Abstract:
International education is New Zealand’s fourth largest export market and mostly perceived positively by the public. However, in 2016, the quality of international education has increasingly been questioned in the media and overseas students’ wellbeing has gained political attention, due to increasing reports of discrimination and exploitation. Government agencies have responded by commissioning reports on student migration and taking measures to adjust policy accordingly. This thesis, through interviews with education providers, education agents, employers and international students, confirms that the international education industry is under immense pressure financially and all parties involved feel forced to take shortcuts or adjust their behaviour to survive. This thesis finds that misconduct, fraud, and violations of students’ human rights are frequent. This study provides empirical evidence that while international student policies coupled with immigration policies are achieving some of their intended goals and could be deemed partially successful, administrative disjunctions and the haphazard and sometimes fraudulent and illegal actions of various actors, primarily education agents, have led to unintended, sub-optimal consequences. This study shows how individuals’ and institutions’ decision-making processes can unintentionally lead to human rights neglect. It concludes with suggestions for correcting these consequences, for example a stronger government focus on adhering to international human rights regulations or adjusted funding models for the tertiary education industry, and offers some avenues for further research.