Dr Parmjeet Parmar: Act Tertiary Education Spokesperson on plan to boost international student numbers

The Government's unveiling new initiatives in hopes of doubling the international education sector. 

Education Minister Erica Stanford wants it to contribute 7.2 billion dollars to the economy by 2034. 

The Government's plan begins with expanding work rights to all tertiary students in approved exchange programmes. 

It's also allowing eligible students to work 25-hours per week - up from the current 20. 

It will also investigate a new short-duration work visa and streamlining multi-year visa application.  

Act Tertiary Education Spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar told Andrew Dickens she welcomes the news.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Well, we've got a new plan from the government to
double the amount of international students contributing to our economy
to seven point two billion dollars by twenty thirty four.
So this plan includes extending in study work rights to
students from November and could enroll an extra twenty one
three hundred students by twenty twenty seven. Doctor Panjek Palmer

(00:20):
is ex Tertiary Education spokesperson and joins me this morning,
come on into your Pamjeet.

Speaker 2 (00:26):
Good morning, Andrew.

Speaker 1 (00:27):
So how does the plan work?

Speaker 2 (00:29):
So what I would say is that the changes are good,
but universities need to do their part as well. So
marketing campaigns these are two weeks are great, but universities
must focus on improving their international rankings because international rankings
are a key factor when students are deciding which university
to go to. So universities must ensure that their packages

(00:51):
are appealing and are internationally relevant. So that means no
compulsory treaty courses and no creep of decanga into science
because universities need to be careful that they are not
becoming inward looking. These things might be of interest to
some students in New Zealand, when international students are coming here,
they are basically wanting to prepare themselves for a global

(01:14):
career and.

Speaker 1 (01:15):
Tell me about this and study work rights? Do we
not offer them the ability to work while they're studying
to make some money to get by?

Speaker 2 (01:23):
So that is, but most of the money does come
from overseas. Any money that is coming from overseas is
great for us. So international students are ant positive, all right?

Speaker 1 (01:33):
So would international students come here with this plan? Because
I have to say, your party is quite often telling
the world that New Zealand's not a great place right
now in as some poor shape. Why would they want
to come here?

Speaker 2 (01:46):
I don't agree with that description there our education system
works really well, but as I have highlighted that universities
need to do their part as well. So we want
to ensure that universities are working hard to ensure that
international rankings are improving and the packages that they're offering
are internationally relevant.

Speaker 1 (02:06):
Very good stuff, doctor Palmzi Palma, who is ex Education spokesperson.
I thank you for your time.

Speaker 2 (02:12):
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