Q: Tell us something about the post study work visa regulations in New Zealand.
Nathanael Mackay – We have certain policies in place. During the study the students are eligible for 20 hours work rights, during the school holidays and the semester breaks. Once you graduate from your course you are eligible to apply for “the graduate job search visa”. So that is a 12 month visa. A lot of Indian students secure work part time or internship work with some of the leading New Zealand firms, which complement their study pathway already. But what they are entitled to is that they have got a concrete guarantee that upon completion of their course they get a 12 month “graduate job search visa”. So it gives them the time to find a job legally, to remain in New Zealand and to apply what they have learnt.
So the next policy that compliments the job search visa is called “job work experience visa”. If you secure full time skilled employment, that is relative to the course you studies here in New Zealand, immigration issues a 2 year visa. It gives the Indian students 2 years worth of time to get real hands on practical application of what they have studied. Two years is a great amount of time to put on a resume, get exposed to business experience and after 2 years you get certain points in the NZ skilled migrant program. So we look favourably upon people who have NZ qualification. They have also usually got 2 to 3 years of work experience on skilled level, on their two year visa or during their study or during their job search, so they get extra points for NZ work experience. They already have a job offer, as essentially they are on the front door for permanent residence under a skilled migrant category.
Q: What are the three most important things you are looking at to do this year and next year to reach a certain percentage of your goal in India.
Ziena Jalil – So one of the first things is about having a presence in Mumbai, focussed on the south and west, which is absolutely important.
Second thing is just raising awareness of the quality of education that NZ can provide, particularly around research. NZ offers world class research in a whole number of areas and actually international Phd students that go to NZ to study pay domestic fees.
Third area is not so much about taking Indian students to NZ. It is about promoting the complete package of NZ. . We are also about partnering with Indian corporate and Indian institutions to offer NZ programs here because not very Indian student can afford to go overseas. But they can still access high quality world class education that is globally recognised in India.
Part I of the interview can be read here.