Students with NZ visas told not to travel as Auckland business school faces enrollment ban
ICL Education Group operates the ICL Graduate Business School. (Supplied photo)
The school says existing students can continue their studies and that it is working to have the restrictions lifted.
International students who have already obtained visas to study at an Auckland business school have been told they cannot travel to New Zealand after the country's education regulator ordered the institution to stop enrolling students in several master's programmes.
ICL Graduate Business School has also warned prospective students that pending visa applications for the affected programmes cannot proceed, leaving some applicants facing the prospect of changing their courses, switching institutions or abandoning their plans to study in New Zealand.
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have confirmed the college has informed them about the ban and are advising students impacted by the development to get in touch with immigration officials regarding future prospects.
The restrictions follow a compliance notice issued by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) to ICL Graduate Business School on October 21.
In communications sent to education agents and prospective students seen by Awaaz, ICL said the notice required it to halt new enrolments across its Master of Management programmes with specialisations in healthcare, marketing, supply chain and logistics management, construction project management and project management, as well as its Master of Management by Thesis.
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The school said the restriction also applied to students who had already enrolled but had not yet started their studies. However, students currently studying in the affected programmes could continue their courses as usual.
Students already granted visas affected
In a subsequent communication, ICL outlined what it described as guidance from INZ for students at different stages of the visa process.
Students who had already been granted visas but had not yet travelled were told they "cannot travel to New Zealand on that visa".
They were advised to contact INZ urgently to discuss their circumstances, with possible options including changing programmes, switching education providers or deciding not to come to New Zealand.
ICL said some students might need to submit fresh visa applications, while INZ might be able to replace existing visas in other cases. For students already in New Zealand, the school said a change of programme or provider would likely require a variation of visa conditions or a new student visa.
Applications still being processed for the affected programmes "cannot proceed at this time", according to ICL. Applicants could instead change programmes or providers, or withdraw their applications and seek refunds of fees paid.
Immigration New Zealand responds
Celia Coombes, INZ's Director Visa, told Awaaz the immigration authority had been informed of the enrollment restrictions and had provided advice to the school.
Coombes said student visas were issued for specific courses and holders were required to comply with their visa conditions, including studying the specified programme and making progress in it.
"Where a student's intended course of study is no longer available, we encourage them to contact us as soon as possible so we can assess their circumstances and advise on the appropriate next steps."
She said affected students could have several options depending on their individual circumstances.
"Depending on the specifics of their case, affected students may have options such as changing to another programme, enrolling with another provider, applying to vary the conditions of their visa, making a new visa application, or withdrawing their plans to study in New Zealand. Any decisions will be made on a case-by-case basis."
INZ did not provide figures for the number of students affected or applications awaiting decisions. On questions about tuition fees and other expenses already incurred, Coombes directed students to ICL in the first instance.
School remains accredited
ICL has told students that it remains accredited with NZQA across its three schools and all programmes, despite the restrictions on new enrolments.
"Current ICL students are not affected by the compliance notice," the school said, advising those already studying to continue attending classes unless told otherwise.
Other programmes, including the Master of Business Informatics and Master of Business Informatics by Thesis, remain open for enrollment.
The school said it was working with NZQA to address the regulator's concerns and hoped the notice would be lifted as soon as possible. It expected NZQA to publish a summary of the compliance notice on October 27.
The precise nature of the concerns that prompted NZQA's intervention has not been established. It is also unclear how many prospective international students have already paid fees, secured visas or made travel arrangements for the affected programmes.
ICL has said it will contact affected students individually to explain their options and the support available to them.
