Salient

International students ‘overall’ happy in New Zealand, but more work needed

By Seonah Choi | 19 May, 2008

According to Tertiary Education Minister Pete Hodgson and Education Minister Chris Carter, the latest National Survey of International Students shows that while international students had high praise for New Zealand, more work was required to ensure better connections between international students, their domestic peers and support services.

The 2007 survey, commissioned by the Ministry of Education and the Department of Labour, studied more than 2,600 students and showed that international students had an overall positive experience studying in New Zealand.

In comparison with results from a survey conducted in 2003, 53 per cent were likely to recommend New Zealand as a study destination, up from 44 per cent in 2003, and 61 per cent of students surveyed said they intended to apply for permanent residency – an increase of 19 per cent over the last four years.

Hodgson described this as good news. “Not only do fee-paying international students contribute to the economy but on completion of their education, provide a vital pool of skilled and enthusiastic workers for employers.”

“The results show that New Zealand education is a significant national asset and one that we should feel proud of,” Chris Carter said.

However, the survey also demonstrated a need international students felt in areas beyond their education – 34 per cent of students believed making friends was difficult and 61 per cent wanted to have more New Zealand friends.

Both Hodgson and Carter said measures had been taken to alleviate these concerns, including consultation with New Zealand education institutions and communication with community groups and other agencies in New Zealand and China.

International students are estimated to be worth approximately $2 billion a year and latest figures show that numbers – of international students from China, at least – are on the rise.

In 2003 and 2004, universities drew as many as one quarter of their student numbers from overseas, mainly from China. Since then, numbers have been steadily decreasing, a trend also seen in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

However, export-education industry body Education New Zealand has predicted an increase of 20 per cent in numbers of Chinese students for 2007 to 2008, with enrolments likely to exceed 3,500.

“The Chinese student of today is looking around in a fairly discerning way and New Zealand is not coming up short,” Education New Zealand communications director Stuart Boag said.

The organisation’s prediction differs from the report given by Victoria’s Pro-Chancellor (International) Rob Rabel, who says the University’s international enrolments decreased overall in 2008 by about 10 per cent – “almost entirely due to a fall in the number of Chinese students.”

This, Rabel added, is consistent with enrolment trends in most other New Zealand universities.

In order to address the decrease in numbers, which have led to a reduction in the University’s revenue but also more diversification of the international student population, Rabel said the University had increased its international marketing activities in key countries.

“The senior management team [approved] additional expenditure this year to seek to turn around the decline in international student numbers.”