New Zealand's openness, courses and policies a big draw for Chinese students

New Zealand has become a popular destination for Chinese students as about 35 percent of all of international students come from China and the number of Chinese students studying in the country is on the rise this year, said education officials from New Zealand.

Chinese students are interested in a wide range of subjects in New Zealand's tertiary institutions and primary and secondary schooling, said Amanda Malu, chief executive of Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao. 

"One of the advantages of studying in New Zealand is our post-study work rights for international students," Malu said. For instance, postgraduate students, regardless of the length of their study in New Zealand, are entitled to three years of post-study working rights in New Zealand.

New Zealand publishes a Green List, which includes the skills and professions that its immigration department is particularly looking to bring into the country, so international students can choose related majors and courses based on the requirements from the list, she said.

She noted that study tours are also becoming increasingly popular. Chinese parents bring their children to New Zealand during vacation time to experience life in local schools for a period of time.

"China remains New Zealand's No 1 student source country with 36 percent of enrollments in 2023," said Michael Zhang, counselor of education at New Zealand embassy Beijing, and regional director of Greater China, Education New Zealand.

Zhang said Chinese students studying in New Zealand are primarily focused on higher education and basic education, and there were 14,675 students enrolled in local universities last year, which is the largest proportion, and 4,271 students enrolled in primary and secondary schools.

According to him, New Zealand is a multicultural country where international students can experience diverse cultures and communicate with others with different backgrounds, adding local schools offer a diverse range of course options, allowing students to choose majors that align with their interests and career goals.

As innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence is taking the world by storm, universities in New Zealand are establishing new courses and new research centers, specifically on technology and interdisciplinary subjects related to AI, and this trend is important for the cooperation between New Zealand and China in education as well.

Zhang said the education cooperation is an important pillar of the New Zealand-China bilateral relationship. Currently, there are 36 degree-level joint programs and institutes between the two countries, covering multiple fields such as agriculture, science, arts, engineering, business, and health sciences.

"We look forward to continuing our cooperation with China as international education can help cultivate global citizens, foster dialogue around the world and solve global issues," he added.