Students from Europe targeted as China market collapses

Nelson's education sector is targeting Europe to offset falling international student numbers from China.

Chinese student numbers have slumped up to 50 per cent nationally this year. Negative publicity about some students' experiences in New Zealand, including the collapse of several language schools and attacks on foreign students, a rising dollar and increased competition for international students have taken a toll.

Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology chief executive Neil Barnes said English language student enrolments from China would be down in 2005, as they were this year.

Dr Barnes said numbers from Sweden were up.

"They won't give us the volume China does and China is still a major issue for us," he said.

Eighteen students from Sweden had enrolled for the adventure tourism course.

"One of the things we've identified is that the majority of tourists who seem to favour this region are from Europe, the United States or the UK. They are coming for the quality of the outdoors rather than the big-city lights," Dr Barnes said.

The institute had been working on a strategy to target those areas and it was reflected in enrolment figures.

Nelson College headmaster Salvi Gargiulo and Nelson College for Girls principal Alison McAlpine spent a week in China early this year trying to firm up good relationships.

- NZPA