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12 December 2017 | news


Caption: NZ-China Education Seminar with members of the China Education Association for International Exchange, in Auckland (Nov 2017). 

 

Last year 2,874 New Zealand university students participated in an outward mobility programme to get study experience overseas.

The top five fields of study were Management and Commerce (26%), Society and Culture (23%), Health (14%), Engineering and Related Technologies (10%), and Natural and Physical Sciences (8%).

Top destinations were United States, United Kingdom, China, Canada, Australian and Japan in addition to a further 17 countries.

New Zealand universities and the government are looking to increase opportunities to see more New Zealand students undertake a short-term learning abroad experience.  International education equips New Zealand students with the skills, understanding, and relationships that help New Zealand on the global stage.

To that end, New Zealand universities together with Education New Zealand and Studymove undertook a comprehensive benchmark analysis of international student recruitment and international mobility strategies. It enables universities to anonymously compare strategies, operations and performance, to support and enhance strategic development.

The Studymove report showed that the number of New Zealand students studying abroad is still comparatively low.  However, it was positive to see that Asia was the most popular region for outward mobility students last year, attracting 34% of students studying abroad - up from 24% the previous year.

Universities New Zealand’s recent forum with members of the China Education Association for International Exchange focused on the issue of increasing student mobility between the two countries.

Studies indicate that students who study offshore have higher academic scores and degree-completion rates as well as higher employment rates and salaries after graduation.  Moreover, these benefits appear to be strongest among students from less-advantaged backgrounds; the opportunity to study or work in another country can be a great social and economic equaliser.

The US remains a top destination for New Zealand students. It was pleasing to see in the recent US report “Open Doors” that a total of 3,806 US students came to NZ last year on “Study Abroad” programmes, with only Cuba, Japan, Netherlands and Denmark increasing as popular destinations at a greater rate.

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