The Lygon Group

We are stoked to announce a new strategic alliance with two other leading international education advisory organisations, Acumen, Part of Sannam S4 Group and Voyage, to take our Market Insights series to the next level. Like TLG, Acumen and Voyage are true innovators.  Together, we exist to support international education providers globally.  And we all kind of like disrupting the status quo to provide new ways of supporting international education stakeholders in an ever evolving and changing sector. Our alliance will see us expand TLG’s Market Insights series into new markets.  Our colleagues at Acumen will provide on the ground insights from their people in multiple markets.  Voyage will provide real time insights into student sentiment using the award-winning social media listening platform, The Social Source.  And TLG will knit everything together, drawing on the power of our senior international education expertise. Our strategic alliance will bring you – providers and international education stakeholders – the deep, real time, predictive insight you need to stay ahead of the game. Thanks to Marnie Watson (IEAA-F) and Matthew D. for spearheading this alliance.  Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF), Eliza Chui, the team and I are delighted.

AIEC creeps up too slowly for international education nerds, and then 'bam' it's here. Hurray! The Lygon Group looks forward to welcoming you all to Naarm/Melbourne. Look out for Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF), Eliza Chui, Varsha Devi Balakrishnan (IEAA-F), Janee Heffernan, and I at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre next week. This conference is more important than ever as our sector teeters on the edge. We face confusing policy signals from multiple layers of government, and - frankly - mistruths about the impact international students have in our communities. See you at AIEC! Matthew D. Stephen Reimann Tennealle O'Shannessy International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Neil Fitzroy David Pilsbury Toshi Kawaguchi Davina Potts Caroline Hartnett Rebecca Hall Rebecca Bendall (IEAA-AF) Jen Bahen (nee Tyrell) John Molony

What strategy do you have in place to manage your NOSC? No, not the Navy version of the acronym, but ‘new overseas student commencements’ as part of your Provider Limit. We recently analysed every Australian university by their Provider Limit and Evidence Level and developed three categories of strategies universities can deploy to manage their NOSC. This is a difficult balancing act, requiring very finely calibrated strategies depending on your specific context.  Joined-up institutional strategies will be crucial.  This is not just a job for international offices. The bewildering storm of regulatory changes in our sector have changed your operating environment.  You’re presented with new strategic challenges and opportunities. TLG is across the detail, in typically nerdy fashion. We can help you navigate this turbulence.  We’re experts.  We have your back. Get in touch so we can help you out.  There’s no ‘one size fits all’ solution in this current environment. See you at AIEC! Australian International Education Conference (AIEC) Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF) Eliza Chui Janee Heffernan Andrew Cannington Luke Sheehy John Molony Vicki Thomson John Wellard Varsha Devi Balakrishnan (IEAA-F) Matthew D. Paul Harris Helen Kronberger Gabrielle Rolan Rishen Shekhar Neil Fitzroy

We are thrilled to welcome Eliza Chui to the TLG team! We know you all know her, but here's our red hot go at summarising her incredible contribution to international education - to date! She has a bigger contribution to come with during her time with us. She's an expert in facilitating international partnerships. She served three Australian diplomatic postings to Northeast and Southeast Asia and was the International Education Strategic Project lead at Austrade from 2010-2023, with notable accomplishments in so many areas: - Re-branding Australian education in response to the ‘perfect storm’ across China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Mongolia as the Northeast Asia Education Commissioner,  - Growing the business opportunities for Australia in renewables, clinical trials and new techs as the Senior Trade and Investment Commissioner for Taiwan,  - Accelerating education and training partnerships as the Trade and Investment Commissioner for Vietnam,  - Identifying TNE partnership opportunities in 14 Asian markets as a post-COVID initiative.  - She has held wide ranging senior roles at five universities in Hong Kong, Macau and Australia. Eliza is a powerhouse of international education knowledge in Australia. Welcome Eliza! See you all at #AIEC24 Janee Heffernan Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF) Andrew Cannington John Molony Davina Potts Tim Field Helen Kronberger Sarah Todd (IEAA-SF) Sarah Lightfoot Kelly Smith Luke Sheehy

Are we still open for business? This is a most confusing moment in our sector. In her first post as TLG'S Senior Partner, Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF) breaks it all down. Last  week I had the opportunity to consider the impacts successive migration, student visa, and international education policy changes have had on the most important stakeholders of all - students. Students read the same media we do. Much of the media commentary has been less than helpful in assuring students that they are welcome in Australia . Most importantly, we must remain to be seen as a high quality education proposition. Students are confused about the deluge of changes to student visa requirements: processing delays, increased refusals, measures to address visa hopping, visa fee hikes, and the introduction of provider limits (caps). They consider these changes to be unfair, limiting their choices, and diminishing their future prospects to study overseas. Students are frustrated about the lack of consultation with them. Australia is now seen as less welcoming and friendly. Of particular concern is the decline in sentiment associated with the quality of Australia's education outcomes. International students are powerful consumers. They vote with their feet. (And their boarding passes). If they perceive Australia as less welcoming, more restrictive, a poorer quality destination, or likely to produce poorer outcomes - they will simply go elsewhere. The impacts of tighter student and migration policy settings and provider limits (caps) are already playing out in Canada. Caps are rapidly transitioning to targets as students choose more favourable and welcoming destinations. Australia seems destined towards the same fate. Policy makers, sector representatives, peak bodies, and institutions urged to consider students. Greater transparency concerning new visa settings is urgently required. Public debate between government and sector players must be mindful of who is accessing and interpreting content. Australia’s international education sector is a national success story that positions us as a knowledge and innovation economy. This success is at peril if students continue to be excluded from our considerations. Janee Heffernan Amy Baker Andrew Cannington YiAn (Krystal) Fang Varsha Devi Balakrishnan (IEAA-F) Matthew D. Voyage Stephen Reimann Barry Young 杨旭 Helen Kronberger John Molony International Education Association of Australia (IEAA) Julie Hare

