Otago tertiary institutes are encouraged by an increase in Government funding to promote New Zealand as a destination for international students - a move which might provide flow-on economic benefits for Dunedin.
Minister for Tertiary Education Stephen Joyce announced yesterday a new agency will be set up to increase awareness about the education opportunities New Zealand offers for overseas students.
The new international agency, which is scheduled to be up and running by September, will start with an operating budget of about $84 million - almost double the amount of its predecessors.
International education contributed at least $2.3 billion to the New Zealand economy and supports about 32,000 jobs, Mr Joyce said.
"The sale of our education expertise overseas is estimated to be worth at least $100 million annually," he said.
University of Otago international pro-vice-chancellor Prof Sarah Todd said the extra funding would raise awareness about the quality of New Zealand's education system.
About 2500 international students were enrolled at Otago - equivalent to about 12% of the overall university role, she said.
Otago Polytechnic marketing manager Mike Waddell said the boost in government funding would focus attention on New Zealand - and potentially Dunedin - as a unique place for education.
While the funding would promote New Zealand first and foremost, both tertiary institutes could gain from the marketing boost to international students to promote the unique education opportunities Dunedin offered, he said.
International students do not attract a government subsidy and must pay the full costs of their tertiary study.
Ms Todd and Mr Waddell both said international students enriched the culture of the Dunedin community and had wider economic benefits to the city.
Mr Joyce said a budget of about $44 million had been previously split between three agencies - the Ministry of Education, New Zealand Tertiary Education, and the Education Trust - to promote the country to international students. The new crown agency, to be called Education New Zealand, would provide a "much sharper focus".
