A study by New Zealand’s Waikato University suggests Chinese students are generally satisfied with their education, but a big gap remains between students’ expection and the reality of life in New Zealand.

Radio New Zealand reports that the survey indicates that the reputation of New Zealand is recovering in China, after suffered bad publicity a few years ago. Almost half of the Chinese students want to live in Zealand permanently.

According to newspaper The Dominion Post, the number of fee-paying Chinese students in New Zealand has plummeted from the peak of 53,340 in 2002 after many incidents involving Chinese students, including one murder case. Since 2003, the New Zealand government has worked to rebuild the industry. In 2006 the number is 34,870 which is the lowest but there have been various signs of recovery.

Radio New Zealand reports:

A study by Waikato University has found almost half the Chinese students in New Zealand want to live here permanently, despite the negative experiences some of them have had.

More than 80 Chinese students in several centres were questioned and found to be generally satisfied with their education.

But the survey suggests a big gap remains between what students expect and the reality of life, with many feeling lonely and isolated, and finding it hard to make New Zealand friends.

Read the full report.

Keri Welham of The Dominion Post wrote:

Mr Forsyth said New Zealand had suffered from negative publicity because the export education sector was not as well established as in other countries, so the incidents had more resonance with the Chinese Government, which issued warnings to parents about entrusting their children to New Zealand institutions.

The stakes were high for the Chinese because a quality foreign education could be their ticket to employment in a flooded job market.

Since 2003, the New Zealand Government has worked to rebuild the industry. A pastoral care code was revised to protect fees, ensure support and provide an appeals process. Scholarship schemes, such as PhD courses at domestic fee prices, were implemented.

Political input had helped mend the relationship, and the Chinese Government now considered the working relationship with New Zealand education providers a “model”.

Read the full report here.