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 1,676,077 students, up 4.7%, with success also up, at 87.9% and attrition down to 12.2%.
Equity and access to higher education also moved: more First Nations, low-SES, regional and disability students getting in, and through.Institutions invested, and built, in some bigger projects than ever before: Adelaide University launches on 1 January 2026, and Edith Cowan University's $853m City campus is already energising Perth’s CBD... and it hasn't even opened yet!
Deakin University and the University of Wollongong are building real campuses in India, not fly-in deals.
Monash University is investing a Billion (yes, capital "B"!) in TRX Kuala Lumpur... such a big commitment that even the Prime Minister turned up to back it.
In the labs and libraries across Australia, our researchers continued to punch well above their weight, delivering a Nobel prize, state prizes, and countless breakthroughs from CO2 concrete to soil ecology to brain cancer.
Looking at rankings, and Australia continues to slay on a global scale. Six unis in THE top 100, ten in the top 200, and 97% of public universities ranked globally. If we look at sustainability and climate action rankings, our institutions are leading the world at just the right time, when humanity needs it most.
International education has had a mixed year (read the article by Dirk Mulder in The Koala News for the best summary of that). But on the domestic front, students are better protected and supported now than when the year began: the National Student Ombudsman is live, HELP indexation has been fixed, and the Commonwealth Prac Payments (a BRILLIANT and long overdue addition to our system) are underway. Those initiatives deserve some flames (so I'll oblige: 🔥🔥🔥).
If we truly care about Australia’s future, our university sector is the one doing the heavy lifting. It's educating our people, and driving research and innovation. In short, it's setting us up for the future. And there can't be a better way to fulfil a social license than that.
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 this end-of-year wrap for 2025, we revisit those predictions, look at what actually happened, and try our luck again for 2026.
We start with the big structural shifts that have shaped the year. The ESOS bill, national code changes and constant migration rhetoric have all put pressure on different corners of the sector, from public universities with level one allocations to ELICOS, colleges and private VET providers, whose backs are firmly against the wall. At the same time, purpose-built student accommodation has been booming, TNE has become the new frontier, and TAFE has suddenly become the star of a lot more domestic conversations than it used to.
In this episode we get into:
Policy and politics: ESOS reforms, looming national code changes in early 2026, and why migration is still the easiest lever for politicians to pull, even when the public seems tired of the debate.
Winners and strugglers: Why public universities feel relatively comfortable, while ELICOS providers, English-only colleges and parts of private VET are staring down some real pain.
Higher education shake-ups: From the UniSA and University of Adelaide merger and restructures at Western Sydney, to the quiet turbulence inside a range of institutions that do not always make the headlines.
New builds and new bets: Edith Cowan’s striking new CBD campus in Perth and the broader re-shaping of the city, plus the rapid expansion of TNE in India, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and what “TNE done well” actually has to look like.
TAFE and the domestic pivot: The rise of trades, free or fully subsidised TAFE places, and why parents, students and careers advisers are talking about vocational routes in a very different way.
AI hype and reality: Rob's prediction that we are heading into a disillusionment phase for AI, even as something genuinely game-changing is likely to land in the next twelve months, especially in video and teaching.
We also take a moment to look behind the microphones. Dirk opens up about the growth of The Koala News, from a gap he spotted in the market to a fully fledged independent news outlet with hundreds of thousands of views and 1.4 million events on the site this year, and why he launched a supporters campaign to keep independent media healthy.
And because it would not be a Global Horizons wrap without a bit of chaos, we finish with our annual outtakes reel.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 again with James Martin, managing director at Insider and self-confessed content tragic, to unpack what is really happening in the world of content right now, and what it means for universities and international education. We dig into the collapse in organic search, why AI engine optimisation is the new buzzword, and why James believes your greatest secret weapon is not your website at all, but your students.
Along the way we get into the messy, practical reality of user generated content. The tension between funny, throwaway TikToks and serious storytelling about the journey into, through and beyond uni. The pain of trying to turn well meaning ambassadors into content creators. And the opportunity that opens up when you treat student stories as a strategic asset, rather than a nice extra when someone happens to send you a video.
You will hear us explore:
How AI summaries and chat tools are stripping away 10 to 30 per cent of web traffic from some universities, and what that does to traditional content strategies
Why Reddit and other public platforms are suddenly more influential in AI answers than your carefully crafted blog posts
The power of students as a trust engine, and why James calls authentic student stories the new currency in marketing
The common mistakes universities make with UGC, from throwing everything at ambassadors to ignoring training and editing
How to think about content pillars, decision stages and platforms so your TikToks, Reels, campus tours and long form YouTube videos are all pulling in the same direction
The nuts and bolts of repurposing one great story into multiple formats, languages and channels without cannibalising your brand
Why I am experimenting with my own AI avatar on campus, and what happens when AI can generate complete videos at the click of a prompt
James’s prediction for the next 12 months of content: a flood of AI generated junk, and a premium on anything that feels genuinely human
If you are working in international student recruitment, marketing, future student engagement or content creation of any kind, this conversation is part reality check, part playbook. James’s core message is simple but challenging: AI is here, the flood of content is coming, and the only way to cut through is to lean harder into authenticity, trust and the lived experiences of your own students.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 Other Measures) Bill, and what the so called “final hearing” really means for international education, universities and research in Australia.
