International student numbers climb in the Waikato
The Waikato region had seven per cent more international student enrolments last year than in 2013, according to recent figures released by Education NZ.
Wintec, one of New Zealand’s leading institutes of technology based in Hamilton city in the heart of the Waikato, had one of the biggest increases, with international student numbers up 15 per cent in 2014, taking it to 820 equivalent full-time students (EFTS) or almost 1400 students.
Wintec Chief Executive Mark Flowers was very pleased with the result and believed the increase was a result of the demand for “hands-on experience”, which institutes of technology such as Wintec provide.
"In many ways the students want to have qualifications and they want to have skills that they can apply directly when they get a job back in their own country," he said.
Waikato was the right choice for Wintec student Harshmeen Kaur, who is "in love with Hamilton".
The 25-year-old came from northern India to study for a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies. "Auckland is too crowded and I come from an area which is very crowded," she said.
Harshmeen said beautiful Waikato scenery, smaller class sizes and the diverse and caring student population made Wintec her first choice.
Wintec’s student numbers from the Indian subcontinent have grown around 80 per cent in the last three years, with 133 EFTS in 2011 and 239 EFTS in 2014 – an increase of 22 per cent in 2014.
Waikato's latest international student increase follows what appears to be a steady climb in international student numbers. Back in 2011 about 4480 international students headed to the region. Last year it was 4870.
The Waikato region's international enrolment champions were private training establishments (up 17 per cent), and polytechnics and institutes of technology (up 16 per cent). University enrolments stayed stable and those at primary schools dropped slightly.
Nationally, international student enrolments went up 12 per cent - or just over 10,000 students.
Wintec, one of New Zealand’s leading institutes of technology based in Hamilton city in the heart of the Waikato, had one of the biggest increases, with international student numbers up 15 per cent in 2014, taking it to 820 equivalent full-time students (EFTS) or almost 1400 students.
Wintec Chief Executive Mark Flowers was very pleased with the result and believed the increase was a result of the demand for “hands-on experience”, which institutes of technology such as Wintec provide.
"In many ways the students want to have qualifications and they want to have skills that they can apply directly when they get a job back in their own country," he said.
Waikato was the right choice for Wintec student Harshmeen Kaur, who is "in love with Hamilton".
The 25-year-old came from northern India to study for a Graduate Diploma in Business Studies. "Auckland is too crowded and I come from an area which is very crowded," she said.
Harshmeen said beautiful Waikato scenery, smaller class sizes and the diverse and caring student population made Wintec her first choice.
Wintec’s student numbers from the Indian subcontinent have grown around 80 per cent in the last three years, with 133 EFTS in 2011 and 239 EFTS in 2014 – an increase of 22 per cent in 2014.
Waikato's latest international student increase follows what appears to be a steady climb in international student numbers. Back in 2011 about 4480 international students headed to the region. Last year it was 4870.
The Waikato region's international enrolment champions were private training establishments (up 17 per cent), and polytechnics and institutes of technology (up 16 per cent). University enrolments stayed stable and those at primary schools dropped slightly.
Nationally, international student enrolments went up 12 per cent - or just over 10,000 students.
