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Border milestone for education sector sees international students return

International students are returning to New Zealand educational institutions, with Taranaki seeing more than 70 arrivals and Hamilton more than 100, as New Zealand’s borders reopen for offshore education in time for schools’ third term and universities’ second semester.

Tertiary institutions the Pacific International Hotel Management School and Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki, along with schools Spotswood College, New Plymouth Boys High School, Green School, and Francis Douglas Memorial College have all welcomed new international students.

In Hamilton, University of Waikato welcomed international students from more than 18 countries after two years of travel restrictions and other hurdles.

Talent of the Pacific Academy and Fairfield Intermediate School, gave an energetic cultural performance, incorporating Kiribas and Rotuma dances. The welcome ended with the performers inviting international students to the stage to learn a traditional Tuvalu dance.

Hamilton City Councillor Martin Gallagher says it was wonderful to see international students back.

"You’ve made a great choice on coming to our city and I’m delighted to welcome you to Kirikiriroa Hamilton. We hope your time here delivers all you have hoped for – and more. The individual cultures and experiences you bring to our city will enrich and make us stronger."

The welcome in Hamilton finished with a tour around the Council building, providing the newcomers with an overview of local government in Hamilton Kirikiriroa and a chance to ask questions about both the workings of Council and the various opportunities around the city.

Venture Taranaki talent advisor Rachael Berndt says welcoming offshore students back to Taranaki presents a wealth of additional social and cultural benefits via the students, who also represent a significant opportunity to help boost the regional economy.

“The early August milestone was a starting point to revitalising the international education sector, although we still have a way to go. It’s exciting to have most of the students already landed, and we look forward to welcoming back even more students to Taranaki.”

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Taranaki welcomed more than 1000 international students to the region and international education supported 330 jobs, and contributed around $50 million to the Taranaki economy.

“With international students now able to enrol to study in New Zealand, we’ll continue to position Taranaki as a desirable place to undertake study and prepare students for the future; with a like no other lifestyle to match,” Rachael says.

“With our diverse range of education providers around the maunga catering to international students, we hope to see student numbers increase year after year, getting back to pre-Covid levels that directly support a significant proportion of the community through job creation and contribution to GDP,” she says.

Mayor South Taranaki District and Chair of the Taranaki Mayoral Forum Phil Nixon says while international students provide enormous benefit to Taranaki, they also gain so much from the experiences.

"It will come as no surprise as to what attracts international students to learn in Taranaki – our friendly people, affordable living, quality tertiary institutions like WITT and PIHMS, pathways to employment in our major sectors, our cultural heritage and, of course, our position as New Zealand’s sunniest region.”

As part of the intake of offshore students, WIIT had the region’s largest intake with 17 full-time international students, and an additional 31 nurses on the Competency Assessment Programme – a qualification to gain New Zealand nursing registration. Study pathways include programmes in IT, business, engineering and cookery.

PIHMS welcomed 14 students from India, Vietnam, Indonesia and Germany. The students have begun arriving in the country where they will go on to gain qualifications in the hospitality sector, an industry crying out for additional staff.

“PIHMS welcomes news of the border openings and can now move ahead with more certainty in recruitment activities with its international partners,” PIHMs CEO Bill McCallum says.

“Recovering to pre-COVID numbers, will take several years, however, at least there is some light at the end of an extremely challenging two-and-a-half-year tunnel.”

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