August 12 2004
University Reneges on Commitments to International Students
The University of Otago has proven that it sees International Students as little more than revenue in its response to
international students’ concerns over fees for 2005. The Otago University Students’ Association (OUSA) has filed an
appeal with the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA) over the fees decision, only to be stymied by the
University’s inaction.
The University of Otago is a signatory to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students, which is
designed to provide minimum protections for foreign students studying in New Zealand. Under this Code, the University is
obligated to have grievance procedures in place, and have them made available to students when concerns such as unfair
fee increases arise. OUSA has since learned that the University has no such procedures in place to process international
students’ concerns, despite being required to as a signatory to the Code, and are now instigating these procedures in an
ad-hoc fashion two months after OUSA raised these students’ grievances.
“This is exceptionally frustrating.” said Andrew Cushen, President of OUSA. “We have been advised by the IEAA that they
cannot proceed with our students’ appeal until internal grievance procedures have been exhausted. Until now, no such
procedures have been in place for our members to have their concerns heard.”
“We have been stuck between a rock and a hard place due to the University seeing this Code as little more than window
dressing. The University has reneged on its commitments to international students at Otago, and prevented our members
from seeing justice on this issue.”
“While we are pleased that we have finally found a way forward on this issue, we have our concerns that the process
seems completely ad-hoc.” said Cushen. “At the very least, once we have talked to the University we can then move on to
the IEAA itself – and perhaps they will be able to deliver the justice our students’ deserve.”
ENDS