Global Horizons - The Australian International Education Podcast
Global Horizons is Australia's international education podcast, focusing on the stories that make the industry engaging. Each episode covers industry news, current affairs, personal career and travel stories, and unpacking industry trends. The podcast aims to showcase the knowledge and impact of international education, exploring specialisations like learning abroad, compliance, and marketing.
Episodes
Sinking Australia: Cuts to Migration and International Ed To Smash the Economy
Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder of The Koala News are back, recorded the morning after a brutal sporting weekend for Dirk.The main event is Tony Burke's National Press Club address. Student and temporary graduate visa holders will generally no longer be able to include family members, with exceptions for PhD candidates and some government-sponsored programs. Moving provider will require a new visa
Why Education Agents Still Matter in the Age of AI
In this special edition of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Sunil Jaggi, Managing Director of Auscan Consultants and committee member of the Association of Australian Education Representatives in India.Recorded on Larrakia country in Darwin during a StudyNT agent familiarisation visit, the conversation explores how the role of the education agent has changed over the past 25 years, from
International Education News
In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob and Dirk work through a packed international education runsheet, moving from Australia-Africa university collaboration to regulation, New Zealand’s export recovery and student accommodation.The episode begins with Australia-Africa Week in Perth, where the Australia Africa Universities Network launched its 2030 strategy and made the case for higher education,
Why International Education Needs a Better National Conversation
In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder return with a wide-ranging news discussion covering Nepal, the Northern Territory, student accommodation, sector advocacy and the growing divide between state and federal views on international education.The episode begins with the devastating news from Nepal, and Rob and Dirk reflect on the deep connections between Nepal and Australi
Robyn Cahill on International Education in the Northern Territory
In this special edition of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Northern Territory Minister Robyn Cahill in Darwin.Recorded on Larrakia country, the conversation explores what international education means to the Northern Territory, and why the Territory sees international students as central to its community, workforce, economy and future.The episode begins with reflections on the devastat
Time to get out the highlighter!
In this episode of Global Horizons, I'm doing something a bit different. With the 40th AIEC conference coming up at speed, I decided to take a solid look through the program and start trying to figure out what I might attend. ... ouch... it was a LOT harder than I expected, because there's just so much on the agenda this year! If you haven't yet had a chance to look through the agenda, this short
Tourism Australia has a $13.5 billion dollar vulnerability it doesn't want to admit
Tourism Australia has a $13.5 billion vulnerability hiding in plain sight.Its new Tourism 2035 strategy talks about growing visitor spending, encouraging longer stays and extracting more value from tourism.But international education barely gets a look in.That’s remarkable when education-related visitors generated $15.3 billion in tourism expenditure, compared with $13.5 billion from holiday visit
What Higher Education Can Learn from Great Brands
In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with Rick Chapman on the shores of Balmoral Beach in Sydney.Rick’s career started in fast-moving consumer goods, working with iconic brands including Guinness, Arnott’s, Tim Tams, Kit Kat and Milo. He then made the move into education, bringing deep marketing and brand experience into a sector with a very different purpose.Rob and Rick talk
What’s Next for International Education After the Winter Break
Rob and Dirk are back for a new episode of Global Horizons, with Rob returning from France and Dirk recovering after a rough bout of flu.This episode covers a busy fortnight in international education, starting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Australia and the continued focus on transnational education.Rob and Dirk discuss Australia’s growing offshore education activity, includ
Caroline Hartnett on Study with Victoria and the Future of International Education
In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Caroline Hartnett, Director of Study Melbourne, following the launch of Victoria’s refreshed international education strategy, Study with Victoria.Recorded at the Study Melbourne Hub in Hardware Lane, the conversation explores how Victoria is thinking about the next phase of international education after the recovery years.Caroline dis
