Launches highlight regional growth

Two new regional international education strategies have launched in the past two months.

The Manawatu region’s strategy launch on 17 May was attended by Palmerston North mayor Grant Smith and Manawatu mayor Margaret Kouvelis, Massey University Vice-Chancellor Steve Maharey, Education New Zealand (ENZ) representatives, council staff and a large group of the region’s education providers.

The launch signals the Manawatu region’s strategic goal of growing the value of international education by 28% to $80 million by 2020. In his address, Steve Maharey pledged an additional $45,000 in support of the initiative and encouraged schools and colleges in the wider region to show support.

ENZ’s general manager business development Clive Jones said there was enormous opportunity in the Manawatu region to grow international education “given the high quality education providers located here” and for “the community, businesses, and regional economy to experience the benefits of a thriving regional international education industry” alongside the benefits to Kiwi and international students in classrooms.

The Whanganui region’s launch event on 19 April was another show of strength by a central New Zealand region.

ENZ’s business development manager Richard Kyle spoke about how ENZ was working on growing the awareness of the regions among potential international students through its Regional Partnership programme.

Whanganui and Partners, the region’s economic development agency that developed the strategy in consultation with education providers and other stakeholders, has solid plans for growth.

The potential development of an airline pilot training school in Whanganui will provide impetus to this regional initiative and will help to increase the value of international education within the region by 28% to more than $11 million by 2018.