As a percusor to the International Education Strategy due later this month, a new wellbeing strategy for international students launched in Christchurch

Salient points about NZ’s international students market:

•             Fourth largest export industry

•             Employs over 30,000 New Zealanders

•             $750,000 available for initiatives working for international students’ wellbeing

•             Online information hub will go live soon

Recognising the precarious situation international students – a majority from India – are increasingly finding themselves in New Zealand, the government last week launched a new wellbeing strategy in Christchurch targeted at that very segment. 

“This initiative will help protect and enhance New Zealand’s reputation as a safe and welcoming study destination. International education is our fourth largest export industry and provides jobs for more than 30,000 New Zealanders. Thus it is vital that students have a high-quality experience while studying in New Zealand,” Paul Goldsmith, minister for tertiary education, skills and employment, said while launching the strategy at Christchurch’s Ara Institute of Canterbury.

This comes on the back of a new pastoral code that was introduced last year that was aimed at strengthening pastoral responsibilities of education providers. And the wellbeing strategy will be followed by a draft International Education Strategy for New Zealand, which will be released for consultation later this month.

“Education New Zealand now has a dedicated staff member whose focus is on the delivery of a high-quality experience for international students. We are also building an online information hub that will bring together information about life and study in New Zealand. In addition $750,000 per year is being made available for new initiatives that align with the strategy and strengthen international student wellbeing.

“The new wellbeing strategy builds on this progress, setting out focus areas that international students have told us make the biggest difference to their study experience,” Mr Goldsmith concluded.