International Students Contributors to Local Economy

September 9 2011

NMIT Research Reveals International Students Are Significant Contributors to Local Economy

Recent research conducted by Nelson Marlborough Instititue of Technology has shown that students who come to the top of the South Island to study have a huge impact on the local economy.

The report shows that international students in Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough spent over $21.5 million during 2010. Nearly $8.5 million was spent by the seconddary students and just over $13 million by tertiary students.

160 international students at local secondary schools the Nelson Aviation College and NMIT were surveyed on their spending habits and experiences. 27 nationalities were represented in the survey.

Friends and family who came to visit students generated a further $700,000 in the region and the partners or guardians of students spent a further $680,000 in the year.

After total tuition fees of $11.1 million, the remaining $10.4 million was spent across living expenses ( $9.5million), trips and tourism ($392,000) and major purchases ($335,000).

NMIT Chief Executive Tony Gray says the report is a timely reminder of how valuable international students are to our region and New Zealand.

“Economically, it’s obvious that these students and their families that give them support are significant contributors to our regional economy, but their impact is far more than just economic. They bring a richness of cultural diversity, knowledge and experience to our communities while they’re here, which we should neither under-estimate nor under-value”
The survey also revealed that the top reason international students chose to study here for a tertiary qualification was because of the level of education they would receive, next was the safety of living here, followed by the lifestyle, climate and living costs.

The 2010 statistics on student visa holders in the top of the south showed that the largest group of international students came from China ( around 1300) followed by India (just under 800) with South Korea, Sweden and Japan all around 200 students.

ENDS

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