NZVCC briefing document sent to ministers

NZVCC Electronic News Bulletin Vol. 8 No. 20 25 November 2008

NZVCC briefing document sent to ministers

The NZVCC has produced a briefing document for the new government and has sent copies to the new Minister of Education and Minister for Tertiary Education, Anne Tolley, the Minister of Research, Science and Technology, Dr Wayne Mapp, and the Minister for Infrastructure, Hon Bill English. A plan for government and university action contained within the briefing document will form the basis of a special issue of this bulletin to be distributed on Thursday.

Other items ...

Export education contribution detailed

The contribution of export education to New Zealand's economic prosperity has been detailed by Infometrics economist Adolf Stroombergen writing in The Dominion Post and The Press. The provision of education to foreign fee-paying students had experienced impressive growth, rising from just over $500 million in 1999 to $2.2 billion in 2004. While the number of foreign fee-paying students had fallen since 2003, the export education industry still managed to generate about $2.3 billion of foreign exchange in 2007-08. Of that, an estimated $70 million came from overseas provision which included delivery of teaching at foreign locations, distance delivery through electronic means, sales of curriculum and learning materials and educational consulting and advisory work.

The export education industry's contribution to New Zealand's GDP was estimated at about $2.1 billion, supporting more than 32,000 fulltime equivalent jobs. On average

foreign fee-paying students spent $6500 on tuition fees and $17,600 on living costs such as accommodation, food and travel. In terms of fulltime equivalent students, universities constituted the industry's largest sector. University students were also the biggest source of foreign exchange earnings, contributing around a third of the total. China remained the most significant source of foreign fee-paying students, accounting for 24,800 out of a total of 91,300. South Korea was next with 17,900.

Though the immediate prospects for global growth were pessimistic, the fundamental driver of demand for export education was the desire for English language education and for degrees from English-based universities, coupled with the increase in size of the economic middle class in countries such as China and Brazil.

"In the medium to long term, the growth in demand for export education will be strong. New Zealand needs to secure its share through the delivery of a high quality product in terms of the total education experience - formal qualifications, student living conditions, cultural activities and personal safety. The export education industry deserves our support," Mr Stroombergen wrote.

Graduate destinations survey project manager - expressions of interest sought

The NZVCC seeks expressions of interest from parties within, and external to, the New Zealand university system, for the position of project manager for the new survey of university graduate destinations. The successful applicant will be responsible for co-ordinating the design of the survey, encompassing the following key elements: the design of the survey instrument; the design of the delivery mechanism for the survey; the design of the system for cohort selection. He/she will also be required to develop a request for proposal document for conducting and managing the survey. The project management phase for the new survey is expected to span no more than three months, commencing in February 2009.

A part-time appointment is envisaged, involving on average two days of work per week. The project manager will work with a steering group of university personnel who are also members of the graduate destinations survey review group. Those expressing an interest in the position will be supplied with an application form and terms of reference. Those interested should contact: rodney@nzvcc.ac.nz for a copy of those documents. Applications close on December 9.

Chile-New Zealand Education Seminar

A one-day seminar was held last Thursday, November 20, to further the education relationship between Chile and New Zealand established through the Memorandum of Understanding on Education and the Trans-Pacific Economic Partnership. The seminar was sponsored by the Chilean Embassy, New Zealand's Ministries of Education and Research, Science and Technology, Victoria University of Wellington, and Education Wellington. Particular attention was paid to co-operation in tertiary education and research.

The seminar also provided the opportunity for NZVCC staff to meet with Maria Teresa Marshall Infante, Executive Director of Consejo de Rectores Universidades Chilenas - the Chilean Council of University Rectors which represents the 25 public universities in Chile.

Chair and Executive Director attend ACU conference

NZVCC Chair Professor Roger Field and Executive Director Penny Fenwick leave this week to attend the Association of Commonwealth Universities Conference of Executive Heads taking place in Hyderabad, India, from November 28 to 30.

Universities Australia announces chair for 2009-2011

Universities Australia has announced that Professor Peter Coaldrake, Vice-Chancellor of Queensland University of Technology, will chair the Australian universities' peak body for 2009-2011. Professor Coaldrake has served as Universities Australia's deputy chair this year and will assume the chair from May next year. A dual Fulbright Scholar in politics/public policy and higher education policy/management, Professor Coaldrake served as the CEO of Queensland's Public Sector Management Commission before taking up Deputy Vice-Chancellor then Vice-Chancellor roles at QUT.

ENDS