To counter that, Prof Blaikie proposed scholarship applications for current and future international doctoral students who could start their study offshore. Since February 2020, the university had allowed 83 students to start offshore, beginning their research with distance supervision. It was grateful it was able to get some remote start and other doctoral students back to New Zealand via the government schemes that were allowing a limited return of international students to the country. And it would continue to advocate for all its remote start students to be able to enter New Zealand to continue their study onshore, Prof Spronken-Smith said. Health sciences PhD student Obren Amiesimaka, from Port Harcourt, Nigeria, was one of the first students to enter New Zealand after the Government relaxed border restrictions for up to 250 international students late last year.

Source: Otago Daily Times July 14, 2021 16:30 UTC