International students’ absence being felt
Massey University’s financial problems because of a lack of international students could continue until New Zealand’s borders reopen.
Border restrictions have been in place this year since the Covid-19 pandemic hit, preventing feepaying international students coming to New Zealand. Universities across the country have felt the pain.
Stuff asked Massey what help it had asked the Government for in allowing international students into the country and a university spokeswoman said: ‘‘Massey is continuing to work alongside the Government and Universities New Zealand, and we look forward to welcoming international students back to New Zealand and Massey University when it is safe and possible to do so.’’
She said the reduction in international students had affected Massey’s revenue, and cost-saving measures had been introduced.
‘‘However, due to the pipeline effect of the enrolment decline, we anticipate that the impact will continue to be felt for some time.’’
She said the university had worked with staff to ‘‘explore ideas and opportunities to manage financial challenges together, so we can remain in a sound financial position’’.
Staff were asked to take some annual leave owed, and salary increases for anyone earning more than $100,000 were frozen until the end of next year.
The spokeswoman said that Massey aimed to maximise student retention, for students to complete their studies, increase student numbers and grow its market share of New Zealand school-leaver enrolments.
Prime Minister Jacinda Arden told Stuff while in Palmerston North: ‘‘We bring in about 14,000 people a month [to New Zealand].
‘‘We want 10 per cent of that to be dedicated to those that are really critical for our economy.
‘‘We’ve said within that we should explore foreign students.
‘‘That is separate though to the conversations we’re having with the sector around whether bespoke arrangements will work.’’
She said it would never be to the scale previously when New Zealand had tens of thousands of international students.
‘‘What we are looking at is for instance post-graduate study and those who are part of [research and development].’’
Massey’s distance learning capabilities meant it was prepared to teach online when New Zealand went into lockdown inmarch.
The Massey spokeswoman said by studying online international students could access academic support, library services, online resources and international student support services.
Massey allowed international students to retake courses at a later date, without paying again, if they withdrew and chose to defer.
‘‘This means we have not seen a significant decline in student numbers.’’
Massey had 19,827 students enrolled in semester one this year and 21,151 in semester two.
The Auckland campus had 3217 in semester one and 3318 in semester two, Palmerston North had 4006 then 3865, and Wellington 2597 and 2509.
Distance student numbers increased from 12,085 to 13,730.
In semester one there were 2578 international students studying outside New Zealand and 1323 inside the country.
In semester two 2393 students were studying outside New Zealand and 1390 inside.
The spokeswoman said there hadn’t been a significant change in student numbers and it wasn’t possible to know whether it was as a result of Covid-19.
The number of new domestic students aged 25 or more has increased by 41 per cent in semester two.
She said during times of high unemployment, the number of people retraining increased.