As the New Zealand government outlines its necessary actions to reopen its borders, international students will soon be able to pursue their education in their desired study destination.
Such a plan draws a win-win situation for both New Zealand and international students. The country would bring back to life the pandemic-struck international education industry, and the students would be able to make the best out of their in-person study experience.
Key Takeaways:
- New Zealand brings hope to international students with its reopening to the world.
- The New Zealand government has prepared a mass vaccination program to inoculate its residents, regardless of age.
- New Zealand intends to keep its COVID-19 elimination strategy for those that come to the country.
According to Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand government has prepared a mass vaccination program to materialize its vision of reopening to the world. Despite the crippling effects encountered by Australia’s immunization program, New Zealand is assured that it has sufficient doses of vaccine to inoculate every local aged over 15 by the end of 2021. From Sept. 1, all New Zealanders, regardless of age, will be vaccinated under the program.
The program will then be followed by the resumption of international arrivals starting next year. This will be done via three “pathways” based on the vaccination status and infection levels in the country where travelers come from.
Individuals will be allowed to enter the country without having to quarantine if they have been vaccinated and have spent at least two weeks in their low-risk home country, rather than going through the current mandatory 14-day government-managed isolation period.
Meanwhile, those from medium-risk countries will be placed under short-duration or home-based isolation. Despite the classifications on infection risks in different countries, there is still the matter of how low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk will be defined.
As the pandemic threatens to worsen and make the future more unpredictable, New Zealand intends to keep its COVID-19 elimination strategy in place while keeping its options open.
Abcodo is an MSM company that serves as the in-house recruitment partner of MSM Unify, a student recruitment and marketing platform that connects partner schools to top-tier agents and their students worldwide. Sign up now to get the latest updates and information on international student recruitment
