Significant International Boost for Whitireia

For immediate release

3 June 2014

Significant International Boost for Whitireia

An agreement signed in Shanghai on Saturday will see significant numbers of international students coming to New Zealand to study at Whitireia. The agreement was signed with Zheijiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages and Yuexiu Foreign Languages School at a function at New Zealand Central in front of Mayor of Wellington Celia Wade-Brown, Consul General Matthew Dalzell and members of the Wellington Education delegation currently in China.

Whitireia Chief Executive Don Campbell says "I'm delighted to be signing this agreement which will bring as many as 50 additional students annually to complete business qualifications in New Zealand. I visited the university on Thursday and met with senior staff and was very impressed by their commitment and facilities.”

Whitireia currently has around 1,800 international students mainly in Auckland and Wellington generating some $15m annually and this agreement will result in a further $1m in annual revenue.

We want these students to come to Wellington as part of a collaboration with other key providers to boost international student numbers to the region. Clearly extending the airport runway is an important part of this strategy and I understand there has been good progress on this recently. Wellington is seeking to boost its profile in China as the Mayor's delegation demonstrates, and access is a key factor said Campbell.

Mr Campbell has also visited other potential university partners in China and found strong interest in New Zealand. He has noted a wish in China, to broaden study areas from the current predominant Business and Information Technology to Creative Arts and Design as well as Health and Nursing and these are particular strengths of Whitireia.

He noted, "we are well placed to take advantage of these changes particularly with work we are doing with WelTec as part of the Choice Protocol, with some exciting announcements to be made in the next week on this really significant partnership.”

ENDS

BACKGROUND

WelTec and Whitireia are partners in The Choice Protocol, a strategic partnership providing students across the Wellington region with educational opportunities.

Information about The Choice Protocol can be found at http://www.thechoiceprotocol.ac.nz/

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