Asian students driving growth in New Zealand education industry

Rising numbers of Asian students helped drive a 50-percent rise in the economic value of New Zealand's international education industry last year, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce said Tuesday.

The value hit 4.28 billion NZ dollars (3.13 billion U.S. dollars), placing international education -- delivered in New Zealand and abroad -- as the country's fourth largest export industry, overtaking wood at 3.82 billion NZ dollars (2.79 billion U.S. dollars), Joyce said.

The economic value was made up of 4.04 billion NZ dollars (2.96 billion U.S. dollars) from international students studying in New Zealand, and 242 million NZ dollars (177.36 million U.S. dollars) from services delivered offshore.

The industry also supported 32,000 jobs last year, Joyce said, citing figures from a report commissioned by the government's Education New Zealand agency.

The report showed the increase in economic value was driven by growth in the number of students, and those students spending more on tuition fees and living costs.

The top four source countries -- China, India, the Republic of Korea and Japan -- accounted for two thirds of the added value.

"This is a strong result that demonstrates the growing importance of international education to New Zealand," Joyce said in a statement.

"While economic value is obviously important, international education brings much wider benefits to our institutions, our communities and our country. International students add a rich diversity to our learning institutions, and help to connect New Zealand to the world," he said.

"The relationships being formed now will help to secure New Zealand's trading, investment and education links and contribute greatly to our future prosperity." Endit