The global financial crisis and a perception there is a high risk of earthquakes in Dunedin will make it difficult to reverse a decline in the number of international students at the University of Otago, an academic leader says.
International pro-vice chancellor Prof Sarah Todd said as of April 30 there had been a 4.6% decline in total international fee-paying equivalent full-time students compared with last year and, in the current climate, that decline would be difficult to turn around.
"The ongoing global financial crisis, particularly in Europe and the United States, as well as concerns about safety ... and increased competition for fewer students, means that turning around the decline in numbers will be difficult in the short term at least," she told university council members this week.
The university was having trouble convincing overseas institutions that Dunedin was not an earthquake risk, she said.
Numbers had also been affected by fewer international pupils going to Christchurch high schools, some of whom came to Otago University to study once they left school.
The negative outlook for international students came after financial services director Grant McKenzie said the financial outlook for the university beyond this year was "uncertain".
It was expected international tuition fees for this year would be $41.29 million, down $1.949 million (or 4.5%) on what had been originally budgeted.
The university council meeting voted to back a recommendation to raise international tuition fees by up to 5% per course.
Otago University Students' Association president Logan Edgar said the OUSA was against the fee increases, which would discourage international students.