Steve Dimopoulos on Victoria’s International Education Strategy
In this special edition of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder sits down with Victorian Minister Steve Dimopoulos following the launch of Victoria’s refreshed International Education Strategy.Recorded at the Study Melbourne Hub in Hardware Lane, the conversation focuses on why international education matters so deeply to Victoria — not just as a major export, but as a source of jobs, global connections,
John Wood on Bob Hawke, Navitas and the Story of Australian International Education
John Wood has had a front-row seat to some of the biggest moments in Australian higher education.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with John to trace a remarkable career that moves from working-class Western Australia to Oxford, the Hawke government, ECU, Notre Dame, Navitas and the Centre for Stories.John was in Canberra in the mid-1980s when the decision was made to allow
Visa Fees, Student Caps and ATEC: A Big Week in International Education
Rob is in Basque country in the southwest of France, Dirk is back in western Sydney, and there is a lot to unpack in this episode of Global Horizons.It has been a massive fortnight for Australian international education, with major updates on student visa fees, national planning levels, ATEC, student housing and sector awards.First up, Rob and Dirk discuss the latest increase to student visa fees,
Be the Beacon: Robert Parsonson on Agents, Trust and the Industry Australia Forgot to Celebrate
Robert Parsonson has been part of Australia’s international education story for a very long time.His first AIEC, back when it was still the IDP conference, was in Sydney in 1994. He had just returned from four years in Japan, stood up in front of a room full of people, and gave a presentation on how to work with agents and build relationships in Japan.That presentation became a launchpad.In this e
The New Top Dog In Town (The Koala News on Global Horizons)
Rob is in Paris, Dirk is in Sydney, and this episode of Global Horizons covers UNSW overtaking Melbourne as Australia’s top-ranked university in QS, the latest net overseas migration figures, and what the OECD is saying about the future of international student growth.They also discuss why students are only one part of the migration story, why universities need to share more positive stories, and
From Heathrow Bags to Brain Surgery: Nicola Bate’s Remarkable Global Journey
Nicola Bate’s story begins, in a way, with a woman loading bags at Heathrow.Her mum, a single mother in West London, took a job with British Airways because it paid a little more, came with staff travel, and gave her the chance to show her young daughter the world. So while other kids came back from school holidays with stories from around the corner, Nicola came back with stories from Australia,
Study Cairns, Student Accommodation, Awards Season and Choosing International Students
Perhaps it’s time we chose them.That line sits near the heart of this episode of Global Horizons, and it lands with a bit of a thud — in the best possible way.In this news episode, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are both on the road: Rob in a rainy Brisbane on Turrbal and Yuggera land, and Dirk in a very warm, very sunny Darwin on Larrakia country. Which, naturally, leads to a brief weather compariso
Mark Pettitt on risk, curiosity and building something that lasts
When Rob Malicki sits down with Mark Pettitt, the conversation begins in a place few people would expect: Rostov-on-Don in the mid-1990s.What starts as a childhood fascination with Russia, sparked by reading Animal Farm, turns into a story about teaching English in a city near the Ukrainian border just a few years after Perestroika. Mark reflects on arriving in a place that felt harsh and unfamili
Canada’s International Education Warning, Australia’s VET Freeze, and the Politics of Migration
Canada, we have a problem.And, if we’re being honest, Australia might have a very similar one.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder unpack a week in international education that starts with Canada’s positioning problem and quickly turns into a much bigger conversation about policy clarity, political trust, skilled migration, international students, VET, and whether govern
Choosing Your Next Career Step (Keynote from the National Virtual Expo)
This week on Global Horizons, we're doing something a little different. Last week, Rob Malicki delivered a keynote for the Choosing Your Uni National Virtual Expo. It was a huge event with thousands upon thousands of attendees. His keynote was titled "Getting Started with Choosing a University", but it was actually much broader, focusing on career directions, how to know when it's time to change,
"Let's Recruit Students From Antarctica!" Not the stupidest suggestion of the year (+ real news)
