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Indian scholars will help rebuild Christchurch, NZ

New Zealand’s government has awarded NZ$150,000 (US$128,000) in scholarships to some of India’s top students in partnership with Christchurch Educated and the Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC), in an effort to build ties with India and plug a skills shortage to help with the rebuilding of the city.

Lincoln University, where some students will study. Photo: Leyo.

The students will take up masters and postgraduate-level study in earthquake engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management, biotechnology and ICT

The fifteen students were awarded scholarships based on the skills that they bring to help with the rebuild after major earthquakes devastated the surrounding Canterbury province in 2010 and 2011.

“These are areas where there is high labour demand particularly as a result of the Christchurch rebuild”

“These are areas where there is high labour demand particularly as a result of the Christchurch rebuild,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce, said.

“It is possible that a number of these students will stay in Christchurch once their study is completed.”

Announcing the scholarships, he added: “We want to continue to attract high quality students to New Zealand and for them to secure meaningful jobs, if they are eligible to work here, particularly in industries experiencing skill shortages.”

The students will take up masters and postgraduate-level study in earthquake engineering, mechanical engineering, construction management, biotechnology and ICT at the University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, CPIT and Avonmore Tertiary Institute NZ in July 2014 and February 2015.

Upon completion, graduates will be given internship and employment opportunities in companies which are experiencing growth.

“Christchurch will certainly benefit from the skills and talent on offer,” commented Emily Branthwaite, who manages Education New Zealand’s International Education Recovery Programme for Christchurch and Canterbury.

“Christchurch Educated’s partnership with CDC and Education New Zealand puts it in an ideal position to broker this kind of initiative,” she added. “We will continue to work with CDC to ensure students get to meet potential employers while they study as well as ensuring they are culturally prepared for the New Zealand work environment.”

The scholarship programme also helps to reinforce education exchange between New Zealand and India, the country’s second largest market for international students after China, Joyce noted.

Canterbury has shown signs of recovery thanks to concerted efforts by New Zealand’s government to boost incoming student numbers, with a 35% increase in the two years leading up to May 2013.

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