Summary
Code of
Practice for the Pastoral Care of Intemational
Students
Introduction
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 pamphlet 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.
When does the Code apply?
The Code commences on the 31st of March 2002. Educational providers
then have six months to sign the Code. Between the 31 st of
March and the 30th of September 2002 you will need to check
with the Ministry of Education if your provider is a signatory
to the Code.
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.
What is an "international student"?
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.nzigoto/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 will be available from www.minedu.govt.nzigoto/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.
If your concerns are not resolved by the internal grievance procedures,
you can contact the International Education Appeal Authority
(IEAA).
A summary of the Code of Practice for the Pastoral
Care of International Students
The Code sets standards for educational providers to ensure
that:
- high professional standards are maintained
- the recruitment of international students is undertaken in
an ethical and responsible manner
- information supplied to international students is comprehensive,
accurate, and up-to-date
- students are provided with information prior to
entering into any commitments
- contractual dealings with international students are conducted
in an ethical and
responsible manner
- the particular needs of international students are recognised
- international students under the age of 18 are in safe accommodation
- all providers have fair and equitable internal procedures
for the resolution of international student grievances
Full details of what is covered can be found in the Code itself.
The Code also establishes the IEM and the Review Panel to receive
and adjudicate on student complaints.
What will the IEAA do?
The purpose of the IEM is to adjudicate on complaints from international
students. The IEM will investigate complaints and determine
if there has been a breach of the Code. The IEM has the power
to impose sanctions on educational providers who have committed
a breach of the Code that is not a serious breach. These sanctions
include an order for restitution, publication of the breach,
and I or requiring that remedial action be undertaken.
The IEM will refer complaints that are not about pastoral care
to another regulatory body if appropriate.
The educational provider will be given a reasonable
time to remedy the breach. If the breach is not remedied within
that time, the IEM may refer the complaint to the Review Panel.
The IEM can determine if it considers that a breach of the Code
is a serious breach. If the breach is a serious breach, the IEM
will refer the complaint to the Review Panel.
What can the Review Panel do?
The Review Panel can remove or suspend an educational
provider as a signatory to the Code, meaning that the provider
would be prevented from taking any more international students.
Only the IEM can refer complaints to the Review Panel.
What is the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA)?
The IEM is an independent body established to deal with complaints
from international students about pastoral care aspects of advice and
services received from their educational provider or the provider's
agents. The IEM enforces the standards in the Code of Practice.
How can I contact the IEAA?
You can write to the IEAA at:
The International Education Appeal Authority,
C/- Ministry of Education
Private Bag 47-911
Ponsonby
Auckland
Email
info.ieaa@minedu.govt.nz
Fax: (09) 374 5403
Phone: (09) 374 5481
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