NZ universities should look to Brazil

Brazil provides opportunities for New Zealand universities, writes Andrew Kaushal.

Brazil is the world's eighth-strongest economy, growing at a rate of 7.5% per year. Today, 35% of the population, out of a total 203.4 million, is young.

Despite its huge growth, Brazil lacks a quality education system and world-class universities.

Published results of university world rankings indicate there are only four world- class universities in Brazil out of its 183.

Recently, the Brazilian Government announced it will provide scholarships to 75,000 low-income students who wish to study overseas to enhance their skills and career prospects.

This can be seen as a good initiative towards education reform in Brazil and an opportunity for New Zealand to attract foreign students.

In the past, Brazilian students' overseas university preference was America or the United Kingdom. However, in the past three years it has been changed drastically towards Australia and Canada. In 2009-10, Australia gained 35%, followed by Canada 25%. New Zealand's share was 7%.

One of the main reasons behind these attractive figures (except for New Zealand) is proactive marketing strategies by Australia and Canada. New Zealand's main focus during those years remained on Chinese and South Korean students.

In Brazil, studying short-term English courses overseas is also in growing demand. English proficiency is considered vital in Brazil for academic and professional progression.

This is why many Brazilian educational institutions, along with the government itself, look for overseas agreements with education providers.

New Zealand educational institutes should liaise with local consultants or institutes in order to attract Brazilian students wanting to learn English.

However, before this, the Government should introduce a special immigration policy for Brazilian students, as recent changes in New Zealand immigration policy make it difficult for Brazilian students.

Under the new policy, student visas will be issued to those who wish to study for one year or longer, whereas English courses are short-term, five-week courses.

Alternatively, e-learning or distance learning is a popular new trend in Brazil.

Unfortunately, only a few universities are offering distance learning programmes in Brazil which are also in the local language. This, again, creates opportunities for New Zealand education providers to target those students unable to travel or study overseas.

Today, Brazil needs 60,000 architects and engineers for world class infrastructure but because of a lack of skills, the country is struggling. In order to fulfil this demand, universities in Brazil have signed agreements with other universities worldwide.

Two New Zealand universities, in Auckland, are engaged in various kinds of collaborations with one of the biggest universities, Pontificia Universiadade Catolica De Sao Paulo.

This should encourage other universities in New Zealand to form strategic partnerships with other popular Brazilian universities in order to enhance their skills and attract international students to New Zealand.

Overall, there are many opportunities for New Zealand education providers to attract Brazilian students, as many educational institutes in Brazil also believe that in order to maintain growth and grow further, their country needs to remove its language barrier and educate young people.

New Zealand education providers can form collaboration with local institutes which will profoundly help both the economies of both countries in the short and long term.

• Christchurch businessman Andrew Kaushal has just returned from visiting Brazil as part of a group of Massey University MBA students. They were exploring opportunities for New Zealand business.