LESS than half of Tasmania's 200 government schools offer Asian language studies as part of their curriculum, despite Premier Lara Giddings acknowledging last week that the state's economic future lies in Asia.
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As part of her state of the state address on Tuesday, Ms Giddings announced she and University of Tasmania vice-chancellor Professor Peter Rathjen would lead a second trade delegation to Asia in September in an attempt to boost international student numbers.
Ms Giddings made the announcement the same day the Australian Bureau of Statistics released national figures showing a 20 per cent drop in international student numbers in one year, which equates to more than $3 billion in lost revenue.
According to 2011 figures from the Education Department, 11,665 students from 91 of 200 kindergarten to year 10 government schools studied an Indonesian, Japanese or Chinese language.
That was an increase of 716 students on 2010 figures.
Education Minister Nick McKim said with the introduction of the revised Australian curriculum this year, Tasmanian students would develop knowledge and understanding of Asian societies, cultures, beliefs and environments.
``They will also learn the connections between the peoples of Asia, Australia and the rest of the world,'' Mr McKim said.
``Asia literacy provides students with the skills to communicate and engage with the peoples of Asia so they can effectively live, work and learn in the region.''
University deputy vice-chancellor of students and education Professor David Sadler said the university was looking to increase international student numbers by about 10 per cent.
He said its 3300 international students in 2011 equated to almost 17 per cent of its student population.
``We think there's room to grow that by about another 10 per cent over a period of time, not in the short term,'' he said.
The majority of students are from China and other Asian countries, and it is looking to China, India, Singapore and Malaysia for more.
Professor Sadler said although both China and India were making substantial investments in education, the demands on it could not be met so there was scope for their students to study here.
He said it was looking at Launceston to provide more attractive programs in the areas of architecture, biomedical science and visual and performing arts to further encourage international students to our shores.
Professor Sadler said the Australian Maritime College had probably been the most successful at encouraging international students to the state and it would look to replicate that.
