22 June 2016 at 9:00 am
Revised code of practice for international education providers
A revised Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students will strengthen the care of international students in New Zealand.
The code outlines ten outcomes sought from education providers for the care and support of international students.
- marketing and promotion
- managing and monitoring agents
- offers enrolment and contract
- immigration criteria
- adequate orientation
- safety and well-being
- student support, advice and services
- managing withdrawal and closure
- dealing with grievances
- compliance with International Student Contract Dispute Resolution Scheme
The New Zealand Qualifications Authority will administer the code and impose sanctions against education providers who breach it.
New Zealand was one of the first countries in the world to adopt a code of practice in 2002. This new code will ensure New Zealand remains a world leader in the pastoral care of international students.
The international education sector has been growing strongly. To sustain this growth, it is imperative that we ensure international students receive a high quality education and have a positive, well-supported experience whilst studying in New Zealand.
A new International Student Contract Dispute Resolution Scheme (DRS) has also been established to resolve contractual and financial disputes between international students and education providers.
The new dispute resolution scheme will provide a faster and more effective forum for resolving contract and financial disagreements between students and providers. More information on this can be found here.
Both the code and the disputes resolution scheme come into force on 1 July 2016.
The revised code and the dispute resolution scheme are part of the Education Amendment Act 2015 and follow extensive consultation across the sector.
Further information about the revised code can be found here.
