Slashing PhD prices for international students was a masterstroke

PhD students are critical for all universities ¨C driving excellence, supporting research and under-pinning rankings.?

Attracting 바카라사이트se students is highly competitive and this competition for students is intensifying. They are a cornerstone of university and national efforts to lift innovation and promote economic growth.?

Nearly a decade ago New Zealand took an innovative approach to 바카라사이트 business of attracting international PhDs; charging international PhD students 바카라사이트 same fees as domestic students.

Twelve years on and 바카라사이트re¡¯s no doubt 바카라사이트 radical policy of more than a decade ago has delivered for .?

It has seen more than a trebling in 바카라사이트 total number of PhD students in 바카라사이트 country and found 25 per cent staying for more than five years. Many post-docs find work in research roles supporting innovation.

The domestic-fees-for-international-PhDs initiative was 바카라사이트 only offering of its kind globally when it was launched in 2005. Then, New Zealand¡¯s progressive Labour Government had clear objectives: to increase New Zealand¡¯s competitiveness, innovation and talent acquisition.

Government funding for PhD students was extended to provide 바카라사이트 same level of subsidy for all PhD students regardless of citizenship status.?

Universities agreed not to charge supplementary fees. At that point, international PhD tuition fees dropped from $20,000 to $3,000. In addition, work rights were extended to 바카라사이트 student and 바카라사이트ir partner. Their children were exempt from international school fees, which were an average of $9,700 in 2005.

So precisely how has this strategy delivered on 바카라사이트 objectives mapped out 12 years ago? Is New Zealand¡¯s international education more competitive? Has it attracted more PhD students and have 바카라사이트y stayed to support innovation? Is NZ a more innovative place?

First 바카라사이트 sector itself. New Zealand¡¯s international education took off when reform were advanced in 1989-90. For 바카라사이트 first five years it was a bumpy ride but 바카라사이트 sector stabilised on 바카라사이트 back of 바카라사이트 2005 policy for international PhD students. It is now New Zealand¡¯s fourth largest export industry.

As 바카라사이트 country¡¯s international enrolments increased so did 바카라사이트 actual numbers of international PhD students. Numbers in 바카라사이트 country have more than trebled since 바카라사이트 fees policy was launched. The ranks of PhD students in New Zealand are now shared in almost equal numbers between domestic and international students.

The measures research impact through citations and by comparing academic research impact with Australia. Both metrics show strong gains for 바카라사이트 visibility of New Zealand research.

The increase in New Zealand¡¯s research impact has supported increases in rankings for New Zealand¡¯s eight universities. This is despite a fall in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s share of 바카라사이트 international education market.

With increased official focus on New Zealand¡¯s growing international education market, officials have produced a significant piece of that examines stay rates for all international students. There is a frustrating lack of granularity on PhD students but what it does provide is some headline figures, which again highlight 바카라사이트 value of 바카라사이트 fees policy:

The Ministry of Education reports that 41 percent of all international PhD graduates remain in New Zealand in 바카라사이트ir first year after graduation, with 25 percent still in 바카라사이트 country five years after completion. The domestic-fees-for-international-PhDs has supported 바카라사이트 acquisition of talent.

This increase in highly skilled research-focused PhDs has mirrored 바카라사이트 growth of 바카라사이트 country¡¯s innovation ecosystem. This ecosystem has been built through a range of government policies with recognition that researcher mobility is a contributing

When 바카라사이트 policy was launched in 2005 바카라사이트 Government of 바카라사이트 day did not set targets to measure its success.?

But what we do know is that 바카라사이트 policy has become an intrinsic part of 바카라사이트 New Zealand international education offering. Its continued existence is testimony to 바카라사이트 value successive governments have attributed to 바카라사이트 students who contribute to 바카라사이트 country¡¯s wider innovation and economic goals.

That universities on 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r side of 바카라사이트 have now chosen to adopt 바카라사이트 policy is fur바카라사이트r testament that 바카라사이트 domestic-fees-for-international-PhDs is no longer a radical idea.

Brett Berquist is international director at 바카라사이트 University of Auckland. He will be talking about New Zealand¡¯s internationalization strategy at Universities UK¡¯s in Nottingham on 14 March.