The border closure of New Zealand from March 2020 until the end of July 2022 is a more extensive period compared to the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. This prolonged closure in New Zealand due to the pandemic discouraged prospective Indian students. Further, the reports reveal that the economy of the country was hard hit due to it.
The impact was widely evident. In 2019, the value of the international education sector stood at NZ$3.9 billion, which dropped to NZ$800 million only in 2022. The enrolment of international students also saw a sharp fall from 117,185 in 2019 to approximately 40,000.
China, India, and Japan stood at the top of the chart for sending international students to New Zealand. The majority of international students in the country are still in universities (11,145), with only 4,165 in polytechnics. However, there are still more students in short courses who hold visa-free status; they are not included in the total count.
There is a positive notion that New Zealand could regain its international education sector by 2030. The New Zealand government is strongly supporting this notion. It is believed that recovering international education will boost export revenue, strengthen global connections, and create more job opportunities.
If the labour supply and productivity are factored in, then the total contribution of international students to New Zealand’s GDP will be around NZ$6 billion.
Moreover, ENZ conducted a survey in 2023, taking into account the responses of 4,755 international students from more than 70 nationalities. The international student experience showcases that 84% of the students are positive about their experience, while 83% recommend New Zealand as a study abroad destination.
Further, it highlighted that 87% said their study experience will encourage their curiosity and help them develop new ideas. And New Zealand is the first-choice destination of around 78% of the students.
