Taranaki, on New Zealand’s north island, will receive $162,000 over the next two years to support its new international education strategy, launched this week.

The strategy aims to grow the value of international education to the region to NZ$19m by 2025 by attracting more international students at both secondary and tertiary level, through marketing based on the region’s safety and quality education offering.

“This is a great example of the economic development agency, local providers and ENZ working together”

It also aims to build greater collaboration between education sectors, alumni networks and cultural learning, as well as encouraging development of more post-study work opportunities.

The investment was provided by Education New Zealand’s regional partnership programme, which supports “the development and growth of international education in selected regions”.

“This is a great example of the economic development agency, local providers and ENZ working together,” said Steven Joyce, tertiary education, skills and employment minister.

“This collaborative approach allows the group to share resources and make strategic and targeted investments together for greater impact.”

Meanwhile, the region of Manawatu, located north of Wellington, has also secured funding of NZ$150,000 to help boost international student numbers.

A third of the funding will be invested in the 2015/16 financial year, with the rest to be invested in the next year.

There were 3,186 international students in the Manawatu-Wanganui region in 2014, according to ENZ figures, accounting for 3% of the total number studying in the country (110,198).

The funding will be put towards participation in international education expos, as well as marketing and salaries, in order to boost the region’s visibility on the global stage.

“ENZ is pleased to be able to partner with Manawatu’s international education providers and Vision Manawatu in implementing the region’s ambitious growth strategy,” Grant MacPherson, chief executive of Education New Zealand, told the Manawatu Standard.

“Manawatu has much to offer international students – not only a range of high-quality education options, but also a great lifestyle,” he added.

International education is worth NZ$2.85bn to the New Zealand economy and supports 30,000 jobs.

It was also included as one of the seven priority export areas to grow in the country’s Business Growth Agenda last October.