In this episode of the Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder record on budget day and work through a packed run of developments affecting international education.They start with two major new research releases from IDP and Studyportals, both pointing to the same broad shift: visa certainty is becoming a much more important factor in student decision-making. From there, they discuss
Guie Hartney on resilience, international education and a life shaped by travel
What does it take to stay calm in a sector that seems determined to keep everyone on their toes? If you ask Guie Hartney, it might start with a smile, a little perspective, and a willingness to embrace the chaos.In this warm, funny and wide-ranging conversation, Guie reflects on a life shaped by travel, language, resilience and curiosity. From growing up in Mexico and moving to Australia, to worki
Visa pressure, rejected applications and what it means for international education
In this episode of the Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder focus on one issue that is dominating the sector right now: visas.They begin with John Chew’s recent commentary on the growing lack of clarity, consistency and trust in Australia’s student visa system, and what that means for institutions, students and the country’s reputation more broadly. From there, they unpack new data
From a Backpack and a Near-Missed Flight to the Frontlines of University Change
When I sat down with Tom Gifford, I knew we’d end up talking about international education. What I didn’t quite expect was that we’d begin with a backpacker visa panic, a wrongly dated Qantas ticket, and one very stern airline employee who may, in her own quiet way, have changed the course of his life.Because that’s the thing about conversations like this one. What starts as a chat about careers a
Recession, policy pressure and student recruitment realities (with special guest Nico Chu from Sinorbis)
In this episode of the Koala News Global Horizons podcast, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder discuss the economic and policy backdrop shaping international education right now.They unpack growing recession concerns, the role international education plays in local and national economies, and the gap between the public narrative around the sector and what the data may actually be telling us. They also loo
Michelle Teasdale on UWA, leadership, curiosity and raising globally minded daughters
When I sat down with Michelle Teasdale at UWA, looking out across Matilda Bay on one of those impossibly beautiful Perth days, I knew we’d have a good conversation. What I didn’t quite expect was just how far the conversation would travel.What starts with a slightly-too-familiar international education story about lost luggage quickly opens out into something much richer: childhood in the Pilbara,
Evidence levels drop, “new to Australia” commencements slide, Randwick blocks student housing, and Allianz releases SOSH 2025
Evidence levels are out, the “new to Australia” data paints a sharper picture of what’s really happening, Randwick Council blocks new student housing near UNSW, and Allianz Partners drops a standout student wellbeing report. Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder unpack the implications, then bring in guest Sam Eid to talk through what the 2025 State of Student Healthcare Report reveals about student life in
Tanya Perera on Values, Mentorship and The Greater Good for the Greater Number
What begins as a lively conversation at AIEC quickly becomes something much deeper. In this episode, Tanya Perera reflects on migration, mentorship, values, and the quiet experiences that shape a life in international education. From arriving in Australia from Sri Lanka at 13, to navigating identity, leadership and belonging, Tanya brings warmth, insight and more than a little humour to a conversa
It's the "Vibe": How a Student Can Tick Every Box... And Still Not Get a Visa (Plus all the news and special guest Ian Pratt)
In this episode of the Koala News Global Horizons podcast, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki unpack another big week in international education.They discuss the ongoing uncertainty around student visas, why inconsistent decision-making is creating real problems for providers, and what that could mean for institutions in the months ahead. They also touch on the Queensland Exporters Conference, some of th
Naresh Gulati on building businesses and the secrets to a good life
Naresh Gulati has been in international education since the mid-90s. He helped build one of the largest education agencies in India, then founded BPO Intelligence, and now is driving the rise (pun intended) of Ascent One, a modular ecosystem designed to reduce admin chaos by helping systems talk to each other. But instead of giving you a standard “here’s how I scaled” playbook, this conversation o
Visa Costs Double Overnight. And A New Player Hits The Market.
