Troy Yue

Griffith Business School's 2022 Outstanding International Alumnus

Bachelor of Commerce

It has taken Griffith University Commerce graduate Troy Yue just six years—two of them under the challenge of a global pandemic—to build an interstate network of training colleges and industry partners.

Troy's National Institute of Education and Technology (NIET) group encompasses five campuses in Queensland and Tasmania, and offers almost 50 qualifications across the care sector, business, hospitality, languages and technology.

NIET has formalised study pathway arrangements with Griffith University and the University of Tasmania (which also houses one of their two Tasmanian facilities) and fruitful partnerships across industry.

Despite the impressive span and rapid growth of his enterprise, it’s the human factor that Troy keeps top of mind.

“The long-term vision of the company is to build a community, not just a college,” says Troy, whose group includes Charlton Brown vocational college and the Rhodes Business School.

“We want to provide value to the community and help make other people’s lives better through achieving their dreams.

“I took what I learned from Griffith and did the right thing—to give back to the community.

“That's what Griffith wants from its graduates I think.”

Troy grew up in Shenyang, an industrial hub and city of cultural and historical significance close to Beijing, and first studied English in New Zealand before transferring to Griffith.

“Of course it’s good to study in China and speak the same language, but also I wanted to go abroad and expand my learning and improve my English to better prepare for my future.”

Following graduation, Troy worked as a certified public accountant then struck out on his own after eight years working for others.

Having enrolled at Griffith as an international student, Troy understood the challenges facing overseas students wanting work in Australia: the language and cultural barriers that prevented them utilising their skills.

“After some research, I found out the link between universities and workplaces is vocational training,” says Troy.

“I felt I should do something more for international students like me, to help them learn industry-based skills and adapt to the local workforce.”

NIET designs its courses to support international students, an approach directly inspired by Troy’s time at Griffith.

“It’s a culture I took from Griffith, where I felt staff were invested in educating and helping students. “That encouraged me to pass the same care on to my students; it's now important to my business!”

Troy is particularly proud of the Okey Dokey café concept operated by the NIET group and staffed by its hospitality students and graduates.

Three of the chain’s five sites are now managed by graduates, beginning a self-sustaining cycle of mentoring as those graduates guide current students applying their hospitality skills in the commercial environment.

In 2021, the NIET group’s growth was recognised with a Premier of Queensland’s Export Award win in the International Education and Training Award.

“For us to be awarded in my Australian ‘home state’ was of course satisfying, just like our pathway programs into Griffith, my ‘home university’,” says Troy.

With COVID subsiding, this year Troy welcomed his parents back to Brisbane and for a tour of his NIET campuses.

“They were happy for my achievements, but they care about me and told me not to take on too much pressure.”

“My father also said not fly too high, but to stabilise and make sure we can land it safely!”

In China, Troy says, children often take over their parents’ business.

Troy is grateful his parents, who operate an oil and petroleum sales firm in Shenyang, welcomed his choice to study overseas and beat his own path.

“Just making money from a transaction selling finished products is not something I’m motivated to do,” he says. “It’s not good for the environment and isn’t sustainable.

“I'm not chasing money; I want to provide a meaningful value to students and the people I work with.

“That business model could last forever.”