A lag in the return of international students could see Australian tertiary institutions taking a greater interest in hosting meetings, according to ICMS Australasia owner and managing director Emma Bowyer.

Just last week, ICMS managed the 18th International Conference on X-Ray Absorption and Fine Structure at the University of Sydney and in 2023 will work with the University of Queensland to deliver the 6th International Conference on Conversation Analysis.

Bowyer said the opportunities for tertiary institutions in the meetings sector were almost limitless.

“Tertiary institutions looking to bid for and host meetings is nothing new but with such a focus today on self-funding and the dip during the pandemic on international student numbers it could certainly be a sector they target further moving forward,” Bowyer said.

“Meetings, and particularly international meetings, provide colleges and universities with the opportunity not only for additional revenue but the chance to demonstrate their expertise in a particular area of specialisation that can lead to recruitment and increased research grants through collaboration with international peers.”

More than 300 in-person and virtual attendees from 40 countries attended last week’s conference, which was secured by BESydney hosted by University of Sydney and the University of New South Wales, Sydney, the International X-Ray Absorption Society and the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.