Rise in student numbers prompts new role

A rise in the number of international students coming to study in Southland has prompted the creation of an international education co-ordinator position at Venture Southland.

Applications for the role closed on Friday.

The role was part of the Southland Regional Development Strategy.

Venture Southland chief executive Paul Casson said the success- ful applicant would be responsible for helping grow the regional market.

‘‘They would make sure the region is promoted, market the region and work with schools.’’

More than 30 people had already put their name forward for the role, Casson said.

The co-ordinator would be the point of contact for international visitors to education institutions in Southland, he said.

Every week individual schools are contacted by potential international visitors. The co-ordinator would help manage that flow, he said.

The new co-ordinator would also drive the partnership with Education New Zealand in the Regional Partnership Programme, which aims to support the development and growth of international education in Southland, open up new education opportunities, encourage strategies that would support education providers especially in rural areas and retain graduate numbers.

The need for the role was heightened after a visit from an interested China.

Tommy Mo and Jim Zou from the Zou Consultant Chinese education agency visited Invercargill earlier this month.

Casson said they were interested in the new co-ordinator as a contact person for them.

The agency was looking to bring an additional 2000 students to the region.

Hosted by Venture Southland, the pair went to Southern Institute of Technology, James Hargest College, Southland Girls’ High School education agency in and Southland Boys’ High School.

Casson said they left feeling positive about the region.

‘‘They were very positive and wanted to stay longer.’’

Zou was interested in contacting other investors to look at student accommodation as part of the infrastructure required for the city if an additional 2000 students were to study in the region.

While he was yet to hear back about whether any investors had been found, a second visit from the agency was in the works, Casson said.