The global demand for education is increasing at all levels. More of the costs of provision are being passed on to students and their families as state funding fails to keep pace with demand. National education institutions and universities are under mounting pressure to provide cost-effective approaches to delivery and attracting students – domestically and internationally – is more vital than ever.

Enrolment in higher education globally is estimated at over 110 million students and public expenditure on education in the US alone is over US$480 billion per annum. As the global value increases, so do the education providers: state sector, independent and private – both for and not for profit.

Are we witnessing the growing commodification of education or is this just a trend similar to that already occurring in other economic and service sectors? These developments have tremendous implications for staff, policy makers, governments, education providers and - ultimately - the students.

Going Global2 focused on the trends, the benefits, the opportunities and the risks associated with all these developments.

Sessions covered a wide range of topics within these major themes:

			Internationalisation of institutions: internationalisation policies; responding to changing needs and patterns of demand and funding; marketing and branding
			International students: meeting their needs; good practice and future directions in international mobility
			International education professionals: changing roles; sharing first-hand knowledge and experience
			Employment and skilled migration: implications for international students
			Public - private partnerships: delivering domestically and transnationally

Top international education professionals, government ministers and policy makers provided plenary, panel and workshop sessions aimed to provide delegates with new research findings and analysis.