China Business:Student trends

University of Auckland. Photo / Chris Skelton

Of the international students at the University of Auckland, 40 per cent are from Mainland China, and the numbers are likely to go up.

According to Education NZ forecasts, the number of Chinese students in New Zealand will increase by approximately 6 per cent a year, and double by 2025.

However, there are signs the trend may be beginning to reverse, as Chinese families begin to consider local institutions.

Traditionally, international education has been held in much higher esteem, however as local institutions are improving in quality, and are seen as having a more direct study-to-work pathway, the boom of students leaving China may drop off.

Internationally educated students are increasingly finding they are competing with locally-educated job-seekers on their return home.

Chinese students are also becoming more interested in online study. The United States offers the "gold standard" in online education courses, a potential threat to New Zealand's traditional appeal.

However, the Chinese Government's forecast increase in graduates studying towards vocational degrees and diplomas offers potential for New Zealand, which has expertise in the vocational training sector.

An Education NZ initiative, aiming to raise the profile of New Zealand education in China, has involved four New Zealand universities - Auckland, AUT, Massey and Victoria - in a TV series, All About Going Abroad, for a Shanghai channel, which will showcase aspects of student and academic life in New Zealand.

Education NZ is confident the series will increase global awareness. "China is New Zealand's leading source country for international students but, despite this, New Zealand is still quite poorly understood as an education destination," says Alex Grace, ENZ's Regional Director for greater China.

"We're delighted our institutions were able to take up this opportunity to introduce themselves and their offering in much greater depth."