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Chinese enrolments on the rise
Thursday, 8 May 2008
ENROLMENTS for students coming to New Zealand from China are on the rise for the first time since the early part of the decade.
After nearly five years in a slump, new Chinese student numbers last year reached more than 2900, the first increase since the heady days of 2001-2002 when nearly 20,000 enrolled for mainly English language courses.
Education New Zealand munications director Stuart Boag said those sort of numbers were unlikely to be repeated, but enrolment figures were settling back to a ‘‘comfortable level’’ for the sector.
After settling at about 2500 enrolments, these significantly increased last year, he said.
‘‘It then came up to 2900 and we’re now looking at 3500 to 4000 new starts which represents a good ongoing mature market and comfortable level for the sector.’’
First, the sector would have to endure one more year of decline in overall student numbers as the last of the students still enrolled in long-term studies finished their courses.
But the prognosis was positive for attracting more Chinese students, who typically stayed up to four years. ‘‘We think there appears to certainly be a demand from China for offshore education. They’ve come to a realisation that
comNew Zealand represents a proposition,’’ Mr Boag said.
Coinciding with the upturn, Education New Zealand ran a marketing campaign in China, which required students to keep a blog on a popular Chinese social networking site. Last week, the winners, from three of China’s top universities, arrived in New Zealand.
The students, accompanied by three journalists, will continue blogging during their 10-day stay, which includes visits to all of New Zealand’s universities.
‘‘The New Zealand Through My Eyes blogging campaign recognises that word of mouth and the Internet medium in China play an important role in raising the profile of New Zealand education opportunities,’’ Mr Boag said.
It was part of a broader programme to use modern technology, social networks and student interaction to spread the message about New Zealand, its education system and student life, he said.
Chinese students remained the largest group of overseas students studying in New Zealand, closely followed by Japanese and Korean students — though they tended to concentrate their studies in shortterm language school programmes. Up to 90,000 foreign students were expected in New Zealand this year.
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ENROLMENTS for students coming to New Zealand from China are on the rise for the first time since the early part of the decade.
After nearly five years in a slump, new Chinese student numbers last year reached more than 2900, the first increase since the heady days of 2001-2002 when nearly 20,000 enrolled for mainly English language courses.
Education New Zealand munications director Stuart Boag said those sort of numbers were unlikely to be repeated, but enrolment figures were settling back to a ‘‘comfortable level’’ for the sector.
After settling at about 2500 enrolments, these significantly increased last year, he said.
‘‘It then came up to 2900 and we’re now looking at 3500 to 4000 new starts which represents a good ongoing mature market and comfortable level for the sector.’’
First, the sector would have to endure one more year of decline in overall student numbers as the last of the students still enrolled in long-term studies finished their courses.
But the prognosis was positive for attracting more Chinese students, who typically stayed up to four years. ‘‘We think there appears to certainly be a demand from China for offshore education. They’ve come to a realisation that
comNew Zealand represents a proposition,’’ Mr Boag said.
Coinciding with the upturn, Education New Zealand ran a marketing campaign in China, which required students to keep a blog on a popular Chinese social networking site. Last week, the winners, from three of China’s top universities, arrived in New Zealand.
The students, accompanied by three journalists, will continue blogging during their 10-day stay, which includes visits to all of New Zealand’s universities.
‘‘The New Zealand Through My Eyes blogging campaign recognises that word of mouth and the Internet medium in China play an important role in raising the profile of New Zealand education opportunities,’’ Mr Boag said.
It was part of a broader programme to use modern technology, social networks and student interaction to spread the message about New Zealand, its education system and student life, he said.
Chinese students remained the largest group of overseas students studying in New Zealand, closely followed by Japanese and Korean students — though they tended to concentrate their studies in shortterm language school programmes. Up to 90,000 foreign students were expected in New Zealand this year.
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