High level Waiariki course aimed at overseas students

International students will have stronger incentive to study in Rotorua if a Level 8 course is approved in the city.

Waiariki Institute of Technology is working with the Qualifications Authority and Tertiary Education Commission to bring a Level 8 Post Graduate Diploma in Management course to Rotorua, which would be the highest level course at the institute.

Waiariki chief executive Margaret Noble said they were aiming to have the qualification in place by July next year. "This would be our first Level 8 qualification and supports pathways from our current degrees in business, information technology, health and hospitality."

Professor Noble said it would provide an attractive qualification for international students looking to do postgraduate study, as well as provide higher education for domestic students.

"It would be attractive to international students who ... want to extend their knowledge and marketability in New Zealand.

"Export education is a key government goal and these new programmes respond to the growing demand from international students for postgraduate qualifications."

The course will develop higher level thinking and manager practices for business operation in New Zealand, or overseas, in the fields of business, information technology, health and hospitality.

The proposal comes at a time when another Waiariki pathway course, that saw hundreds of international nursing students train in Rotorua, was recently scrapped for 2013. The decision to scrap the Bachelor in Nursing for Registered Nurses Course was made earlier this year after international students on the course had to fight to stay on track to receive their nursing registrations.

Professor Noble said they were working with industry representatives to ensure the proposed Post Graduate Diploma in Management course was relevant.