Education Export Industry Increases Yield

Double Success Story as Education Export Industry Increases Yield

Education New Zealand: Media Release 09/12/09

“Statistics released yesterday on the number and value of international students reveal a double success story for New Zealand’s $2.3 billion per annum export education industry. The first is that we have seen an increase in the number of international students – which is great. But the financial data also reveals an increase in the value of each student to educational institutions, the New Zealand economy and ultimately the New Zealand Government”, says Robert Stevens, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand.

While overall numbers increased by 5.5%, the amount of tuition fees associated with these international students increased by 7.8%. For private training establishments, an 11.8% increase in international student numbers translated into a 21.5% increase in tuition fees. Universities showed just a 1.1% increase in international student numbers, but a 10.4% increase in tuition fees paid.

“At a national level, what we appear to be seeing is an increase in the yield per student. They are taking longer courses and contributing more to the New Zealand economy – not just in tuition fees, but also with their accommodation, food, entertainment, and travel within the country while they’re here,” says Robert Stevens.

A 2008 study commissioned by Education New Zealand and the Ministry of Education put the value of Export Education to New Zealand at $2.3 billion, or over $22,000 for each international student per year.

“If the value of each student went up slightly, which is what the latest Ministry of Education numbers suggest, that adds up to big gains for the New Zealand economy just as we are trying to recover from a recession,” says Robert Stevens.

Export education is in the top five of export earners for the New Zealand economy. In 2008, over 88,000 international students studied in New Zealand. Education New Zealand is the umbrella industry body for New Zealand’s Education Exporters.

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