They trace the politics behind the ESOS changes, the push to give the minister sweeping powers, and the convenient narrative that keeps framing students as the problem, while much bigger issues in the migration system are left largely untouched.
Along the way, they connect the dots to the CSIRO job cuts, Australia’s anaemic research investment and a public debate that keeps missing the point on university surpluses and social licence.
In this wide ranging conversation, Rob and Dirk move from Parliament House to the lab bench to Circular Quay, where they also reflect on the NSW International Education Awards and what genuine sector leadership looks like.
In this episode, you will hear:
Why the Senate committee has recommended the ESOS integrity bill pass “as is”, despite serious concerns from the sector
How expanded ministerial powers risk undermining procedural fairness and certainty for institutions and students
The growing problem with the “integrity” narrative around agents, commissions and international students
The massive visa backlog that no one wants to talk about, and the curious lack of focus on graduate visas
Why university surpluses are not the smoking gun people think they are, and what really drives uni finances
How CSIRO job cuts reveal a research system “running dangerously low on fuel”
What it would actually mean to treat research funding as core national infrastructure
Victoria’s refresh of its international education strategy and why you should have your say
A snapshot from the NSW International Education Awards, including Dirk’s quietly awkward moment as a finalist
If you care about the future of Australian higher education, international students and research, this is one of those episodes that helps you see how all the threads tie together, from Senate hearings to social licence to who actually pays for the ideas that power our economy.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 truths we avoid until the data forces us to look directly at them.
We unpack why student engagement has improved worldwide, why Australian universities now lead on personalised communication, and why WhatsApp is quietly becoming the most powerful recruitment channel in the sector.
We talk human connection, the X-factor students are hungry for, and why a warm, tailored message can be worth far more than a lightning-fast reply.
And then we widen the lens. Elissa shares her honest concerns about where the sector is heading, the challenges we keep cycling through without solving, and what it might look like if Australia actually aligned around a shared national purpose for international education.
It’s sharp, insightful, and absolutely packed with actionable intelligence.
In this episode, we cover:
• The newest findings from Edified’s global Mystery Shopper program
• Why personalised responses are 7x more influential than fast ones
• The rise of WhatsApp as the most effective student engagement channel
• How universities can humanise their enquiry responses without adding workload
• What Australian institutions are doing better than anyone else right now
• Why students increasingly want “the insider view” – not generic info
• The deeper sector-wide challenges we still haven’t solved
• How international education could play a bigger national role if we aligned around shared goals
If you care about student experience, future-proofing recruitment, or understanding where international education is heading, this conversation is unmissable.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 students
What MD 115 actually changes, and how the new processing “lanes” could play out in practice
Why the ESOS reforms have been bundled with other legislation, and what that means for timing and scrutiny
The optics of a billion dollar Australian campus in Malaysia at the same time as “social licence” debates at home
Whether AI driven verification can genuinely free up staff to focus on students, rather than just cut teams
The return of a national student voice and why it matters that international students are back at the policy table
There is plenty of policy in this episode, but also plenty of raised eyebrows, uncomfortable questions and a few good laughs at their own expense. If you are trying to make sense of where international education in Australia goes next, this is one of those conversations that helps you see the bigger picture rather than just the latest headline.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 tells me a sliding-doors story, the day he had a PhD interview and a university admissions interview at the same time. He flipped a coin, chose admissions, and never left international education.
Tanveer takes us back to the fax era, thick stacks of paper and month-long turnarounds, then forward to StudyLink, online enrolment, and now generative AI. He is optimistic about AI in teaching and admin, as long as pedagogy and assessment adapt, with students brought onto campus for real project work and community. We get into social licence too. Too many people think international education is only about bringing students in. Tanveer argues the real story is broader, soft diplomacy, industry links, alumni impact, and community service. He shares two decades of fundraising for Cancer Council NSW’s Biggest Morning Tea, nearly half a million dollars raised with his community, and wonders whether institutions truly capture the impact staff make beyond the campus gates. We finish with a challenge close to his heart, training the profession. Counselors and advisers carry enormous responsibility for life-changing decisions, yet there is no robust, global training pathway. AI can help, he says, but it will take intent, not just tools.
