The first schools to be approved are Bridge International College, Languages International and Kaplan International Languages – all with centres in the country’s largest city Auckland.

“This is a positive step forward not only for the approved members, but also in terms of cross-sector collaboration”

As part of an MoU signed in June 2019, English New Zealand and Universities New Zealand announced that the Accredited Pathway Assessment would be accepted as evidence of meeting English language proficiency requirements for the country’s eight universities.

“This is a positive step forward not only for the approved members, but also in terms of cross-sector collaboration,” English New Zealand executive director Kim Renner said.

“With inevitable changes coming for the export education industry, seamless pathways into further study and closer collaboration will become more important than ever before,” Renner said.

The initiative will enable more English language students to consider tertiary study pathways and longer-term study in New Zealand, the organisation, which represents 22 of the country’s private and state-owned English language schools, said.

Approved members will use the English New Zealand Accredited Pathway Assessment logo, English New Zealand said.

Applications were reviewed by qualified English language experts to ensure quality and consistency.

The thorough reviewing process would enable universities to have confidence around due diligence, Renner added.