Who would have guessed? Out of the blue on Sunday, the Government announced the doubling of the cost of one of the key student-related visas. Dirk Mulder and Tracy Harris from The Koala News were right on it, with the breaking news hitting inboxes within hours. It just shows why industry news is so important!This week is a bumper episode of the podcast, including our special guest Michael Holaday
From Exchange Student to Policy Powerhouse: Ainslie Moore on Changing the System (Without Losing the Plot)
When I sat down with Ainslie Moore, I thought we’d spend 45 minutes doing what we’ve almost never done in the past 25 years: talk without an agenda.We made it about 30 seconds.Because Ainslie opens with the kind of confession that tells you exactly what sort of episode this is going to be, she has a “flight home story” she “will not tell the rest of the world”… and then casually admits she once bo
On the Rise, or Pulled Apart? What the 2025 Data Says About Where International Education Is Heading
“This report reads almost like a postmortem of a world-class Aussie industry being systematically dismantled.” That’s how this week’s conversation starts, and honestly, it sets the tone.In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and I sit down in the week of 16 February and try to make sense of a sector that feels like it’s accelerating in ten different directions at once. New data, new panel
From Teaching in Barcelona to the CEO Seat: Ian Aird on Leadership, Language, and the Reality of International Ed
When I sat down with Ian Aird, the CEO of English Australia, I expected we’d talk mostly about the sector’s current policy turbulence, and what it’s like trying to advocate when the rules keep shifting.We absolutely go there.But what I didn’t expect was how quickly the conversation turned into something more personal, more human, and (weirdly) more useful for anyone trying to make sense of careers
Is migration “under control”? What the numbers say...and what the politics says.
I didn’t think, in my life, that I’d be recording a podcast… and I definitely didn’t think I’d be talking about taxation in India. Yet here we are. In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are back for 2026, slightly dazed by how January vanished, and diving straight into the stories that are shaping the international education conversation right now.We start with the politi
Sliding Doors and Second Chances: Dominic de Moura McCarthy’s Unlikely Path into International Education
Dominic de Moura McCarthy is one of those guests who makes you quietly sit up straighter.He’s 24, he’s done ballet for 15 years, he taught himself how to build a personal brand before most of us even knew what that meant, and he’s the kind of person who doesn’t wait for an “official invitation” to start something meaningful. When Dom joins me on Global Horizons, we go back to Mackay, regional Nort
Melanie Duncan: why context is everything in international education (and why student services is being hollowed out)
A student storms into Melanie Duncan’s office in tears, shaking with certainty that Australia is an “awful place”… because we eat our dogs.The evidence? He saw “dog bones” at the supermarket.It sounds ridiculous, until you realise what Melanie has spent nearly three decades learning the hard way: without context, even the most well-meaning support can miss the mark. Recorded at the IEC conference,
The whiplash year begins, Bangladesh drops two levels, ATEC tightens its grip, and Adelaide University takes its first breath
It’s the first Global Horizons News episode of 2026, and Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder are back at the desk with that familiar mix of “happy new year” energy and “wait, what changed while we were away?” realism. They start with PRISMS and a South Asia assessment-level update that feels, frankly, out of cycle and out of sync. The headline move is Bangladesh, which only recently moved up, now dropping
From Land Surveyor to Global Education Pioneer: A Conversation with Peter Gainey
In this episode of Global Horizons, Peter and I wander through three and a half decades of international education, from the days when Wollongong was considered “aggressive” for opening an office in Japan, to the launch and heartbreaking end of The Scholar Ship, to his 15 years shaping JMC’s international work in the creative industries. Along the way we talk about caps, fairness, and why policy s
Mike Ferguson on International Education Policy, Co-Design, and What Governments Can (and Can’t) Do
On the way back from his honeymoon, Mike Ferguson and his wife are walking across a square, headed for the airport.Two guys come up from behind.A knife to his throat. A gun to his wife’s head. And somehow, unbelievably, what follows is not just a story about being mugged, it’s a story about negotiation, keeping your head, and walking away with the things that actually matter. Including, in a twist
Australian higher education: the real story of scale, impact and momentum (Season 4 Opener)
