Students who were seeking admission through Edlocate to Australian Universities, directly as well as through the pathway programmes, have now commenced their studies in Australia. Once again the majority of students were from the international schools –AIS, CIS, British School, Royal Institute, Gateway International, Stafford International and Lyceum. There were students from Musaeus, Ladies’ College, Ananda and St Thomas’ College. Students for postgraduate studies were graduates from local and foreign universities including one from the Jaffna University.

Edlocate held a pre-departure seminar and get-together for students, accompanied by their parents on January 29. Nine students who are already studying in Australia and enjoying the summer vacation in Sri Lanka were also invited to this event. It enabled them to get to know each other and obtain first hand information about Australia, its States and institutions, living and studying etc. from the older students.
The demand once again was for the Go8 universities.

The majority of students from Edlocate joined 6 of the Go8s represented by Edlocate. Students are aware that if they are to join the Australian workforce with residency in Australia they need to prove employability. To secure full-time employment in related fields they must not only impress the prospective employers with their capabilities but also focus on the degree and the awarding institutions that employers look for. These play an important part when it comes to employment and thus the demand for placements in the top Australian universities.

“The Australian” in its January 31 edition reported that in the first attempt to assess the quality of research conducted in Australian universities, showed the oldest and most elite institutions filling the top eight spots. In a ratings table compiled by this respected newspaper the Australian National University and University of Melbourne vied for the top spot, with ANU just pipping Melbourne at the post. The University of Queensland and University of NSW and University of Sydney occupied 3rd, 4th & 5th positions respectively.

The Chief Executive of the Australian Research Council has said that while there was an obvious link between research income and outputs - the Group of Eight (Go8) attracts about 75 per cent of competitive research income and the focus on the lower ranking institutions should be on attracting quality people as research capacity was an essential part of that equation. This report, which after 2012 will shape the allocation of over $1.5 billion in research grants will influence institutional behaviour, including “head-hunting big hitters”, who were likely to improve a university's standing in the future.
The well experienced counselling staff of Edlocate in its Colombo and Kandy offices are now handling prospective students for the semester 2 intake in July 2011, at the 15 Australian universities it represents in 5 states and the ACT in Australia – 6 of which are in the Go8.