Summary Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

Appendix 1: Summary Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

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.

This page provides an overview of the "Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students" (the Code), and provides a procedure that students can follow if they have concerns about their treatment by a New Zealand educational provider or agent of a provider.

• What is the Code?
The Code is a document which 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.

• Who does the Code apply to?
The Code applies to all education providers in New Zealand with students enrolled on international study permits. The Code is mandatory to these providers and must be signed by them.

Appendix 1: Summary Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students

An "international student" is a foreign student studying in New Zealand on a student permit from the New Zealand Immigration Service.

• How can I get a copy of the Code?
You can request a copy of the Code from your New Zealand educational provider. The Code is also available online from www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international.

• How do I know if an educational provider has signed the Code?
The New Zealand Ministry of Education will maintain a register of all signatories to the Code. This list is available from www.minedu.govt.nz/goto/international. If the educational 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 educational 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.