Universities welcome announcement that 1,000 international students will return

Universities are celebrating the news that 1,000 international students will be able to enter the country, nearly a year after they were stranded on the high seas when the borders were closed.

On Thursday, Education Minister Chris Hipkins announced that 300 students would arrive in April and the other 700 would be arriving, as MIQ availability allows.

New Zealand universities have struggled with the loss of international students following the border closure in March last year. Several institutions have been considering layoffs as a result of financial loss. International students have expressed concern about the loss of scholarships and program places.

And while 1,000 students is a small drop in the bucket compared to the 34,000 international students enrolled in tertiary education in 2019, it was estimated that those who returned would invest $ 49 million in the economy.

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“Our top priority continues to be the health, safety and well-being of all people in New Zealand,” said Hipkins.

Students would be charged standard administered isolation fees and would have to reserve their space through the allocation system.

The exemption was granted to students of grade level or higher, who had started their studies in New Zealand but were caught offshore when the border was closed.

Hipkins said his return would not affect the kiwis’ ability to return home and was compared to the requirement that skilled workers enter the country.

Students do not need to apply, tertiary providers will identify and nominate those eligible.

They must have, or have had, a visa to study in 2020, have studied in New Zealand in 2019 or 2020 to earn their current qualification, and must be in the country to complete their study.

Priority will be given to students who are closest to graduation.

The University of Victoria Acting Vice Chancellor Rawinia Higgins welcomed the announcement.

“The university will work with the New Zealand Ministry of Education, Immigration and other agencies to manage this process, which will allow some Wellington students to return to study on campus this year.”

The deputy director of the international office of the University of Auckland, Ainslie Moore, said that given the number of students who remained abroad, 1,000 may seem a small number.

“But for each individual student, the opportunity to come back is huge.”

University of Canterbury director of international relations Tracey Wilson said students had been badly affected by the border closure and she was delighted that a small number were returning to campus.

At the University of Otago, International Director Jason Cushen welcomed the news and said he would work with the New Zealand Ministry of Education and Immigration to manage the return of students.

While Massey University was also pleased with the announcement, Vice Chancellor Tere McGonagle-Daly said conditions were limiting, specifically prioritizing students closest to graduation.

“All of our international students are important and we must provide them with security.”

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao CEO Grant McPherson said international education has broad benefits for New Zealand.

Before the start of Covid-19, international education contributed $ 5 billion to the economy and supported around 45,000 jobs, he said.

In October last year, the government allowed 250 doctoral students to return to New Zealand.