The six-week online course will provide practitioners with key strategies and skills for supporting international students remaining in New Zealand and offering wraparound support for new students entering the country.

“There is a need for a step-change in the professionalisation of practice to facilitate sector recovery”

The course, which begins September 28, is aimed at staff in international education programs in schools and tertiary education institutions, student services, secondary and tertiary teaching regional education managers and education-related public services.

ISANA NZ said it believes the micro course will provide timely support for international education practitioners and add to the momentum for the development of sector-specific credentials.

“It is clear to us that specialist skills will be essential for effective wraparound support for international students and sustainable practice in a Covid-19 era,” said ISANA NZ executive director, Chris Beard.

“There is a need for a step-change in the professionalisation of practice to facilitate sector recovery.”

National president of the New Zealand International Students Association, Sabrina Alhady, said she welcomes the course’s focus on international student wellbeing and stated that the course provides crucial training for supporting students’ managed isolation and transition into society.

Despite Australia’s plans to bring in 300 students next month as part of a newly announced pilot scheme, this week New Zealand’s prime minister confirmed international students will still have to wait until next year to enter the country.

As of mid-March, there were 60,348 students with valid visas in New Zealand, but by early August that had fallen to 47,807.