Highlights
From faxed offers to StudyLink to generative AI, how admissions and enrolment evolved
A campus transformed, from brutalist concrete to a green, people-first courtyard, new schools and a health precinct with its own hospital
The metro changed everything for talent and students, frequent services and easy access creating a city-connected campus
What AI is already changing in assignments and marking, and why universities will feel every shift first
The policy temperature today, less heat, more stability, and why a modernised ESOS framework still matters
Community contribution as reputational capital, why volunteering and local ties build trust
Untold success stories, from students earning on minimum wage to alumni building billion-dollar companies and giving back
Traveller’s tales, a sleepless first night in Pakistan, a hotel booking in Iran made for the wrong year, and a wish list flight to Africa
Why trust is the currency in student decision-making, and how to earn it
A call for proper training for counsellors, onshore and offshore, to lift capability across the ecosystem
A simple philosophy from his mum, dream big, then grow to the size of your dream
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 right into the thick of it — straight from the floor of Australia’s biggest international education gathering.
In typical Rob-and-Dirk style, it’s equal parts analysis, banter, and behind-the-scenes insight.
🔹 Highlights include:
What the new NOSC allocations mean for universities vs private providers — and why “normalisation” might not mean what you think.
Dirk’s bold prediction: a major student shift from universities to private HE providers come March.
How AI is already influencing visa decisions — and why that’s raising red flags for transparency.
A peek into this year’s IEAA Awards — including well-deserved wins for Kerry Ramirez, Sophie O’Keefe, and Eleanor Williams.
The challenges (and joys) of trying to write stories, attend meetings, and survive on conference-hall coffee.
Why, despite all the uncertainty, the vibe this year feels different — lighter, warmer, and more connected.
By the time the episode wraps, you’ll have a front-row view of the policy shifts, people, and politics shaping Australian international education right now — and a few good laughs along the way.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au.
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 changing face of international higher education, from her unlikely career path (including a stint in Westminster politics!) to her long tenure at Cambridge, where she’s seen firsthand how language, access, and integrity intersect in universities around the world.
The conversation winds from light-hearted stories of gap years and cycling through Cambridge to deeply reflective questions about responsibility, equity, and the standards we uphold in global education.
🔹 Highlights include:
How Pamela went from political researcher to international education leader.
What makes Cambridge one of the world’s most international cities.
Why English proficiency isn’t just an entry requirement, it’s a key to student wellbeing and success.
The global dilemma: universities balancing financial pressures with educational integrity.
The real-world consequences of under-prepared students—from isolation to poor post-study outcomes.
Pamela’s advice for universities: “Be honest with students. Set them up for success, not struggle.”
You can find the report from Jobs and Skills Australia, mentioned in this episode, here.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 networking events that bring 1,500 delegates together every year — and explains why these moments often spark the best professional connections of all.
Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:
Catania also shares what she’s most looking forward to — from having exclusive use of the NCC Canberra to finally putting faces to the hundreds of names she’s emailed all year.
Whether you’re attending for the content, the connections, or the costumes, this episode will get you hyped for the week ahead at AIEC 2025.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao.
Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.
This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 Australian International Education Conference in Canberra.
Linda shares how the conference team has listened to the sector’s feedback and responded with a dedicated Wednesday program focused entirely on schools — giving teachers and principals a chance to connect, learn and showcase their impact.
Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:
It’s a lively, thoughtful conversation about the small-but-mighty role schools play in preparing globally aware citizens, and why collaboration across all education sectors matters more than ever.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.
This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia’s unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 the conference. And there's plenty of it!
It's my first time having Kik on the podcast, so please give her a warm welcome!
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao.
Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
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 story it is.
Johan grew up in Sweden, spending school holidays jetting around the world thanks to his mum’s job at SAS. From Beijing in the early 90s to the islands of Venezuela, his early life was an immersion in languages, cultures, and sometimes uncomfortable contrasts. Add to that compulsory military service, years spent as a tour guide, and a chance meeting with an Australian postgraduate student, and you’ve got the makings of an extraordinary journey into international education.
In this wide-ranging conversation, we explore everything from life lessons in leadership to the art of running student ambassador programs — and the role that recognition, honesty, and paying it forward play in student success.
Highlights you’ll hear in this episode:
How Johan’s childhood of standby tickets and spontaneous trips planted the seeds for a global career.
What it was really like living and working in Venezuela during the Hugo Chávez years.
Why serving in the Swedish military gave him unexpected leadership skills he still draws on today.
The secret ingredients of a strong student ambassador program — and how recognition really matters.
Behind the scenes of shaping major scholarships at ANU, including the Tuckwell and Chancellor’s Scholarships.
Life now at UQ, working with mobility, partnerships, and Australia Awards.
There’s plenty in here for anyone working in international education, but also for anyone curious about how life’s detours and “side doors” shape the careers we end up having.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao.
Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 the biggest issues facing the sector.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.
