brisbane marketing congratulates education award winner

Brisbane International Student Ambassador, Helen (Yilin) Liu was today congratulated by Brisbane Marketing for winning an award in the Queensland-China Education and Training Awards program for Excellence, announced at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 event by Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin.

Managed by Queensland Education and Training International (QETI), this one-off Awards program acknowledges the achievements of Chinese students and alumni, and showcases Brisbane and Queensland’s significant and successful education partnerships with China, who excel in five unique categories.

Brisbane Marketing through its Study Brisbane program nominated Helen Liu for the Student of the Year (Higher Education category) Award. Ms Liu is currently serving a second year as a Brisbane International Student Ambassador, an annual program managed by the agency.

Brisbane Marketing CEO John Aitken congratulated Helen Liu, saying her success in the Education Awards program is an outstanding achievement considering China is Brisbane’s largest international student market.

“Helen Liu has achieved exceptional academic grades at the Australian Catholic University (ACU), while serving her second year as one of our Brisbane International Student Ambassadors to help promote Brisbane to potential Chinese students,” Mr Aitken said.

"On an industry level, it's important to acknowledge the achievements and contributions of the international education industry to Brisbane and Queensland's economy, and also to the community and cultural fabric of our State.

“I thank QETI for managing the Awards program, which helps to highlight examples of best practice as we continue to reinforce Brisbane and Queensland’s reputation as a friendly, multicultural and world-class provider of education to international students.”

Accepting the Student of the Year (Higher Education category) Award from the Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland Tim Mulherin, at the Shanghai World Expo was Helen Liu.

“Winning the Student of the Year award has enabled me to further share my incredible experience of studying in Brisbane to new contacts and media in China,” Helen said.

“Travelling to Shanghai to personally accept the Award has also opened up new opportunities, such as expanding my network of professional and government representatives in China and Queensland, and broadening my marketing knowledge, which will help me promote Brisbane to China.

“I feel the Award is as much for Brisbane as it is for me because the local community, lifestyle and world-class education institutions have made my Ambassador role so interesting and worthwhile.”

Helen is one of the highest achievers within her Bachelor of Nursing course at ACU, achieving a grade point average of 6/7. Now in her second and final year of studies, Helen plans to extend her work with Brisbane Marketing on the TQUAL project, focusing on activities specifically in China.

The winners for the Education Awards program include:

Best Practice in Collaborative Research
Joint Winners:
Creative industries in China, Queensland University of Technology
Research collaboration between The University of Queensland and Central South University

Best Practice in Queensland - China Collaboration
Winner - Higher Education category:
Griffith University
Winner - Vocational Education and Training category:
Unilearn Foundation Program, Education Queensland International
Winner- English Language Intensive Course for Overseas Students category:
Building a Queensland Bridge to Young China, Nudgee International College

Alumnus of the Year
Joint Winners - Research category:
Professor Gao Qing Max Lu - The University of Queensland
Professor Feng Han - QUT
Winner - Higher Education category:
Ms Mei Li - The University of Queensland
Winner - Vocational Education and Training category:
Mr Jack Quan Liu - Southbank Institute of Technology
Winner - Schools category:
Mr Xiao (Winson) Chen - Corinda State High School

Student of the Year
Winner - Research category:
Ms Jian Yu Ma - The University of Queensland
Winner - Higher Education category:
Ms Yilin Liu - Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Winner - Vocational Education and Training category:
Ms Zitong Mavis Huang - International Education Services (IES)
Winner - Schools category:
Ms Yunong Sun - Stuartholme School

Outstanding Education Agent
EIC Group Ltd

The Awards also formed part of the Queensland Week launch held on Sunday 20 June in the Australian Pavilion. The aim of Queensland Week was to raise awareness about the trade opportunities for Queensland in China, develop business networks and promote industry strengths.

For more information on the Awards program, visit www.studyqueensland.qld.edu.au

Facts:

• Queensland received 16, 477 student enrolments from China (incl. Hong Kong) in 2009[1]
• China was Queensland’s second-largest country of origin of international student enrolments in 2009 (year-to-date July 2009)[2]
• Queensland received 173 000 visitors from China (incl. Hong Kong), 36.5 per cent of all visitors from China (incl. Hong Kong) to Australia.[3]
• Queensland recorded a 7% increase, 153,000 in holiday visitors from China (year ended March 2010)[4]
• Brisbane’s saw an overall increase in visitation from Chinese holiday makers, VFR and international students – 62,000, an increase of 19 per cent (year ended March 2010). [5]

Yilin Liu accepting the Award in Shanghai