Tom Barber

Like other countries, Australia is being forced to consider how to navigate an increasingly contested, competitive and fragmented international environment. While it boasts the world’s 13th largest economy, 17th strongest military and 15th largest defence expenditure, it remains a middle power, unable to compete with great powers on military strength or economic might. But a clear comparative advantage that Australia can leverage is its education sector. And it can do so as a world leader.

A report being launched on Thursday by Assistant Minister for International Education Julian Hill asks what it looks like for Australia to see education as a tool of statecraft. Within Australia, the public conversation around higher education is often negative. Universities are portrayed as corporatised institutions driven by revenue, preoccupied with global rankings and overly reliant on international student fees.

Education in Australia not only underpins the foundations of national power, but contributes to its international reach, diplomatic links, trade relations, and security. Credit: Depositphotos Subscribe for ads-free reading Geostrategic competition is usually seen in terms of military modernization, infrastructure development, technology investment, resource exploitation, or economic statecraft. Education generally isn’t the first thing that comes to mind.