No University Quota On Overseas Students

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29872, 12 July 1962, Page 8

No University Quota On Overseas Students

The University of Canterbury has no intention of restricting the admission of students from overseas. It values the stimulus of these visitors and is glad to serve other countries. This was made clear by the Vice-Chancellor (Dr L. L. Pownall) when asked if New Zealand was likely to follow the course taken last week by the University of Sydney, which decided to admit only 83 overseas students next year. The Students' Representative Council attacked the policy as “intended to exclude Asians."

The Sydney Vice-Chancel-lor (Professor S. H. Roberts) said the action stemmed from the lack of accommodation. It was the last Australian university to do this, he said. Professor Roberts said the rapidly-increasing number of young people in New South Wales who were qualified and anxious to enrol imposed an obligation on the uni-

versify to accept them first. There would still be about 1000 overseas students Oat all stages) at tihe university next year.

The University of Canterbury now had many overseas students spread over practically all faculties. Most were doing well and some had had great academic success, Dr. Pownall said. “It should be remembered,” he said, “that Warwick House was purchased by the Government as a hostel for Colombo Plan students, though we have preferred to mingle them with European students in that house and at Rolleston House so that there is no segregation. “We are most happy to play our part in the Colombo Plan and to receive other overseas students,” said Dr Pownall. “This university this year has had to consider the restriction of numbers in engineering, but there has not been any suggestions that restrictions should be placed on country of origin. On the other hand, the new bursary scheme and other regulations demand satisfactory progress" Dr. Pownall said the Australian restrictions have the effect of diverting large numbers of overseas students to New Zealand.