English Australia is delighted to be appointed as the Program Administrator for the Innovation Development Fund 2021-22 by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment. The appointment is in addition to the current program administration of the Innovation Fund 2021.
The Innovation Development Fund will provide a further AUD $9m of short-term targeted support to vulnerable private ELICOS providers. This is on top of the initial AUD $9m provided to 63 eligible private higher education and ELICOS providers affected by COVID-19 border closures.
Eligible providers will be able to apply for funding of up to $150,000 to transform their business models. The funding will allow providers to expand their online and offshore delivery to re-establish a pipeline of students and support the long-term recovery of the international education sector.
CEO of English Australia, Mr Brett Blacker said “The international education sector has been hit hard by border closures due to COVID-19. ELICOS colleges have been significantly impacted with student visa commencements down by 60% in 2021, which is on top of declines of 50% by the end of 2020.”
Mr Blacker also said, “The fund is a welcome measure from the Federal Government to assist eligible providers to innovate their business model to include online and offshore engagement. This support will assist these businesses to build Australia’s capacity in online delivery providing long-term benefit.”
Applications for the fund are now open and close at midnight (AEDT) on 28 January 2022.
For more information and to access the fund’s guidelines please see: https://www.dese.gov.au/australian-strategy-international-education-2021-2030/resources/innovation-development-fund-guidelines-2022