The New Zealand government has revamped post-study work rights for overseas students to eradicate abuse and also to attract additional enrolments.
The changes provide an incentive to study for a bachelor’s degree and also in centers outside Auckland.
These reforms will abolish a rule to link one type of work visa to a set of employers.
These are the result of reforms after there were extensive complaints that visas having the assistance of employers trapped overseas students forcing them to do under-paid work. Moreover, in a few cases employers charged a heavy amount for their visas.
Iain Lees-Galloway, Minister of Immigration, said that the changes aim to make the country attractive for students.
New Zealand remains second to Canada in the work rights for the people. It has overtaken Australia and currently provides a generous option to the aspirants.
Additional factors
These factors, and the continuous focus, as a provider of top quality education, make it competitive.
In the past students were eligible to get the one-year work visa or the two-year visas having the assistance of employers after they completed studies.
The government has specified that said all students having the enrollment presently are eligible to get three-year work visas.
Furthermore, the students who are enrolled after 9th August will get three-year work visas in case they study a Bachelor’s or higher course. Fresh students who study at the lower levels will get a one-year open work visa. Additionally they will get a two-year visa in case they study outside Auckland.
The enrolment of Indian students in 2014 and 2015 had a surge, owing to the possibility of gaining residency/citizenship and Work rights.
Some issues
This accompanied serious problems regarding fraudulent visa applications. Moreover the quality of courses was poor in some institutions. This was the reason for the action of the government.
Chris Whelan, The Executive Director, Universities New Zealand, said that these changes will make New Zealand an attractive destination for studies.
Chris Hipkins, Education Minister, has announced that the government had a plan of raising the value of international student market from its present worth of NZ$4.5 billion a year to NZ$6 billion by 2025. He said that New Zealand will reach the goal by stressing on top quality education. Finally it will also diversify enrolments so that the institutions do not have to rely on Chinese and Indian students.
