The Government has established a new Crown entity to oversee export education issues and promote New Zealand as an education destination abroad.
Education New Zealand is a part of the Education Amendment Bill (No 4) passed by Parliament on August 18, 2011.
Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce said the new Agency will combine the related functions thus far performed by Education Ministry, the New Zealand Trade & Enterprise and the Education New Zealand Trust.
He said international education is a vital part of the economy, valued at more than $2 billion annually.
“The new Agency is a key part of achieving our objective of growing the export education sector. The new law will protect and enhance the reputation of New Zealand’s tertiary education system, by updating the legislative framework of the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) with wider power to manage Private Training Establishments,” he said.
Mr Joyce claimed that the new legislation would be more transparent in setting compulsory student services fees and safeguard standards in the tertiary sector. “Compulsory student services fees have increased significantly in the last few years, and I am sceptical that students have seen a corresponding increase in services. These changes will ensure students have a greater say in the use of the fees collected,” he said.
