Chinese student arrivals expected to hold up despite slowdown, stock slump

Asian students mix freely and enjoy university life at Auckland University's city campus. 5 April 2011 New Zealand Herald Photograph by Greg Bowker NZH 12Apr11 - SCHOLARS: Chinese students at Auck

A slowdown in the Chinese economy and a slump in the country's stock markets which has eroded the savings of many investors isn't expected to crimp demand for education in New Zealand, where they are the largest source of international students.

The number of Chinese students studying at New Zealand educational institutions increased 12 per cent to 30,179 in 2014, from 2013, according to Education New Zealand, the government body which markets the country to international students.

International education is New Zealand's fifth largest export industry, contributing $2.85 billion to the economy and supporting more than 30,000 jobs.

China is the biggest market for international primary, secondary and tertiary students in New Zealand, accounting for 27 per cent of the country's total 110,198 international students last year.

Growth is easing in Asia's largest economy, with data out tomorrow expected to show the pace of growth slowed to an annual rate of 6.8 per cent in the second quarter, from a 7 per cent pace in the first quarter, according to a Bloomberg survey.

Meanwhile, a slump in the nation's stock market is expected to hit the savings of many individual investors, with the Shanghai market down more than 20 per cent from its peak in mid-June when its three-week sell-off began, prompting the government to intervene with support measures.

"It is too early to assess the future impact of recent stock market developments on the future flow of Chinese students to New Zealand," said Alexandra Grace, Education New Zealand regional director for Greater China, based in Beijing.

"However, at this stage we are not anticipating that it will have a significant impact.

"Although Chinese economic growth is slowing from very high levels seen in the past, China's growth is still relatively strong," she said.

"People's incomes are also growing, and so over the medium term we expect the demand for education in New Zealand to continue on its current upward trend."

New Zealand isn't a "mass study" destination for Chinese students like the US and UK, with New Zealand promoting the country's education experience to "discerning" Chinese students and families, she said.

Education New Zealand is focusing on building a diverse range of markets at different stages of maturity and potential to help mitigate against possible future shocks and encourages education providers to ensure diversity in international student recruitment, Grace said.

Last year, the number of students from India jumped 67 per cent to 20,227, helping offset declines in mature markets such as Korea, which slipped 6 per cent, and Malaysia, which declined 12 per cent.

Indonesian student numbers rose 16 per cent while Thai students increased 19 per cent.

Student numbers are increasing from emerging markets such as Brazil, Colombia, Chile, France and the Philippines.

China is the world's largest source of international students.