In a report tabled at the most recent university council meeting, international pro-vice-chancellor Prof Helen Nicholson said it was important the ''whole university'' worked towards lifting international numbers to 15% of total student numbers. International students made up 7.5% of total student numbers.
''With international student numbers declining over the last three years, maintaining a business-as-usual stance is not tenable,'' Prof Nicholson said.
Since peaking at 1664 equivalent full-time students (Efts) in 2011, numbers had dropped by an average of 4% a year to an expected 1397 this year.
The declines were due to a number of factors, including the conclusion of a major teacher education contract with the Malaysian Government, the high value of the New Zealand dollar and the pipeline impact of reduced international cohorts in New Zealand secondary schools.
Measures aimed at increasing numbers and getting the ''whole university'' on board included the appointment of ''associate deans international'' in academic divisions and reviewing its international admissions processes.
''Ensuring that students have an excellent experience while studying at Otago is paramount and the international division will continue to work with the wider university to achieve this.''
The university was budgeting for international student numbers to increase by 2.1% next year, partly due to the introduction of ''taught masters'' degrees, which have a greater course-work component, with less of a focus on dissertations.