1342 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Education

1342 (2026). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister of Education: What data or information, if any, does the Minister’s departments, agencies, crown entities and any other bodies that the Minister is responsible for, if any, collect regarding international student wellbeing?

Hon Erica Stanford: I am advised NZQA collects data and information regarding international student wellbeing through its quality assurance activities for signatories to the Education (Pastoral Care of Tertiary and International Learners) Code of Practice 2021 (the Code). NZQA’s role is to monitor the extent to which Code signatories (i.e. education providers that can enrol international students) comply with and give effect to the Code. Code signatories are responsible for reviewing whether their systems for protecting learners' wellbeing and safety remain intact. The data NZQA collects includes: • the number of code-signatory providers • annual attestations • complaints and referrals submitted to NZQA by learners and the dispute resolution scheme operator • monitoring reports from ERO for school signatories • feedback from international students about programme delivery. I am also advised that Education New Zealand (ENZ) undertakes two types of surveys that collect information on the experience of international students studying in New Zealand. These include questions in relation to their wellbeing. Each year, ENZ conducts a New Zealand International Student Experience Survey. This survey includes questions on the international student experience across key stages of the student experience, including study arrangements, arrival and orientation, educational experience, living experience, people and connections, work experience opportunities, and value for money. The survey additionally includes questions on international student happiness, life satisfaction, and belonging. ENZ also administers the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme and surveys the Programme’s scholars on their experience at the completion of their study. The survey includes some questions pertaining to their wellbeing while undertaking a Manaaki scholarship including the level of support they received, their safety and security, and how welcome and included they were made to feel while studying in New Zealand.