The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 you won’t want to miss:
Breaking NOSC Data: Are public universities, private higher-ed providers, and VET on track? Dirk breaks down the numbers, sector by sector.
Victoria’s China Strategy: Education, education, and… education. Can the state reclaim its pre-COVID crown while the federal government tightens the screws?
The Genuine Student Test Debate: Why some say the new visa rules make it too easy to say no.
Language Love: From the New Colombo Plan to the Bahasa Sesh Challenge, why learning Indonesian could be the smartest move you make this year.
Canada Calling: Australia’s High Commission hosts a standout alumni event alongside the Toronto Film Festival.
Awards Season Approaches: IEAA, NSW, NT and WA all roll out the red carpet for international education excellence.
Along the way, Rob and Dirk share wry observations about technology gaps inside government, the quirks of state–federal politics, and whether fluency in a second language might just be the ultimate future-proof skill.
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.
The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 student lives. We talk about why courage comes before confidence, why words like “mental health” can push students away, and how small acts—like never walking past a compliment—can change the world.
Episode Highlights:
• Anita’s “lightning bolt” moment: If nothing changes, nothing changes.
• The “Courage Bucket” exercise and why action creates confidence.
• Why she refuses to use the words “mental health” in student programs—and what she says instead.
• Quick confidence boosts: 92-second dance breaks, posture shifts, and the art of dropping a “compliment bomb.”
• How universities can re-think orientation and prevention to truly support students.
From corporate fundraiser to confidence coach recognised by the Australian Government, Anita proves that a shy kid from Bright, Victoria can become a global advocate for student wellbeing—and have a lot of fun along the way.
OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Angelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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!
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? This is someone who grew up in Kathmandu, learned to code-switch between accents before he even knew what the word meant, and stumbled into Indonesian studies almost by accident... only to find himself entangled in a lifelong relationship with the country, its culture, and ACICIS, the organisation he now leads.
This conversation roams widely, from Nepal to Java, from youth exchange close calls to reflections on organisational culture and leadership. It’s equal parts history, music, and philosophy, and if you’ve ever wondered why Indonesia still feels like Australia’s best-kept secret, Liam has answers.
Highlights include:
Childhood memories of growing up in Kathmandu and the lasting impact of an international school education.
The serendipitous choice that led him into Indonesian studies, and the moment he first touched down in Yogyakarta.
The “resting happiness rate” of Indonesians, and why it continues to shape student experiences.
Why living in a kos (student boarding house) was the single most transformative element of his exchange.
Reflections on ACICIS’ culture of collaboration across time, space, and generations of alumni.
OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now!Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 fresh, the commentary is sharp, and the call to action is clear: it’s time to challenge the noise and stand up for a sector doing far better than it’s being given credit for.
Along the way, Rob recounts a picture-perfect morning atop Mt Wellington during the IEAA Learning Abroad Forum in Hobart, while Dirk shares a forensic breakdown of his latest Koala News piece – a must-read that unpacks the real story behind recent ASQA data, the Southern Cross University coverage, and the overuse of terms like “crooks” and “integrity.”
From New Colombo Plan shifts to AI-driven microcredentials, it’s a wide-ranging episode packed with insight, frustration, hope… and a few strong words.
You’ll hear about:
Why recent media headlines are misleading – and what the data actually says
What the sector needs to understand about evolving political rhetoric
What’s changing in the New Colombo Plan – and how institutions are adapting
Powerful takeaways from Brad Dorahy’s longitudinal study on learning abroad
A keynote moment at the Hobart forum that had people in tears
The unsung value of Sydney’s international student welcome desk
A powerful reminder that trust is international education’s greatest currency
Plus: Rob Lawrence joins Koala News, and the team reflects on the emotional power of collegiality in the learning abroad sector.
We are incredibly proud to be the OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now!
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company.
Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host.
The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.
This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au
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 shaped by curiosity, stakeholder savvy, and a genuine love for WA.
And yes, she’s still learning new industries, still reading science magazines, and still passionate about good market research.
🎧 Highlights from the conversation:
How Derryn turned a sceptical council into believers by rewriting a business case for the National Anzac Centre — one of WA’s most awarded attractions
What makes WA a “now” destination, not just a “one day” dream
Why social licence is crucial for international education (and what we’re getting wrong)
The surprising parallels between tourism and education marketing
What happens when you build strategy with people instead of for them
How growing up in seven country towns built her curiosity muscle — and her secret to getting across new industries fast
There’s a distinct pride that flows through this episode — not just in WA itself, but in doing meaningful work that lasts. And through it all, Derryn reminds us that impact isn’t about shouting the loudest — it’s about listening, adapting, and solving the real problem.
We are incredibly proud to be the OFFICIAL podcast of the AIEC Australian International Education Conference... registrations are open now!
Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website.
This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets.
For guest suggestions and feedback, email podcast@globalsociety.com.au