G'day and welcome to Season 4 of the Global Horizons podcast! To open up the season, Rob Malicki reflects on some of the highlights from Australian higher education from the past 12 months. Over the past 12 months, the narrative of universities "losing their social licence" was shown to be a simply ridiculous, click-bait headline. Here's the proof: In the latest data, our universities taught 1,676
Looking Back on 2025... and Ahead to 2026
When we sat down to record this episode, it felt a bit like opening a time capsule from twelve months ago and asking, “So, how wrong were we?”At the end of 2024, Dirk predicted a country divided into two halves, pre-election and post-election, with migration politics sitting right in the middle of it all. I went the other way and suggested life in the sector might simply slide back to “normal”. In
When AI Eats Your Google Traffic: James Martin on Students, Stories and Staying Human
When James Martin says that AI has decimated web traffic for universities, he is not being dramatic. In the space of a year, how to articles and evergreen web pages have been quietly pushed aside by AI summaries and chatbots, and a whole lot of marketing strategies are suddenly looking very 2019.So what do you do when you cannot rely on Google anymore?In this episode of Global Horizons, I sit down
Integrity, Migration and Research on Fumes: Inside Australia’s Final ESOS Hearing
Australia keeps saying it wants a “Future Made in Australia”. But what happens when you starve the labs, research institutes and universities that are supposed to build that future, while talking tough on “integrity” and migration instead? In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki unpack the Senate committee’s final report on the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and
Elissa Newall on Reimagining Student Experiences
When Elissa Newall from Edified walks into a room, you know you’re about to learn something meaningful about the international education sector. Fresh off the release of Edified’s newest global Mystery Shopper results presented at AIEC, Elissa breaks down what’s really happening when prospective students reach out to universities. The wins, the misses, the opportunities, and the uncomfortable trut
Take Two: MD 115, ESOS Changes And What Comes Next For International Education
In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Koala News founder Dirk Mulder unpack what MD 115 really does, where the tech and systems may not be keeping up, and why some of this feels more like political theatre than serious system reform.Highlights in this episode include:How one tiny forgotten setting killed their live recording in front of work experience studentsWhat MD 115 actually ch
Tanveer Shaheed on 17 years at Macquarie, international education’s social licence, and AI’s next wave
We recorded this episode in Macquarie University’s central courtyard, a place that feels like home to both of us. Tanveer has spent 17 years here, through new vice-chancellors, rebuilt precincts and a metro line that now puts the campus 18 minutes from the CBD. He laughs that it feels like working for three or four different organisations, because the thinking and the work keep evolving. Then he t
Inside AIEC: Visa Loopholes, AI Decisions, and the Future of Australia’s International Education Sector
It’s day two of the AIEC conference in Canberra, and co-hosts Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder have barely caught their breath. The expo hall’s buzzing, the NOSC allocations have just dropped, and everyone’s trying to figure out what it all means.From the latest on the government’s New Overseas Student Commencement numbers to AI quietly making visa decisions, this episode of Global Horizons takes you r
Pamela Baxter on English Proficiency, Access, and Integrity in International Education
When Pamela Baxter first came to Australia, it was as a wide-eyed traveller with a backpack and a dream. Decades later, she’s back, this time as Chief Product Officer at Cambridge University Press & Assessment, with a front-row seat to some of the biggest shifts happening in global education.In this episode of Global Horizons, Pamela joins host Rob Malicki in Canberra to talk about the changin
Behind the Scenes at AIEC: Catania Aviles on Social Events, Themes, and Community Connections
You’ve sorted your sessions, booked your flights — now it’s time to talk about the fun stuff. In this AIEC Warm-Up episode, I’m joined by Catania Aviles, Conference Manager for the Australian International Education Conference, to give you the inside scoop on all the socials at this year’s event in Canberra.From florals to flannels, cocktails to costumes, Catania takes us behind the scenes of the
Linda Vaughan on How Schools Are Shaping Australia’s Global Education Future
When you think of AIEC, you probably think of universities, agents and policy debates — but there’s another powerhouse quietly shaping Australia’s international education story: the schools sector.In this AIEC warm-up episode, I sit down with Linda Vaughn, long-time international education professional and champion of public schooling, to unpack what’s in store for Schools Day at this year’s Austr
AIEC Warm Up: Special Edition on Research and Data with Kirrilee Hughes
