Background

The AEC was established in 1997 as an independent organization to offer students quality programs at direct enrollment prices (initially to Australia, now to also include New Zealand). Affordability has been the cornerstone of the Mission of the organization. Evidence of the emphasis we place on affordability can be seen in AEC program pricing and services Whilst there have been operational changes along the way, the original mission of the AEC has not changed. It is a unique organization - it operates almost as a non-profit. (For example, the organization's income is shared by its small staff.)

The My Study Australia website was introduced in 2005 as a means of providing prospective students the most up to date information on the AEC Program.

Mission Statement

Our objective is to manage the AEC study abroad business with integrity and to provide students with quality study abroad opportunities at Australian/New Zealand universities at affordable prices. We meet our objectives, by offering direct enrollment so that students can undertake a quality academic program at an accredited Australian or New Zealand university at the university's advertised tuition fees. (Note we currently work with only one university in New Zealand - it is not due to a lack of trying, it is simply a business decision to develop the New Zealand partnerships slowly.) As our university partners in Australia and New Zealand offer an extensive array of services after arrival, we do not duplicate services. Instead we recognize the ability of our Host Universities to deliver in-country service. AEC therefore focuses its attention on providing students all the support necessary to get them to Australia and New Zealand. Of course we are available also in the Host country and contactable for on the ground support when necessary. We will also be available to you when you return home and require your transcript. Indeed we have other opportunities available for returning students.

Whilst we understand that study abroad has evolved into big business in the globalized world, our aim is to provide students quality Australian and New Zealand university programs at direct enrollment prices backed by good service. We realize our work influences the direction that students take in their lives so we do all we can to provide students with the best possible options to follow their individual goals. That is why we offer individualized service and we place emphasis on professional standards and ethics.

Our aim is to make the My Study Australia website as comprehensive as possible so that it can truly meet the needs of students.

What we do and why we do it?

By placing an emphasis on affordability, the AEC believes it addresses the issue of equity and access so that students from all socio economic backgrounds can afford to study abroad. Our policies also ensure that outlays from financial aid and parents are kept to a minimum so that even more students can afford to study abroad. Clearly the advantages of undertaking a study abroad program through the AEC cannot be understated.

Students from over 400 US universities have participated in the AEC Study Abroad Program. We support a number of organizations through memberships or donations - example NAFSA: Association of International Educators, whose work as an umbrella organization for the international education industry is well recognized.

Experience in Student Services

It is worth noting the caliber of the people that manage the AEC Program. The AEC has Australian educated and experienced staff who are dedicated to making a difference to the lives of students by promoting study, work, intern and travel opportunities at affordable prices. For example, Joyce Noronha who manages the operations of the AEC began working with international students in Australia in the late 1970s - long before buzz words such as globalization and internationalization began to surface! In one of the positions Joyce held, she was responsible for AusAid (Australian Government sponsored development aid) students on scholarships at the Australian National University. She has also been an active Member of the Canberra Council of Overseas Students and provided much support to many international students and their families in Australia. Joyce has worked, studied and traveled extensively in Asia, Europe, the Americas, New Zealand and Australia. She has also worked for the Australian and Canadian Governments. The breadth of her international education experience has enabled her to participate in Australian university (group) visits to the British Council in the UK, NUFFIC in the Netherlands, DAAD in Germany, and familiarization visits to universities in Argentina, Brazil and Chile to discuss collaboration. She has represented Australian education at major education exhibitions and expos, e.g. the Brussels Student Fair, Expolingua and EAIE Conferences in Europe. Joyce has presented papers on internationalization at major international education conferences and for the thesis component of her Master's degree wrote on the role of the Australian Government's AEI (the Australian Government's international education organization) and IDP Education Australia, in the promotion of Australian education abroad. She is currently a Doctoral student conducting research on `Global Trends in Transnational Education'

The principals of the organization have each had at least 20 years of experience working either at universities, international education organizations, government and/or in teaching. All have at some point in their lives also studied internationally.

The AEC experience is to your advantage. We know our region well so we focus on what we know and do best. We have over the course of 2008 undertaken a feasibility study about expanding program offerings beyond Australia and New Zealand. AEC will partner a second operation - the reason this is necessitated is because some schools in the US state that they want their students to also have access to non-English speaking countries and economies of scale dictate that the AEC considers such options.  The second operation will be managed as a separate entity and will not be dependent only on the student market. Note however, the AEC operation will continue as it has for the last 12 years.

Information about the new partnership and separate entity will be made available through the AEC Consultative Committee.