives. It's warm, wild, reflective, and very, very funny.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠⁠!

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected]

The dust has settled on the Federal election, and it was a surprisingly one-sided affair.

But what does that mean for Australian international education?

With luck, a return to sensible, measured policy-making and extensive consultation.

In this week's episode of The Koala News (on Global Horizons), Dirk Mulder (The Koala News) and Rob Malicki (The Global Society) unpack the results of the election, and what we might expect to see next.

Dirk and Rob are also joined by Luke Sheehy, CEO of Universities Australia. Luke holds one of Australian higher ed's most interesting "helicopter and advocacy" positions, representing the collective depth and breadth of our universities. An experienced podcaster himself, there are some incredibly on-point observations about where the sector might be heading in the months and years ahead.

We are incredibly proud to be the ⁠⁠OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now⁠⁠!

And for all the breaking international education news, make sure you subscribe to ⁠The Koala News.

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]⁠

When Sarah Todd was a teenager in New Zealand, she asked Rotary to send her anywhere—as long as it wasn’t an English-speaking country. What followed was a life-changing year in Japan that would plant the seeds for a global career in international education.

In this candid, thoughtful, and funny conversation, Sarah reflects on that transformative year, her unexpected journey from academic to international leader, and why her trusty Samsonite carry-on is more than just luggage—it's a way of life. Rob and Sarah cover everything from the surprising cultural similarities between Japan and New Zealand, to AI in marketing, the future of trust in international admissions, and the very real challenges of leadership during COVID.

Highlights include:

With warmth and humour, Sarah shows us that global education isn’t just about credentials—it’s about stories, culture, and stepping out of your comfort zone.

Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao.

Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.

The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.

This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.

For guest suggestions and feedback, email ⁠[email protected]