Remaking the World in Our Own Image: Australia's Efforts to Liberalise Trade in Education Services

Abstract

Australia has developed a reputation as an aggressive and competitive provider of international education and an ardent proponent of free trade in education services. This paper describes Australia's role in promoting trade liberalisation through the World Trade Organization's (WTO) General Agreement on Trade in Services. When Australia first committed to open its education market to foreign providers in the WTO in 1995, there was little discussion of the implications of such an undertaking; but with the rise of opposition to economic globalisation and increased scrutiny of international trade agreements, the government is hesitant to make any further commitments. On the international stage, however, Australia is playing a leading role in promoting trade liberalisation in a variety of international forums. The Australian government is pursuing a more diversified approach to trade promotion, which includes building confidence in international quality assurance mechanisms and demonstrating the benefits of trade-driven internationalisation to importing countries.