An award presented to the University of Otago for the quality of support provided to international students recognised Otago's belief that caring for students was an institutional responsibility, the woman in charge of international students says.
International pro-vice-chancellor Prof Sarah Todd said her staff networked with other student service providers to ensure international students were well looked after.
"It is everyone's responsibility to look after international students, whether it is in their job description or not."
The university picked up an Excellence in Student Support award from Education New Zealand at that organisation's international education conference last week.
Education New Zealand is a not-for-profit charitable trust governed by the New Zealand export education industry and began giving out annual awards about five years ago to institutions "going beyond the call of duty" in innovation, marketing and student support.
Prof Todd said she was "really pleased" about Otago's award.
"It is external recognition for what we are doing."
Staff provided a comprehensive service, including assigning a personal admissions co-ordinator, pairing them with a student "buddy", meeting them at the airport, taking them to a student services expo and helping them find accommodation.
An estimated 80% of Otago's students - almost 15,000 - came from outside Dunedin, which she said made it easier for international students to feel at home.
"We are a residential university which is geared up to support those who are going to be living away from home, whether they be from other parts of New Zealand or from overseas.
Like other New Zealand tertiary institutions, Otago's international roll has dropped in recent years, mainly because fewer Chinese students are choosing to study in this country.
From a high of 2104 in 2005, numbers have dropped to an estimated 1372 this year.
However, Prof Todd said first-year international enrolments had increased slightly this year over last year and were expected to increase again next year.
The top four countries of origin for international students were North America, Germany, Malaysia and China.