BANGALORE: Latest figures released by Education New Zealand show that India is the fastest growing source of international students to New Zealand, with an increase of more than 80 percent in total student visas issued to Indian nationals between January – July 2014 compared to the same period last year.

In addition, student visas issued to Indian nationals seeking to study in New Zealand for the first time increased by a staggering 123 percent in 2014 compared to the same period (January – July) in 2013.

The announcement was made at an Education New Zealand hosted media conference attended by New Zealand High Commissioner to India, Grahame Morton, popular Indian Premier League coach of the Chennai Super Kings and former New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Flemingand Immigration New Zealand Area Manager Nathanael Mackay.

Mr Morton welcomed the increased number of Indian students choosing to study in New Zealand. “New Zealand’s economic future is very much tied to our key relationships and India is a key export market for New Zealand and is one of the fastest growing large economies in the world.

“New Zealand’s success over the next 20 years will be determined by our level of connectedness with the rest of the world. One of the best ways we can make these connections is through the people-to-people links that international education offers.

“These latest figures are very encouraging. I hope that we continue to build on this positive momentum and attract more high quality students from India to study in New Zealand,” says Mr Morton.

ENZ Regional Director - South and South East Asia Ziena Jalil said,“ENZ has been running innovative campaigns and public relations activities to raise awareness of New Zealand as an education destination amongst the Indian community. It is really exciting and satisfying to see these strategies pay off and translate into such high first time student visa numbers from India.

“Just this week we are running education fairs throughout India, including in Mumbai, Chennai andNew Delhi, all inaugurated by former New Zealand cricket captain Stephen Fleming. The New Zealand tertiary education sector has a large range of programmes available. As well as being specialists in a number of areas we also offer niche and vocational programmes which are less developed in other countries so New Zealand really stands out from the crowd. The fairs will offer students a good opportunity to talk directly with New Zealand education institutions and find the programme that is right for them.”

According to Immigration New Zealand Area Manager Nathanael Mackay, New Zealand has put in place policies to make the country a top choice for international students. “The New Zealand Government has made changes to our work rights programme which allow more international students to work while they study, enabling them to gain valuable first world business experience whilst they study,”Mr Mackay added.

“We want to ensure that Indian students studying in New Zealand gain a meaningful experience, which will provide them with greater future opportunities, particularly in study areas in industries experiencing skill shortages in New Zealand such as I.T, Engineering, Science and Technology and Construction.”

A range of scholarships are available to students interested in studying in New Zealand, including the New Zealand India Sports Scholarships which were recently announced by High Commissioner Morton and Stephen Fleming.

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