Page 17 - StudyTravel Magazine May/June 2022 Issue

SeCOndaRy fOCuS

ahead. I do also believe that
post-Covid-19 travel costs are
a lot higher at the moment so
students are factoring this into
their planning.” Robin Stewart
from William Colenso
College https://colenso.
school.nz/ in New
Zealand adds, “I am
not expecting more
than three-to-
four long-term
students this
year and only We know that agents
a moderate
increase next account for most of
year. There may be
more short-term our international
students who, from
July, can enter from student enrolments
non-visa countries on
a visitor’s permit to study
for up to three months.” Photos: Moreton Bay College
Leeanne Moriarty from
Mercedes College www.mercedes.
catholic.edu.au in Australia says that Keeping in touch
while uncertainty remains she is with agents
seeing some encouraging signs that
confi dence to study abroad is growing. While borders were closed, communi- Michael Bos from Moreton Bay
“Like most countries, the guidelines cation between secondary providers College adds, “We have kept engaged
change often and can be confusing,” in New Zealand and Australia with with agents who have always been
she says. “I also think parents are agents was still very active, accord- supportive and optimistic. We have
worried about Covid-19 fl are ups. ing to the schools that took part in engaged agents through online
As the year progresses, there has this article. Leeanne Moriarty from events, Zoom meetings, newsletters,
been more and more confi dence Mercedes College explains that the emails and training sessions. We
from families enquiring at Mercedes. boundary between personal and know that agents account for most of
The diff erence in attitude from early business relationships has been very our international student enrolments
January to what I am experiencing a much blurred over the last two years. so continuing to engage and support
few months later, shows that parental “I have kept in touch electronically our agents has been vital in the
confi dence is building.” and by sending information in the recovery plan.”
Providers in Australia and New post, as well as just enquiring about Many schools agree that agents
Zealand are agreed that increased the agent partners’ wellbeing. Some will be critical in recovering inter-
levels of certainty would help the of them I have known for up to 17 national student recruitment to
market recover quickly over the next years, so I am genuinely interested pre-Covid levels. Patrick Lau from
12 months. Hugh Russell from New in how they, and their families, are. It Macleans College https://www.
Plymouth Boys’ High School www. was no use contacting them con- macleans.school.nz/ in New Zea-
npbhs.school.nz in New Zealand says, stantly or being demanding asking for land says, “As China, Hong Kong and
“Agents require certainty of our border enrolments all the time. I just wanted Taiwan are our main markets, parents
setting going forward. Politically the to let them know I am still here and are still very hesitant to send their
New Zealand government cannot Mercedes College is still here, for young kids overseas in view of the
aff ord to lock international students when they need us again. Luckily, prevailing Covid-19 situation in New
out of the country for any longer.” they are needing us again and the Zealand. We think markets will be
bethan@studytravel.network enquiries are fl ooding in!” about 50 per cent in 2023.”

14 STudyTRaveL MaGaZIne