The government has committed an extra $2 million to international education promotion over the next year to help attract more students to the New Zealand.

Into the bargain, the export education levy would be halved for every international student from $900 per international fee-paying student to $420 from January 1, 2010.

The step of reducing levy fee will leave more money in hands of education institutes facilitating them to attract more international students.

The proposal of allocating extra money to international student education has come up in view of Prime Minister John Key’s summit on Employment held in February this year. 

According to statistics available at official website of Ministry of Education, New Zealand, international education was estimated to have contributed an economic value-add and shored up 32,400 jobs in New Zealand during 2007-08. Export education levy figures for trimester (from January 1 to April 30, 2009) shows that $1,694,571 was collected in comparison of $1,553, 082 for trimester 2008. Number of international students commencing a course of study during trimester January 1 to April 2009, registered was 50739.

The contribution of international students in nation’s economy had been recognised by New Zealand early on, as a special education policy in name of “Towards Long-Term Partnership: Education Strategy for India 2006 – 2009” had come up. The exclusive education drive was government’s overall strategy for international education, and the education sector's academic, research and commercial interests in India. “The education strategy designed for India will create an environment in which a sustainable education relationship can develop, and one that will provide significant mutual learning, research and economic benefits,” stated Education Strategy of India 2006-2009.

Immigration packages under a government initiative being used to entice more international students to study at New Zealand. Earlier, the extension period was three months.

Immediate-past chairperson of the New Zealand Association for Migration and Investment (NZAMI) and Managing Director of Pathways to New Zealand, an Immigration Consultancy, Richard Howard, said that the step of reducing levy fee could be beneficial provided educational institutes use the saved money for the welfare of international students.

Harpreet Kaur, an Indian student, who completed Graduate Diploma in Information Technology this year, feels that initiatives would be of no use unless there would be some liberties for international students to get settle down in NZ. “I am IT diploma holder from Wintec College, but I have been working at McDonald for last one year. I would not able to apply for work permit or permanent residency as my job is not related to my profession. It’s not easy to find a job related to study because of growing unemployment,” she adds.

Source: Punjab Newsline