The University of Otago is working hard to position itself as an attractive institution for top-achieving students, to prevent higher numbers of what Prime Minister John Key's science adviser calls "scholarship kids" from going overseas to study.
Mr Key's science adviser, Sir Peter Gluckman, recently told the Sunday Star Times he was concerned about the number of "scholarship kids" choosing to study abroad rather than at New Zealand universities.
He repeated some of these concerns when he gave a public lecture at Otago University last week, saying there needed to be more emphasis on climbing international rankings at "at least some" of New Zealand's universities.
"Without a vibrant university sector with some universities in the top rank, we will not retain the best and brightest in New Zealand.
"Ranking also will help us attract the best overseas students, those in 30 years who will become key leaders in their own countries or successful migrants here," Sir Peter told the audience at the College of Education auditorium.
University of Otago academic and international pro-vice-chancellor Prof Vernon Squire said the university's "more selective" approach to accepting students and the introduction of new scholarships had been put in place to encourage "scholarship kids" to stay in New Zealand.
"We have purposely focused attention on ensuring that the university is an outstanding choice for both undergraduate and postgraduate study," Prof Squire said.
He said whether larger numbers were going overseas than before was anecdotal, but there was "no doubt" that Australian universities in particular had increased their recruitment efforts in recent years.
There was also "ample evidence" that New Zealand universities were underfunded relative to other universities overseas, including in Australia, which could lead to more students going overseas.
However, there was still good reason to study in New Zealand, with the country's universities punching "above their weight", both academically and in terms of research.
"Otago [University], for example, ranks in the top 3% of the over 8000 universities in the world and provides a residential environment that is unique in this part of the world," he said.
The University of Otago also presented an attractive prospect for overseas academics, which pointed towards there being more of a "brain exchange" than a "brain drain", Prof Squire said.