Qingdao trip opens doors to education

North Shore City Council is opening doors to make the city a top-of-mind destination for international students.

Deputy mayor Dianne Hale led a group of local school principals to Qingdao in China on March 25.

Councillor Hale says the five day flying visit fostered the growing relationship between North Shore City and Qingdao, and aimed to increase future student enrolments.

"It is widely acknowledged that civic links are extremely valuable in attracting overseas students," she says.

"Fee-paying students boost school funding. The downturn in the market, especially from China, has hit school budgets hard.

"It's important that we work closely with Qingdao to build our relationship that, among other things, supports our schools."

Takapuna Grammar senior deputy principal, Terry Holding, says the trip was a great way to develop individual contacts with education institutions in Qingdao.

"We increased the knowledge of key players, such as education agents and the Qingdao Education Ministry in North Shore City, making it a top-of-mind destination for their students."

North Shore City's economic development manager, Roger Matthews says, the tour provided an opportunity to experience and understand some of the negative attitudes towards New Zealand educators, chiefly the result of issues with immigration and student visas.

"A greater knowledge and understanding of the issues at stake will enable us to address them much more effectively, making North Shore City a more accessible place to study.

"It is obvious that opportunities for investment by China in North Shore City have the potential to grow from these school links. It is therefore important to ensure that the initial links with the schools are successful and help both parties," he says.

ENDS

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