4:00AM Monday Sep 07, 2009 By Lincoln Tan
A priority visa-processing system to speed student applications from India is to be introduced by Immigration New Zealand after criticism that slow processing is putting the $200 million market at risk.
The Indian Education Group, which represents private training establishments working primarily with the Indian market, said students and agents from the subcontinent were put off by the five-month wait for a New Zealand visa and were heading instead for countries like Britain where the turnaround time for a student visa was seven days.
"Agents in India are saying we have students wanting to come through, but they are just put off by the five-month wait and are sending them away to England," spokesman Paul Chalmers said.
New Zealand had failed to seize the opportunity to lure those who were turning their backs on Australia because of reports of racial violence and exploitation there, he said.
The international student sector is Australia's third-largest export earner, worth A$13 billion ($16.5 billion). Indian students number 95,000 and make up 18 per cent of all foreign students.
Mr Chalmers said Australia processed 20,000 Indian student visas last year with an average processing time of between two and six weeks.
Export education is a $2.3 billion industry in New Zealand, but only 6000 of the 85,000 foreign students here are from India.
"It's a market that is growing steadily, but has the potential of growing a whole lot faster," Mr Chalmers said.
He said that although the eight member institutions, which include Auckland Institute of Studies, Natcoll and Newton College of Business and Technology, had received about 1000 new Indian applications since the Australian attacks, many of the applicants were still waiting for their visa requests to be processed.
Representatives from the group met Immigration New Zealand officials last month seeking urgent intervention and warned of job losses at a number of schools and institutions if these students and others from India were kept from coming here.
In a memo to member establishments, the group said resolutions discussed with Immigration NZ's acting service delivery group manager, Mike Christie, included priority processing for at-risk institutions, shifting the processing to another centre to ease traffic in New Delhi and, in the longer term, developing extra processing capacity in India.
An Immigration New Zealand spokesman said the service was working closely with the group to speed student visa applications in India and the group had enthusiastically welcomed the suggestions.
I can’t thank you enough your hospitality during my visit you have a top notch staff and wonderful facility. I look forward to many more visits and long relationship with the Valmiki Group. Charles W.Petentler, Director, University of Central Missouri, USA
It has been a pleasure setting to meet the Valmiki office for first time . I am pleased with our first round of students and look forward to increasing the positive partnership. Peter Lundbye, Director of International Recruitment, Troy University, USA
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Excellent Hospitality. Valmiki's Ramayana is world famous , Similarly Valmiki consultant will recruit more students for various Universities and become world famous. T.N. Ramachandran, South Indian Manager, Middlesex University, UK
Very Impressive staff, who have interest of students first. Kenneth M.Holland, Associate Provost, Kansas State University, USA
Thank you for your support, I look forward to my next trip. Rosalind Martin, International Admissions Manager, North Umbria University, UK
Thank you. It was good to see student with varied Interests. The staff has been very supportive. Air-conditioning would be lovely next time please!! Dr. Mel Vecsey, Head of International Recruitment, North Umbria University, UK
A motivated team from the Valmiki Group, well laid ant, with good Infrastructure and focus on work at hand I wish them all success. S.Parameswaran, Regional Manager, University of Central Lanshire, UK
Enjoyed meeting students interested in US education and friendly folks in the office. Derrick Alex, Associate Director (International Admissions), University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center, USA
Thank you for having us’, your hospitality is appreciated! Krysta Rinke, Coordinator, Chapman University, USA
Thank you for your hospitality. I look forward to working with you. Mr. Stephen Thewlis, Associate Director of Admissions for International Recruitment, Golden Gate University, USA
It was a Pleasure to meet the staff of Valmiki Group. I was very impressed with the professional attitude and the knowledge of the staff. It is a pleasure to work with the team of valmiki. Robert LeBlanc, Manager, International Admissions, Dalhousie University, Canada
This was my first visit to Valmiki Group. Our Organization with the group is a new one and I hope it develops into a mutually beneficial one. I have had very pleasant working in the office with the staff and potential students. The staffs have been extremely accommodating .I hope to make future visits. Naushaba Singh, Academic Liaison Manager, Thames Valley University, UK
Excellent staff and very well organized. I am impressed with the high quality applicants and knowledge of Valmiki Staff. Daryl Martin, Associate Director of International Development, Carnegie Mellon University, Australia
Excellent student, excellent agency. We have received students for the past 5 years. Highly recommend. Zahir Ahmed, Director, SEMO, USA
Good range of students across a wide range of engineering disciplines. Thanks for organizing the interview session. Michael J. Oudshoorn, Professor and Department Head, Montana State University, USA
Today is my second time here , the same hospitality and friendliness accompany each in it. The staff has been of enormous assistance and cheerful. I wish forward to come again next year. Dr.Joseph C Akunna, Senior Lecturer in Environment Engineering, University of Abertay Dundee, UK
Many thanks to Valmiki Group for providing us with well Prepared and Bright Candidates. A most successful day of spot admissions. Dr. Phillip J Collier, Director of Academics Program’s, University of Abertay Dundee, UK
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