After Education New Zealand’s groundbreaking decision to extend work rights and fast track visa processing to international students, Frances Little explains what this means for the sector and how New Zealand sets itself apart from its larger competitors.
The PIE: What reaction has the sector had to the recent announcements to extend work rights to PhD and Masters students?
FL: The sector is very excited. In particular, English language students are now able to work. Previously they weren’t able to work [until after six months] putting New Zealand at a disadvantage against Australia and other competitors. But we are particularly excited about work rights for PhD and Masters students. They now have unlimited work rights so they can work as long as they like during their study time as well as apply for a one year work visa when they complete their study which will allow them to stay in New Zealand and live and work.
For PhD students it’s doubly exciting because about six years ago it was decided that they would pay domestic, New Zealand resident fees instead of international tuition.
For PhD students it’s doubly exciting because about six years ago it was decided that they would pay domestic fees
The main reason for focusing on PhD and Masters students is New Zealand is trying to attract top quality markets who have been educated in New Zealand or completed a significant portion of their education in New Zealand. It assists with migration: studying, living and working.
The PIE: Education New Zealand also announced a streamlined visa pilot scheme, is AUT part of that?
FL: Yes, what it means is that AUT and the other 25 institutions in the pilot will be given the authority to process visas from students who come from low-risk countries.
The PIE: Do you know which countries will be deemed low-risk?
FL: Not yet.
The PIE: No doubt other countries in the industry who will be envious of your position. What’s been the key to achieving such endorsement from the government?
“We looked at Australia, our closest competitor. We saw what they’re doing right or what they’re doing not so well”
FL: We looked at Australia, our closest competitor. We saw what they’re doing right or what they’re doing not so well and picked the best points out of it all while learning from the Australian experience. They do it brilliantly. There’s a lot of collegiality between the two countries.
The PIE: Going forward, what benefits do you see this having on international student recruitment?
FL: I think it will help us significantly. When the fees reduction for PhD students was introduced, PhD enrolments quadrupled. And we are now attracting brilliant people to New Zealand.
The PIE: Where do most of the international students come from?
FL: South East Asia, North Asia and the Middle East. Many from the UK coming from niche areas and we’re also looking to attract PhD students from Brazil.
The PIE: Have there been any deals made through the Science Without Borders programme?
“I think we’re one of the few countries in the world that has 100% of their universities in the top 500”
FL: Brazil, Chile and Colombia were a target before that programme was introduced, but now the Science Without Borders has definitely had an effect. This year was the first year for students through Science Without Borders. We just joined the scheme and the first round has just closed and the next round opens this month. New Zealand has got just over 70 in the process of arriving now.
The PIE: What do you think sets New Zealand apart from your competitors?
FL: Safe, cost effective, high quality education. And all eight New Zealand universities are ranked in the top 500. I think we’re one of the few countries in the world that has 100% of their universities in the top 500.
The PIE: How Does New Zealand’s size affect its ability to attract international students? [more>]
FL: I suppose size allows us to change quickly, react more efficiently to changes in the marketplace. But it results in capacity issues. It’s difficult to ensure that there’s a spread of nationalities. Because we are so small we can’t be dominated by one nationality. And markets crash so it’s really important to ensure a diverse mix of students coming into the institutions and size definitely impacts that because we just don’t have the same number of institutions.
The PIE: There has been a lot of press about the negative impact the Christchurch earthquakes and economic crisis have had on New Zealand’s ability to attract students, how has AUT fared?
“The events in Christchurch definitely haven’t had an impact on us”
FL: It’s interesting, people talk about New Zealand having a hard time. The earthquakes were in Christchurch which is a long way from us. It’s like saying earthquakes in Glasgow affected London. It did not impact on Auckland at all. Our numbers have grown steadily each year. So the events in Christchurch definitely haven’t had an impact on us. Christchurch is going to surge ahead. The rebuild is in progress. It’s a beautiful city and it’s a fantastic place to study.
The PIE: Auckland receives about 70% of all international students doesn’t it?
FL: Yes, we have a very strong international student hub in the centre of the city. Two of the universities are located in Auckland, and three academic colleges which are feeders for higher education, are located in the city centre. There’s a significant student hub there and it’s exciting.
The PIE: Where does AUT sit in the field of New Zealand HE?
FL: AUT is the second largest in New Zealand. It’s a comprehensive university that’s very strong in business, health sciences, engineering. Student mobility is one of our key strategic objectives. We’re very small right now and we’re looking to grow this inbound and outbound mobility significantly.
The PIE: Would you say there’s healthy competition between you and the other university in Auckland?
“There are exciting times ahead and the support from Education New Zealand is fantastic. Long may it continue”
FL: Yes. We’re two very different universities. One is research driven and AUT positions itself as a university for the changing world. We teach new disciplines for emerging growth opportunities for young students. For example, we merge communications, design, animation and computer science together to offer a degree in creative technologies.
The PIE: What’s next for the sector in New Zealand?
FL: We have tremendous support from Eduction New Zealand which we’re excited about and we can only see growth going forward. What’s happened is that the various areas of the government have finally come together to work as a unit.
You’ve got immigration, you’ve got tourism, you’ve got education. It can only strengthen. These immigration policy changes are an example of how all areas of government can work together to achieve the best possible outcomes for New Zealand. And we’re growing transnational education more and also offshore delivery of products and services. There are exciting times ahead and the support from Education New Zealand is fantastic. Long may it continue.
