CANBERRA: The growth in Australia's international education sector has been boosted by students from India and China, who accounted for more than one-third of the export market.
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed on Thursday that China and India were the two biggest source countries for students, contributing A$5.1 billion (US$4.5 billion) to the sector in 2007-08.
The international education sector overall was worth A$13.7 billion (US$11.97 billion) in 2007-08.
The federal government has been working overtime to improve the reputation of Australia's international education services -- the nation's third biggest export sector -- after a spate of attacks against Indian students.
The ABS stated the number of enrolments from Chinese students was 146,000 at June 2009, up an average annual 16 percent over the past six years.
The growth rate of Indian students was even greater.
Indian student enrolments were 121,000 at June 2009, up an annual average 46 percent over the same period.
