South Australia’s three leading universities are committing an additional $1.368 million over four years to the State Government’s Destination Adelaide plan.

In a joint announcement in Kuala Lumpur, Flinders University Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Stirling said the funding initiative will boost StudyAdelaide marketing campaigns and add to the substantial investment that SA universities make each year towards growing South Australia’s international education.

Professor Stirling, who chairs of the South Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, said: “More international students than ever before are recognising the benefits that Adelaide and South Australia have to offer as an education destination.

“Each year, South Australia welcomes international students from more than 125 countries, and we want to ensure that potential students everywhere are aware of the highly regarded study opportunities available to them.

“We offer world-class degrees in high quality education facilities in a modern, accessible, affordable and safe location.”

In 2014, South Australia hosted more than 30,000 international students from about 125 countries and international education services accounted for $1.056 billion in export earnings, which was the largest service export for SA, and the sixth largest export overall.

International student activity, including education services, accommodation, retail expenditure also contributed to an estimated 8000 full-time equivalent jobs in SA.

The three university Vice-Chancellors joined the State Government trade delegation in South-East Asia this week.

Employment, Higher Education and Skills Minister Gail Gago said Destination Adelaide would target South-East Asia and other key markets to position Adelaide as a premier destination for international students.

“The State Government will continue its aggressive campaign to grow its $1 billion international student industry, providing South Australia with significant economic and cultural benefits,” Ms Gago says.

“The Destination Adelaide plan is a framework to guide the significant investment of an additional $5.7 million over four years we announced in the 2015-16 State Budget, in line with our State’s economic priorities,” she said.

“Our three public universities, the University of Adelaide, Flinders University and the University of South Australia are particularly important in any future collaboration in growing the State’s international education footprint.”

While in Kuala Lumpur, Ms Gago witnessed a resigning of a collaborative agreement between Flinders University and HELP University, which will facilitate the continuation of the joint Bachelor of Psychological Science and Bachelor of Psychological Science (Honours) program.

“This is the first of what I hope will be many more partnerships created under Destination Adelaide to promote and market our world class universities overseas,” Ms Gago said.