Latest levy data released

As many expected, the 2012 figures confirm a decline in international student enrolments since 2011. Although enrolment numbers fell by 6 percent (5,665), the report also shows that tuition fees from international education increased by $13.4 million, up 2 percent.

While these are the headline numbers of the report, a more complete picture is revealed by looking at the report in more detail. For instance, while there has been a 5,665 decrease in enrolments, certain sectors have been impacted more than others. Private Training Enterprises (PTEs), mainly non-funded, experienced a drop in enrolments of 5,102. However, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) saw a 4 percent increase in enrolments, although the numbers, 434, are modest.

Canterbury is suffering reduced student enrolments due to the earthquakes, an important factor in explaining the national numbers. There were 2,979 fewer students – a 31 percent drop – enrolled with Canterbury education providers in 2012.

The ongoing effects of the rising New Zealand dollar are also hurting the industry, and it is important to note that other providers of international education are experiencing similar trends. Australia, for example, has experienced a similar decline in international student enrolments, with their numbers down by 7 percent in 2012.

We need to improve our understanding of what factors drive student choices in our key markets. To this end, much of Education New Zealand’s current work is focused on how students and their families decide on where to undertake their course of study, and the factors that influence their decision.

This research will allow Education New Zealand to provide you, the industry, with detailed information that is current and relevant. We can then work together to develop programmes and initiatives to increase the demand for what New Zealand has to offer.

There is much work to be done. A willingness to take a different approach is essential if we are to grow our industry.

We will provide more analysis of the data in next week’s edition of our e-news, International Education News. Some of the key information from the report is included below.

Kind regards,  

Grant McPherson

Chief Executive Education New Zealand    

Enrolments: There was a 6% drop (from 98,660 to 92,995 in international student enrolments) in 2012. The main results were:

• Schools (down 3%), universities (down 2%), funded PTEs (down 6%), non-funded PTEs (down 13%)

• Canterbury numbers down 31% (a reduction of 2,979)

• Chinese enrolments up 5% (now 27% of all international students)

• Japan (number 4 market in 2012) enrolments up 3%

• Saudi Arabia (number 5 market) down 26%

• South Korea (number 3 market) down 19%

• India has overtaken South Korea as our second biggest source of students

• ITP enrolments up 4%

Tuition fees: There has been an overall $13.4 million (2%) rise in international education tuition fees in 2012, but the results varied according to sector:

• Universities (up 6%), ITPs (up 5%) and funded PTEs (up 7%)

• Schools (down 19%) and non-funded PTEs (down 9%)