#UpdatesonInternationalBorders Opening for prospective students – who are interested to #Study

https://www.facebook.com/studentsherald/videos/567797047244055/?t=2

Prospective students from around the world who are interested to study in New Zealand are looking upto the borders being opened. New Zealand education minister Chris Hipkins has suggested that international students could be exempt from international travel restrictions if they can be quarantined safely.

Following several weeks of careful and persistent public consultations with the Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand, ISANA NZ, Office of Ethnic Communities, and regional international student representatives from NZISA’s Representative Council, the New Zealand International Students’ Association (NZISA) is proud to announce that on Thursday 21st May 2020, $1 million NZD has been allocated by the New Zealand Government towards a hardship fund for international students. Says – NZISA

WellingtonNZ General Manager David Perks says border controls introduced by the Government during the Covid-crisis turned off the valve on the international student pipeline. It needs to be turned on again soon so the sector can rebuild. – Scoop

“International students were more likely than foreign tourists to want to come to New Zealand if there was still a need for a 14-day quarantine on arrival.”

‘It’s quite possible that we would be able to work with international education providers to manage a period of quarantine at the beginning of, say, a year’s worth of study so they can come into New Zealand.

“That’s something we’re working through with the sector.” – Minister Chris Hipkins

So, What are universities supposed to do ? “Universities should focus on mitigating risk by improving their financial sustainability and avoiding overreliance on international education to prop up their income. “Capitalis[ing] on New Zealand’s international reputation as being more successful than most at controlling Covid-19” and promoting New Zealand universities to “help save the economy” is not a sustainable economic model and merely encourages the exploitation of international students.”

“Rather than focusing on increasing international student numbers to make up for their COVID19 losses, universities should look to other international education destinations that have taken tremendous measures to support their international students.”

“All education providers should focus on providing sufficient support for international students facing hardship in New Zealand during these uncertain times. Such action would be a positive contributing factor towards the future of New Zealand’s reputation as one of the top international education providers in the world.” – NZISA

One thing evident is every institution and Universty which holds international recruitment has kept their eye on the borders to be opened.

As of today, New Zealand has come into Alert level 1 with Zero (0)cases for a fortnight.

Image by Nino Carè from Pixabay

#Covid19nz #StudyinNewZealand #studyinnewzealand #UpdatesonInternationalBorders