New Zealand study and education

I'd love to get some feedback on why people in Hong Kong have negative perception of New Zealand education. I work for a company arranging study tours and individual students to NZ and they are great value, the best tours available in HK . High schools & universities about half the price of an equivalent quality education in the U.S or UK - but still the perception is that education in these countries is better, carries more status; which is rubbish. Makes no sense to me apart from the idea of Colonial hangovers holding sway but in a city where brand quality and the $ rules supreme ......? Is it the power of advertising?

I guess that's possible, it could be catching and Kiwis can certainly be very negative about their own country ( untill they go outside and realise how lucky they are) but doesn't quite explain the attitude of HK people to a good education bargain

I think the key word here is "perception" ... I am from New Zealand currently living and studying at HKUST in Hong Kong. I am the only exchange student from New Zealand at this university - most are from the US/UK and Sweden or France.


We are only a small country - half the world does not even know where NZ is and thinks we are part of Australia - so maybe the UK and the US simply benefit from being more widely known and accepted as a potential places to study abroad.


For me, my choice of overseas university was heavily influenced by international reputation for my chosen degree. I do not think negatively of the education system at home, but I wanted to be different in an increasingly competitive labour market and also experience new things travel etc...


Can I ask - is it the students or the parents that have these perceptions?

HI,

I think you did the right thing, chose the best Uni for the subject you wanted to study, that's what I tell all our students ( we recruit stds to study in NZ) and HKUST is a good place for a wide range of subjects. The perception you ask about is shared between both students and parents--the former think NZ is less interesting than UK or US and the latter think education the UK has more status. Both are wrong of course but that's what they wanna believe--so they do. If you ever come out to Sia Kung give me a call ( 96313249) and we can have a cup of coffee and chat about that.