SIT set to reach target for overseas students

BY KIMBERLEY CRAYTON-BROWN

The Southern Institute of Technology is on track to reach its international student target this year, with large numbers of students making the move to Invercargill to further their studies.

Rajika Sangakkara found out about the southern polytechnic's courses when she met SIT international marketing director Ken McDonald in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

The 28-year-old said the cost of the New Zealand course, compared with studying in other countries, appealed to her and New Zealand was among the countries least-affected by the recession, which was also a factor in her decision.

Miss Sangakkara started studying the Postgraduate Diploma in Business at SIT in March. It is an 18-month programme.

"I am missing my family and friends, but it's a good experience for me," she said.

"I really like the community and the culture, and the people are very friendly and helpful."

Her main concern was not being able to find part-time work while she studied. International students can work a maximum of 20 hours per week on their student visas.

SIT business manager Bharat Guha said the polytechnic's target for 2010 was 320 international equivalent fulltime students by December 31.

As of Tuesday this week, SIT had 259 international fulltime students.

Last year, Mr Guha and Invercargill MP Eric Roy travelled to India to promote SIT and investigate the prospect of signing Indian students to study for their commercial pilot's licence at the polytechnic. Mr Guha said SIT had since shifted its focus to its mainstream programmes, and said the aviation programme was better suited to the domestic market.

Mr Guha said last year, the polytechnic had a target of 220 international fulltime international students, so this year's target of 320 was a 30 per cent increase.

"We will definitely achieve our target," he said.

International student numbers were uncapped, so the polytechnic could potentially enrol more than 320 students before December 31.

SIT international marketing director Ken McDonald is currently in India, and the international manager for China, Pat Mao, is currently in China promoting the polytechnic.

- © Fairfax NZ News