Two regions in New Zealand have received federal funding totalling more than NZ$300,000 in order to develop their international education strategies and further their outreach as study destinations.
The region of Manawatu has secured NZ$150,000 in funding. Photo: Whanganui in Manawatu/Ang WickhamTaranaki, in New Zealand’s north island, will receive $162,000 over the next two years support its new international education strategy, launched this week.
The strategy aims to grow the value of international education to the region to NZ$19m by 2025.
“This is a great example of the economic development agency, local providers and ENZ working together”
The investment was provided byEducation New Zealand’s regional partnership programme, which supports “the development and growth of international education in selected regions”.
“This is a great example of the economic development agency, local providers and ENZ working together,” said Steven Joyce, tertiary education, skills and employment minister.
“This collaborative approach allows the group to share resources and make strategic and targeted investments together for greater impact.”
Meanwhile, the region of Manawatu, located north of Wellington, has also secured funding of NZ$150,000 to help boost the number of international students in the region.
The funding sees $50,000 being invested in the 2015/16 financial year, and the remaining $100,000 to be invested in the next financial year, over a period of 18 months.
There were 3,186 international students in the Manawatu-Wanganui region in 2014, according to ENZ figures, accounting for 3% of the total number studying in the country (110,198).
The funding will be put towards participation in international education expos, as well as marketing and salaries, in order to boost the region’s visibility on the global stage and attract more international students.
“ENZ is pleased to be able to partner with Manawatu’s international education providers and Vision Manawatu in implementing the region’s ambitious growth strategy,” Grant MacPherson, chief executive of Education New Zealand, told the Manawatu Standard.
“Manawatu has much to offer international students – not only a range of high-quality education options, but also a great lifestyle,” he added.
International education is worth NZ$2.85bn to the New Zealand economy and supports 30,000 jobs.
It was also included as one of the seven priority export areas to grow in the country’s Business Growth Agenda last October.