In January 2020, the world was about to go mad.  There was a strange pneumonia taking hold in Wuhan.  The future was uncertain. Into this maelstrom, Angela Lehmann 李安琪 Lehmann joined The Lygon Group.  One of the first pieces Angela wrote under the TLG banner explored the use of masks in Chinese culture.  It was prescient. Now Angela is moving on after four and a half years.  On behalf of the TLG team we need to thank our friend Ange for so many things: ·       Being an incredible colleague ·       Always uplifting the TLG culture ·       Being constantly brave enough to do media ·       Packing that little suitcase and wending her way to Melbourne I want to thank Angela personally for being so kind, so available, so endlessly understanding, so strategic. You became a major media voice during your time with us.  We gave you that space – not the usual voices and all – and wow.  Look what you achieved!  And I just love the personal regard and connection you’ve forged with Melissa Banks (GAICD, IEAA SF). And so… TLG welcomes an incredible colleague – Melissa Banks. Melissa needs no introduction.  But let me give it a red hot go. After a long summer Melissa is now out in the world.  As Senior Partner at TLG she will tirelessly defend international education. She’ll advocate, provoke, and say the things that need to be said – because that’s what we do at TLG.   In her role as Senior Partner at TLG she will always defend international education.  She’ll advocate, provoke, and say the things that need to be said – because that’s what we do at TLG. Melissa is brilliant. Indefatigable.  Before most of us have stepped out of bed, Melissa has formulated a plan to improve the lives of international students – prospective, current, and past. I’ve had the privilege to work with her as a colleague in so many capacities.  And to see Lauren and Jess grow up to be amazing women.  They have a trailblazer mum to guide them.  And a dad in Wayne stoic and steady, who is always a component of our conversations. Melissa does things many of us can’t.  She lightly traverses pathways, dual sectors, private providers, and research engagement. She brings departments of government together, across jurisdictions.  She navigates the worlds of Go8’s and regional universities.  She is wildly respected by international education colleagues globally.   Melissa makes the changes that need to be made to advance and sustain our sector.  She’s fearless.  Courageous.  In typical Melissa fashion - in our first catch up as TLG colleagues - I asked her if she wanted to look over this post, She said, “you do the words, I’ll do the facts and figures”.  Perfectly put and a perfect combination! Welcome to TLG Melissa ❤️ Angela - go well. ❤️ Janee Heffernan Helen Kronberger Wayne Jones Stephen Connelly Jenny W. Jenny Chen John Molony YiAn (Krystal) Fang Davina Potts Sarah Todd (IEAA-SF) Sarah Lightfoot Marcus Lane Barry Young 杨旭 Andrew Cannington

As we bounce around the country consulting with senior university leaders we hear one resounding word "curation". Curating the "right" number of international students in classrooms and labs. Curating the intake away from one country to another. Curating the ideal student population on campus. Now our universities need to curate another challenge - navigating arbitrary caps on their abilities to recruit international students. Government intervention must always be carefully calibrated when it comes to international education. It needs to be thought about across ministerial portfolios. If you need help curating your cap, get in touch.

Engaging with China can at times seem overwhelming. Yet it has never been more important for all parts of our universities to get a better understanding of what is happening in China and it's relationship with the rest of the world. China's growth, its economy, its people and its politics impact Australian universities agenda across multiple levels: international education, research and innovation, security and relationships with other countries in the region. Build your team's China capability with a subscription to TLG Market Insights: China - the only service designed specifically for the higher education sector to get a better understanding of the risks and opportunities that China presents. Subscription includes monthly clear reports and access to quarterly briefings to allow your team to up-skill and engage with China with confidence. 👉 Get in touch for information and to take advantage of our special 6 month offer Angela Lehmann 李安琪 Jeffrey Smart Janee Heffernan YiAn (Krystal) Fang

Today we launch a major discussion paper - Re-Writing the Remit. At this moment when international education and our universities are being questioned, we reveal some underpinning truths. As a sector we face incoherent policy messages. Students are confused. Does the Commonwealth Government have a plan? You can read the report below!👇 Angela Lehmann 李安琪 Janee Heffernan Andrew Cannington Luke Sheehy Vicki Thomson Paul Harris Jason Clare MP Amy Baker Julie Hare

A few TLG updates.. Firstly a heartfelt congratulations Rachel Holthouse on your appointment to CEO, Independent Schools Victoria. Thank-you for your support and guidance as Acting CEO of The Lygon Group whilst Janee Heffernan has been overseeing the transition of The Social Source to Voyage. We have really enjoyed working with you and have no doubt that your new team will benefit as we have from your intelligence, warmth, vision and professionalism. Thanks to all our subscribers who attended the TLG Quarterly Briefing last week at The University of Sydney and a big thank-you to Tim Field for hosting. It was fantastic to see so many of you in person and online to hear the latest Market Insights shared by Angela Lehmann 李安琪. Thank-you to Varsha Devi Balakrishnan (IEAA-F) from Voyage for sharing the latest insights from The Social Source with a big emphasis on how the policy change avalanche is being received and translated by students. The TLG team is looking forward to seeing many of you at #PIELIVE24 on the Gold Coast in a few weeks. For those of you interested in learning more about our Market Insights: China and SEA, please reach out to secure an invite to our exclusive drinks event!