KEY POINTS:
The high kiwi dollar is putting international students off coming to New Zealand, suggests a report showing cost is the biggest consideration for Chinese fee-paying students studying here.
An Education New Zealand report released yesterday showed 51 per cent of students considered fees when deciding if they would study here, while 42 per cent looked at the quality of teaching.
Future work prospects, the living environment and attitudes towards international students were also concerns.
Education NZ chief executive Robert Stevens said the strength of the currency had hurt the industry.
The organisation was combating this by promoting "quality aspects" rather than affordability in price-sensitive markets such as China.
Mr Stevens said prospective students were told how they could play golf, sail and ski while studying at institutions in New Zealand.
"[We are] going more for a destination-type package rather than just come here because we are cheaper than Australia or whatever."
Education NZ figures showed the international sector was worth around $1.9 billion a year, with around 40 per cent in fees.
The report, funded by the Export Education Industry Development Fund and undertaken by Waikato University, found the students expected greater personal freedom from studying in another country but they experienced loneliness and hardship and found they could not always count on help from home.
Many came wanting to make friends with Kiwis but that rarely happened.
But most of those surveyed felt better about life in New Zealand when interviewed compared to when they first arrived.
During their study, the number planning to apply for work here after graduation grew to 71 per cent. Those planning to apply for permanent residency grew to 67 per cent.
Among the report's recommendations for improving the learning and living experience of Chinese students was to promote cultural inclusiveness on campuses, improving homestay services and encouraging student participation in the wider community.
It also recommended further research into employment opportunities for Chinese graduates and said better information should be given to students before they left their home country on costs and how to move from language schools into tertiary education.
Mr Stevens said it was encouraging that twice as many of the students who arrived in New Zealand after 2003 had the country as their first choice, compared with those who arrived during the "boom time".
"We have come a long way from the difficult times of 2003/04, when New Zealand was criticised by the Chinese for the performance of our education system in meeting the needs of Chinese students."
The Ministry of Education has issued a draft strategy for international education for the next five to 10 years. Submissions close next month.
Decision factors of Chinese students in NZ
* 51% fees and living.
* 42% quality of education.
* 26% future work prospects.
* 26% living environment.
* 26% host attitude towards international students.
Source: Education New Zealand
