New Zealand universities want to attract immigrants to study in New Zealand
April 22 2009 by Robbie Ragless
New figures from the Ministry of Education show that the number of foreign students studying in New Zealand universities fell by a huge 34% between 2004 and 2008, as more overseas students were graduating than were enrolling.
The industry is worth NZ$2.3 billion to the country at the moment but Rob McKay, the chairman at English New Zealand, says the industry should actually be generating half a billion dollars more.
McKay says the slump in the number of foreigners moving to the New Zealand to study is a “fundamental problem” and is continuing despite overall student numbers increasing. He says, “we’re missing out.”
He clams that policies that make it difficult for foreign students to find part-time work in New Zealand while studying is holding the industry back.
Some universities are measuring an increase in foreign student enrollments by as much as 25%, but the head count is still dropping in these institutions because they are no longer attracting large numbers of students from China, which was traditionally a hot spot for attracting young people to study in New Zealand.
Instead, universities are reporting an increase in the number of students from Suadi Arabia, India and Southeast Asia.
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