INCOMING!!!AIEC is now only a little over a week away. The organising teams from IDP and IEAA are in the locker rooms, stretching their hamstrings and getting ready to hit the field. So to preview a little of what to expect, I'm going to be doing a series of "mini-pods" over the coming days. Today I'm joined by Kirrilee Hughes, IEAA's Research Manager, to talk about all things research and data at
From Sweden to UQ: Johan Arnberg on Scholarships, Mobility, and a Life in International Education
When you sit down with someone whose life has been shaped by travel, chance encounters, and a willingness to say “yes,” you know the conversation will be full of surprises. That’s exactly what happened when I finally had the chance to properly chat with Johan Arnberg. We’ve crossed paths for years in international education, but this was the first time to really dig into his story — and what a sto
AIEC Warm Up - TNE with Peter Harris
There's so much attention on TNE right now, and maybe there's never been a more important time to be catching up with colleagues to work through the challenges. In this special micro-podcast, as part of our AIEC Warm Up series, Rob Malicki is joined by Peter Harris, TNE legend and Exec Director of Future Students at UTS College, to have a quick chat about what's on the agenda at AIEC and some of t
Christmas in September: NOSC Updates, Victoria’s China Strategy, and International Ed Highlights
Christmas might still be months away, but in Australian international education the festive season seems to have arrived early. In this packed episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder cover a whirlwind of updates that have the sector buzzing. From fresh NOSC data and state-federal tensions to language-learning fun and award-season celebrations, there’s plenty to unwrap.Highlights yo
The Courage Bucket: How Anita Van Rooyen Helps Students Ditch Fear and Find Their Voice
When Anita Van Rooyen tells you she used to be cripplingly shy, it’s hard to believe. Today she’s a dynamo of confidence—helping students everywhere discover their own courage and voice.I met Anita at a conference and was instantly struck by her energy. In this conversation she shares the turning points that took her from saying “no” to everything to becoming a sought-after coach transforming stud
A Huge Week In International Ed - Big Stories Are Dropping Like Falling Sydney Rain!
It's been a huge week in international education, and big stories have been dropping like the Sydney rain that flooded the city this week!In this episode, Rob Malicki (The Global Society) and Dirk Mulder (The Koala News) are talking housing supply, strategic plans, TEQSA changes, details of several reports that have dropped, and changes to international student flows. Plus, we're joined by our ver
Multiple Retirements, Resting Happiness, and a Lifelong Entanglement with Indonesia
When you sit down with Liam Prince, you quickly realise he’s a man of many retirements... at least, that’s how he frames the long list of niche passions he’s already lining up for the years ahead. From transcribing centuries-old folk music, to pressing for Australia’s archives to finally open up on the events of 1965, Liam’s outlook is anything but conventional.But then again, how could it be? Thi
They’re Talking S#%t About Us – But Here’s the Truth
They’re calling us crooks.They’re dragging ghost colleges and sex trafficking scandals back into the headlines.And they’re using 2-year-old reports to do it.In this episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki peel back the media spin, political rhetoric, and tired narratives muddying Australia’s international education sector — and reveal the truth behind the headlines. The data’s fres
Derryn Belford’s Unlikely Path to Leading Study Perth
What do national museums, cruise ships, Anzac soldiers, and student job readiness have in common?Derryn Belford.From building the National Anzac Centre in Albany to spearheading hotel development in Perth and now leading StudyPerth, Derryn’s journey is anything but ordinary. In this wide-ranging and illuminating conversation, we dive deep into the mind of a strategic thinker whose career has been
Huge Changes Dropping in Australian International Ed
It's been a big couple of weeks with some important changes in three separate parts of Australian international education. On the inbound side, the Australian Government has announced the new National Planning Levels. There are also important changes to English Language testing (more on that in a second). Finally, the 2026 New Colombo Plan guidelines are out and... you guessed it! .. there are som
From Brewing to IDP and StudyPortals: Julian Longbottom on Two Decades in International Education
From the beer business to international education, Julian Longbottom’s career has been anything but predictable—and that’s exactly what makes this episode so good.In this wide-ranging conversation, Rob sits down with Julian to unpack a life of unexpected pivots, bold strategies, and smart innovation—from launching Carlton Cold and Carlton Mid, to helping transform the University of Canberra’s repu
Global Horizons Special Episode: A Sneak Peak at the AIEC Schedule
