New Zealand’s relative success against Covid-19 now gives Kiwi universities a unique opportunity to attract a new wave
of keen international students, according to a report by the New Zealand Initiative.
In the report, Open for minds: export education and recovery, chief economist Dr Eric Crampton highlights what may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Kiwi universities to
reinvigorate their foreign student numbers as the pandemic crisis is brought under control.
International students are a significant source of income for universities across the country and partially make it
possible for young New Zealanders to attend university at discounted rates.
While international students are a small proportion of universities’ student muster, they provide a disproportionate
amount of universities’ funding.
Dr Crampton said the machine of tertiary education was well-oiled before the pandemic and remained in an excellent place
for the government to push the “start” button once again. But pushing that start button would require strict quarantine
measures for incoming students.
“Tertiary institutions wishing to admit international students during the pandemic would need to provide quarantine
facilities approved by their local Medical Officer of Health. A strict two-week quarantine for incoming students would
ensure safety.”
New Zealand’s relatively safe status would make New Zealand more desirable as foreign study destination. And
international students would also be very welcome where other tourism will take longer to come back.
“While New Zealand’s universities are excellent and provide world-class undergraduate education, they are not as
prestigious as some in the US or UK.
“But after the Covid-19 crisis, New Zealand’s overall safety compared to them, makes our universities a much more
attractive option. Universities risk losing all international revenue if the border is not reopened to international
students,” he said.
While life will not return fully to normal for some time, New Zealand will be the least disrupted place in a rather
disrupted world, Dr Crampton added.
Opening universities earlier than other countries may also make it possible to attract high-quality academics to teach
the new classes as universities abroad have implemented hiring freezes.
“The Covid-19 crisis gives New Zealand’s tertiary sector a real opportunity to become more desirable as a destination
for foreign students,” Dr Crampton said.
“But it cannot happen unless the Government prioritises re-opening the border to international students, with
appropriate quarantine provisions, while encouraging speedy visa processing. There is substantial opportunity for
benefits extending well beyond the university gates.”
Read more:
Open for minds: export education and recovery is available here.