PHL, New Zealand Deepen Education Ties with New Cooperation Pact

The Philippines and New Zealand are set to significantly deepen their educational cooperation, with both nations signing a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) aimed at enhancing collaboration in skills development, capacity building, research, and workforce learning. New Zealand's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Winston Peters, highlighted the growing number of Filipino students choosing New Zealand for their studies, describing the education connections between the two countries as "strong, mutual, and growing." He emphasized that these students contribute their talents, perspectives, and energy to New Zealand's classrooms and communities. The newly signed MOC will provide a practical framework for collaboration, ensuring that students are equipped to meet the evolving needs of both their home country and New Zealand's economies. "We will continue to strengthen our education connections, supporting more students, more partnerships and deeper collaboration between our institutions," Peters stated. Education New Zealand, the country's international education agency, ranks the Philippines as its ninth-largest source market for foreign students. The number of Filipino students enrolled in New Zealand reached 2,635 in 2025, an increase from the previous year, with enrollment rates rising 36% since 2023. Average bachelor's degree program costs range from approximately $35,000 to $55,000 per year, while master's programs cost between $20,000 and $45,000. There are options for all students within these ranges, with variations between university courses and private training establishments. Popular fields of study among Filipinos include business and management, human welfare studies, agriculture, information systems, and nursing. These align well with New Zealand's post-study work opportunities, offering clear pathways for students to gain work experience and potentially pursue residency. Sahinde Pala, group general manager for international and sector engagement at Education New Zealand, noted that the influx of Filipinos into these industries helps New Zealand bridge workforce gaps, particularly in areas identified on its "green list" of skills shortages. "We, in New Zealand, need people to come and work in those industries," she said. The strengthening of educational ties is part of a broader "comprehensive partnership" between the Philippines and New Zealand, which recently marked its 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations. This partnership includes a roadmap to monitor progress in political engagements, defense, security, maritime cooperation, trade, economic ties, and people-to-people links.