How is the Higher Education sector different in New Zealand?
Practically anyone can go to University in NZ, and students come from much wider socioeconomic backgrounds than UK students. A place at university is not as tied to performance in school-leaving examinations as it is in the UK. Clearly subjects such as medicine, dentistry and engineering still have stringent entry requirements, but with subjects like geography entry is not as competitive. However, given the wider variety of students’ backgrounds, the commitment to Higher Education is often greater than in the UK. Life in NZ tends to be quite relaxed and laid-back and this extends to school and student life as well. I personally feel that this easy-going attitude is very positive, and shows itself in both the performance and happiness ratings of NZ children at school when compared to the rest of the world. They don’t have the UK obsession for league tables and SATs tests! The kiwi lifestyle outside the university translates into the lecture theatre, and it is perfectly normal for studen
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