Student revenue up despite fewer visitors studying here

Sandeep Singh Josan (left) and Nazneen Sukheswala, both from India, and Khanh Ha Duc from Vietnam represent the new trend in students. Photo / Sarah Ivey

At a time when the number of international students from traditional markets such as China and South Korea continues to decline, it is students like Sandeep Singh Josan, Khanh Ha Duc and Nazneen Sukheswala who ensure the export education industry continues to boom.

Despite a slight drop in foreign student numbers last year, students from emerging markets such as India, Vietnam and Saudi Arabia ensured the industry continued to grow, earning $664 million more from fee paying students than it did the previous year.

The Department of Labour's migration trends and outlook 2009-10 report found a 10 per cent overall growth in revenue from international students last year although student permits issued by Immigration New Zealand dropped from 73,766 in 2009 to 73,432 last year.

The number of students from China continued to fall, a trend since 2003 when they made up 47 per cent of international students. China last year remained the largest source country but the 14,998 Chinese students made up just about 20 per cent of international students, the lowest level since 2000.

There was also a drop in students coming from South Korea, United Kingdom, South Africa and Taiwan.

Increases from emerging source countries such as Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, Brazil and India brought the largest absolute increase, up 11 per cent or 884, with nearly 9000 student permits issued to Indian students.

First-time students accounted for more than half of all international students who arrived here.

"India has become the largest source country of new international students to New Zealand, but China remains the single largest source country of international students," the report said.

"Over 73,400 international students were approved to study in New Zealand in 2009-10 with export education contributing over $2.3 billion annually to the economy," the report said.

Mr Singh, 21, a student at the National Technology Institute in Auckland, said New Zealand was becoming a popular choice for Indian students because it was perceived as "peaceful" and "an ideal destination to study".

"It's been a great experience studying in New Zealand, and I will recommend this place and my school to anyone, anywhere, anytime," said Mr Singh, who came from India in 2009.

Marketing manager Sheela Ansari said the institute had been focused on expanding into new student markets since 2007, and felt the Indian market was one that had the potential "to just keep growing".

More than 60 per cent of its students are from India, with a growing number now also coming from South America.

Business student Nazneen Sukheswala, 20, said Indian parents were also more comfortable sending their daughters here because they perceived New Zealand to be safer than other international study destinations.

Immigration New Zealand said international students had become an important source of skilled migrants and the policy was focused on attracting and developing students who had the skills and talents the country needed.

ON THE RISE (international student source countries)

* Vietnam - 1459 (up 35 per cent).
* India - 8982 (up 11 per cent).
* Thailand - 2346 (up 9 per cent).
* Saudi Arabia - 2226 (up 6 per cent).
* US - 2920 (up 4 per cent).

Source: Dept of Labour migration trends and outlook 2009-10