An ambitious plan launched on Friday will aim to significantly lift the number of international students studying in New Zealand’s capital city, Wellington.
The Wellington International Strategy will see universities, polytechnics, private English language and training providers and schools attempting to double the number of international students studying in the Wellington region by 2023.
This international strategy will build on our existing marketing strategies and create a much more coherent approach so that international students will see Wellington as an education destination,” explained Linda Sissons, Chief Executive of Wellington Institute of Technology.
It is the first time in New Zealand that all leading education providers in one region have developed a High Growth Strategy for International education. Each of the tertiary institutions involved with the project is committed to having at least 15 per cent of their rolls made of up of international students within the next five years.
The High Growth Strategy commits schools, universities, polytechnics and private education Providers to work together to recruit international students from a selected range of countries to make sure there is a good mix of cultures. It also commits providers to work together to support students and teachers to ensure they have a very positive learning and living experience in the Wellington Region.
Vice Chancellor of Victoria University Grant Guilford said: “International education is critical to Wellington’s social, cultural and economic future and it is great to see the commitment of our regions’ educational providers to work together for the good of the region. Victoria has a great reputation internationally and the further development of this strategy will build on this and the reputations of others in Wellington to really promote Wellington in the international market.”
Meanwhile, Vice Chancellor of Massey University Steve Maharey said: “Massey Wellington has a superb reputation in areas such as emergency management, health, entrepreneurship and, in particular, creative arts. Through areas such as design, fine arts and music we want to help build Wellington’s reputation and ambition to be the ‘creative capital’ attracting students from around the world to this vibrant city.”