Other Research

Experiences of International Students in New Zealand: Report 2007 on the results of the national survey

Deloitte for the Ministry of Education and the Department of Labour, May 2008

Available from: http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/publications/international/22971

This report presents findings from the National Survey of International Students and provides an opportunity to understand the international students' experience of life in New Zealand. A representative sample of 2,677 international students enrolled in secondary schools, tertiary institutions, private training establishments, and English language schools in New Zealand participated in the survey.

The average age of respondents was 22.9 years. Most students resided in the North Island (75 percent) and had been in New Zealand for more than a year (53 percent). Students from China (42 percent) were the largest national group of respondents, followed by students from Korea (11 percent) and Japan (7 percent). The remaining students came from a variety of different countries with more than 80 different nationalities represented.

The overwhelming majority (91 percent) of the international students surveyed were foreign fee-paying students. Various financial sources were relied on to support students' education in New Zealand. However, most students (72 percent) were supported by their parents. Twenty-three percent of students found payment for their education in New Zealand very or extremely difficult.

The 2007 results of the national survey show that, for the most part, international students have a largely positive experience of their education in New Zealand. Overall, academic programmes and institutional facilities received complimentary evaluations. Across all education sectors, students reported few academic difficulties and described their academic progress as average to good. Students were reasonably satisfied with their accommodation arrangements and, in those cases where it applied, homestay accommodation was deemed very satisfactory.

The results reinforced that social support was widely available to international students, but that sources of support used differed depending on what type of support was required. Sensitivity to cultural differences was apparent in the classroom, and discrimination occurred only infrequently. However, it was concerning to report that only a quarter of the international students reported that they had never experienced discrimination from New Zealand students.

The research found that students who had been living in New Zealand for longer (and therefore potentially were better assimilated into New Zealand society and culture) were more likely to perceive New Zealand education as good value for money, and more likely to recommend New Zealand as a place to study.

International Trade Negotiations and the Trans-Border Movement of People: A review of the literature

Anna Strutt, Jacques Poot, and Jason Dubbeldam, Populations Studies Centre, University of Waikato, March 2008

Available from: http://dol.govt.nz/publications/research/trade-negotiations

This report reviews international and New Zealand literature on the interaction between enhancing cross-border trade and investment, through negotiations and agreements, and international migration.

There is a two-way interaction: increased trade will affect migration and increased migration will affect trade. Both directions of this two-way interaction are reviewed in the report.

The report also briefly reviews the benefits and costs of migration to the extent these might feature in trade and migration negotiations. The extent to which lessons for New Zealand can be drawn from the international literature is assessed.

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