Metro Group Welcomes Increased Focus on Export Education

27 May 2011

The Metro Group, representing six of the country’s largest Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Otago Polytechnic, Waikato Institute of Technology, Wellington Institute of Technology, Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec) today welcomed the statement from the Minister for Tertiary Education on the increased funding for the marketing of international education that was contained in last week’s Budget.

“International education is important for each of the Metro Group members”, said Chair of the Metro Group Dr Linda Sissons.

“The creation of the new international education agency and the increase in funding allocated to international education is well timed.

“As the Minister’s statement acknowledges, the export of education services is already a major part of the New Zealand export economy. We have the potential to grow these earnings substantially. We look forward to working with Government through the new international education agency to attract more students from offshore and to grow education relationships with partners in key markets,” Linda Sissons concluded.

ENDS