Celebrating outstanding students and industry leaders

The awards, now in their twelfth year, celebrate the achievements of international students across NSW and honour the organisations that support their success and wellbeing.

International students help drive research and innovation in NSW—making up 42 per cent of our postgraduate research students and funding over a quarter of all university research in Australia.

Nearly one in seven Australian startups employs a current or former international student.

Two types of awards were presented at a ceremony in Sydney last night.

The NSW International Student of the Year Awards recognise the contributions made by individual students to their education and broader NSW community. The winners across three categories were:

• Schools - Araf Iaj Khan from Bangladesh
  • Araf, a Senior Prefect at Homebush Boys High School, was recognised for his outstanding leadership, volunteering over 160 hours and earning multiple awards for his commitment to inclusion, mentoring, and multicultural advocacy in NSW.
• Vocational Education and Training (VET) & English Language Intensive Courses for Overseas Students (ELICOS) - Diego Luna Alamilla from Mexico
  • Diego, a recent Diploma of Counselling graduate from the Australian Learning Group, was recognised for his compassion and leadership in supporting international students and promoting youth inclusion in NSW.
• Higher Education - Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang from China
  • Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang, a medicine student at the University of NSW, was recognised for her leadership in health advocacy and student wellbeing, making NSW safer and more inclusive for international students through her work on over 200 initiatives and public health campaigns.

The NSW International Education Industry Awards recognise programs and initiatives from individuals, education institutions, businesses and community organisations that support international students. The winners across two categories were:

• Innovation in Education - MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard
  • Adopted by more than 70 institutions, the MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard (MCDS) simplifies international education by making student data sharing easier and more secure, helping students move between countries and raising the standard for education quality in NSW.
• Industry Excellence – City of Sydney, 2025 Lord Mayor’s Welcome for International Students
  • The Lord Mayor’s Welcome for International Students helps new international students feel included and supported by connecting them with Sydney’s multicultural community and essential services.

For more information on the 2025 NSW International Education Awards, please visit Study NSW: www.study.nsw.gov.au/current-students/nsw-international-education-awards/External Link 

Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong said:

“Our education institutions are at the forefront of shaping an innovative and dynamic economy in NSW.

“The exchange of knowledge and skills embodied by these Awards plays an important role in cementing NSW’s position as the innovation powerhouse of Australia.

“I am proud to see NSW leading the way in international education, and I commend all the students, educators, and organisations who are making a real difference to our state’s future.”

NSW International Student of the Year (Higher Education) winner Jiaqi (Ellen) Jiang said:

“I first joined student societies simply to meet friends from similar cultural backgrounds who shared the same experiences. But once I became involved, I quickly realised how remarkable my fellow international students are — each person’s story is a testament to courage, resilience, and personal growth.

“Getting to know such inspiring individuals motivated me to take a more active role, participating in and eventually leading initiatives that support and showcase international students across NSW.

“Awards like this are important because they bring together passionate student leaders and volunteers from diverse universities and cultures - bright individuals united by the same goal: improving the international student experience.”

Chief Executive Officer, MortarCAPS Higher Learning Data Standard, Charlsey Pearce said:

“Winning this award is a recognition of the collective effort behind MortarCAPS — a passionate team committed to empowering learners and universities to thrive in a global, connected education ecosystem.

“We partner with universities globally to give students ownership of their learning data. This ensures that their educational and professional achievements are recognised seamlessly across borders, supporting pathways to employment, lifelong learning, and migration.

“Awards like this spotlight innovation and collaboration across the international education sector. They encourage bold thinking and shared responsibility for shaping the future of learning.”