The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students)
Code of Practice 2016

When students from other countries come to study in New Zealand, it is important that those students are well informed, safe, and properly cared for. New Zealand educational providers have an important responsibility for international students’ welfare. Nayland College is a signatory to the “The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016” (The Code of Practice).

The 2016 Code of Practice is also available in other languages along with a pamphlet that provides a summary of important information for international students and their families.

The 2016 Code of Practice and the pamphlet are resources for all groups and people involved in international education: e.g. international students and their families, providers that are signatories to the Code of Practice.

What is the Code?

The Code is a document that provides a framework for service delivery by educational providers and their agents to international students. The Code sets out the minimum standards of advice and care that are expected of educational providers with respect to international students. The Code applies to pastoral care and provision of information only and not to academic standards. The Code of Practice

Who Does The Code Apply To?

The Code applies to all education providers in New Zealand with international students enrolled. The Code is mandatory to these providers and must be signed by them.

What is an "International Student"?

An “international student” is a foreign student studying in New Zealand.

How Can I get a Copy of The Code?

You can request a copy of the “The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016” from your New Zealand education provider. The Code is also available online from http://www.nzqa.govt.nz/studying-in-new-zealand/code-of-practice-for-the-pastoral-care-of-international-students/

The 2016 Code of Practice is also available in other languages along with a pamphlet that provides a summary of important information for international students and their families.

The 2016 Code of Practice and the pamphlet are resources for all groups and people involved in international education: e.g. international students and their families, providers that are signatories to the Code of Practice.

How do I Know if an Education Provider has Signed the Code?

The New Zealand Ministry of Education maintains a register of all signatories to the Code. This is available online here

If the education provider that you are seeking to enrol with is not a signatory to the Code, you will not be granted a permit from the New Zealand Immigration Service and you will not be able to study at that institution.

What do I do if Something Goes Wrong?

If you have concerns about your treatment by your education provider or by an agent of the provider, the first thing you must do is contact the principal, the international student director, or another person who has been identified to you as someone that you can approach about complaints at your institution. The Code requires all institutions to have fair and equitable internal grievance procedures for students and you need to go through these internal processes before you can take the complaint any further.

If their complaint is not resolved, they can take their complaint to one of the following agencies:

NZQA

NZQA handles all complaints about alleged non-compliance with “The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016” and other than financial and contractual disputes.

iStudent Complaints

iStudent Complaints is the appointed operator of the International Student Contract Dispute Resolution Scheme (DRS), which was set up to resolve financial and contractual disputes.

Code signatories are required to comply with the International Student Contract Dispute Resolution Scheme Rules 2016.

Information for students

Information for students about making a complaint about a provider’s compliance with “The Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice 2016” can be found at Student complaints about a provider.

 

Education Review Office - Latest Report

In New Zealand, all schools (from early childhood through to secondary) are periodically reviewed by the Education Review Office (ERO). Reports are made public and cover a wide range of educational priorities.

The latest review of Nayland College was in 2016. The ERO report can be found here.