In an effort to aid country's research efforts, Australia is soon launching an initiative to recruit the best and brightest university-age students from overseas.

According to The Australian daily on Tuesday, Australia's research workforce was facing intense skills shortages and the government was planning to upgrade its recruitment of overseas students.

"In particular I would like to stress the economic and educational benefits that flow from increasing the proportion of international research students in the tertiary sector," Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard told an education conference.

The global recession meant it was more important than ever for the government to work with educators to ensure 'that the quality of the international student experience both on- and off-campus matches the quality of the learning they receive,' she said.

She further said research scholars would help build Australia's future research capability and academic workforce.

International education created and encouraged the knowledge and skills crucial to tackling the serious global challenges of climate change, water resource management, food security, global poverty and international political and social unrest, she said.

Enrolments by overseas students in Australian institutions increased by a record 20.7 per cent to 543,898 in 2008 - the largest increase since 2002 according to the latest Australian Education International figures.