Where did the year go? As we plunge headlong into August, it means that the best event for international educators is just around the corner. AIEC is in Canberra this year, and joining me on the pod is Louise Goold, chair of the conference Program Committee. Together we go through some of the key changes and enhancements to this year's conference: all the things you really need to know!Of course,
Risks Offshore, and the RBA’s Big Flex: The Fortnight in International Ed
A surprise bulletin from the RBA, a sobering reality check at the IEAA’s TNE Forum, and new data showing a dramatic shift toward intra-Asian student mobility — July’s international education news cycle was anything but quiet.In this wide-ranging episode of Global Horizons, Dirk Mulder and Rob Malicki tackle the biggest stories shaping the future of the sector — from transnational education (TNE) t
From Translator to AIEC Powerhouse: Josephine Williams on Travel, Events and the Unexpected
You know those people who make the impossible look effortless? That’s Josephine Williams.In this episode, Rob sits down with the former AIEC Conference Manager and international education legend to unpack the stories behind the scenes—and behind the passport stamps. From coordinating a last-minute plenary for 300 delegates to climbing into a taxi bound for Damascus (yes, that Damascus), Josephine’
The Koala International Ed News - 18th July 2025
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
Backpacks, Block Models & Breaking the Rules: Monty Singh’s Journey of Reinvention
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
International Ed News (with Special Guest, Ian Aird - CEO of English Australia): Australia’s Visa Fees and the Future of English Language Education
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 internat
How Edwin van Rest Built the World’s Biggest Study Platform - and Why It All Started with a Cigar and a Dream
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, e
The Intl Ed News in 10 Minutes: From Fake Scholarships to Global Campuses
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 li
From TEDx to Tanzania: Bosco Anthony on Purpose, Storytelling and the Future of Work
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
All The Latest In International Ed (The Koala News) - with special guest Phil Honeywood (CEO, IEAA)
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 t
Global Learning, Real Change: Emily O’Callaghan’s Life in International Education
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 transformatio
The Election Dust Settles... Has Normalcy Returned? (Intl Ed News with special guest Luke Sheehy)
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 electio
From Rural New Zealand to Global Education Leader: Sarah Todd’s Journey in International Ed
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 interna
Election Policy Options: Bad vs Worse
Election fever is here — and with it, a volley of policies that feel more like political grenades than visionary reforms. In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki and Dirk Mulder dive into the policy madness unfurling as Australia heads to the polls: skyrocketing visa fees, party promises that don't stack up, and a worrying lack of coherent strategy from either side of politics. What does i
Jennine Tax on Curiosity, Culture Shocks and Career Twists
What do you get when you mix a surf-loving Gold Coast local with a global outlook, a passion for education, and a “just say yes” attitude? You get Jennine Tax—a true international education powerhouse with a story that spans Japanese homestays, finding purpose in community connections, and an epic caravan lap of Australia.In this episode, Rob Malicki sits down with Jennine for a delightfully candi
George Williams (VC of WSU) on Broken Education
I've literally never done this before. A few evenings ago I was sitting in my kitchen. I had my chopping board out and a huge pile of vegetables, and I'm there cutting them up for dinner. As I do so, I'm listening to a fantastic podcast: the guest is George Williams, the Vice Chancellor of Western Sydney University.And as I'm listening along, I'm just thinking "This is such a great conversation.
From Ice Cream in Kashgar to Escalator Fears: The Wild Adventures of Alek Voninski
What do a near-kidnapping in Pakistan, a goat's milk ice cream in far-western China, and an intense fear of escalators have in common? They all feature in this wonderfully unpredictable episode with international education legend Alek Voninski.In this fast-paced conversation, Alek takes us from his high school days in Beijing to a career that’s spanned public universities, Edified, and most recent
The Starter's Gun Fires (The Koala News on Global Horizons)
What was that noise we just heard?Sounds like the gun firing on an election campaign. In today's episode of The Koala News on Global Horizons, we're jumping in and looking at what an election campaign means for Australian international ed. We're also catching up on some of the recent stories, including the heart-breaking news of the passing of one of the giants of our industry, Saskia Loer Hansen.
