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New portal shows students around New Zealand
The Study in New Zealand website will soon have a regions portal to show international students what it would be like to study, live and work in different parts of New Zealand.
Students will be able to access information, search options, maps and interactive tools about New Zealand, which is divided into 15 regions for the purposes of this project.
The portal aims to increase referrals from Study in New Zealand to institutions and regional cluster websites around the country.
The Study in New Zealand website already has a New Zealand regions section showcasing tourism attractions, but it isn’t targeted to meet the needs and interests of students. The new portal, to be launched in July, will focus on letting students know about specific advantages of studying, living and working in each regions.
Education New Zealand (ENZ) worked in partnership with our regional network of representatives to identify value propositions for each region. We also set up a Regional Reference Group, consulting the group at every stage of the project.
The project is part of the Regional Partnership Programme, launched in 2013 to support the development and growth of international education in selected regions.
It contributes to one of ENZ’s key Statement of Intent targets which sets out to ‘increase the proportion of international students enrolled to study in regions outside of Auckland’.
Our new regions portal taps into a trend highlighted in a recent ICEF Monitor article, which highlights that location is an important factor in the decision to study abroad.
ICEF Monitor reported that international students considering an education institution look closely at the city or town’s key offerings including weather, cultural and recreation opportunities before committing to study there. The article used New Zealand as an example, referring to our ‘notable destination marketing-based campaign’.
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New Zealand experience grows global indigenous network
A special bond forged through a Study Abroad programme, involving Vermont’s Champlain College and Auckland University of Technology (AUT), was marked by the gifting of a unique pare whakairo (carved doorway mantel) to the US College in September.
Called Te Hononga (The Convergence), the pare whakairo was created by kaiwhakairo (Māori carver) Pahi O’Carroll over four weeks in residence on the Champlain campus.
The pare is unlike any other. It is carved from a wood native to the area – black walnut – and evokes values, beliefs and traditions common to both Māori and the indigenous people of Vermont, the Abenaki.
The relationship between Champlain and AUT dates back five years, when New Zealand Honorary Consul and trustee of Champlain College, Dr George Burrill, first established a study abroad exchange programme between the two institutions. To date, over 100 students have participated.
One of the highlights of American students’ time at AUT is the Noho Marae programme.
“Every year students tell us how the Noho Marae programme has profoundly impacted them,” ENZ General Manager – International, Lisa Futschek, says. “It turns them into lifelong advocates for New Zealand, its education system and Māori culture.”
Run by AUT Senior Lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Development, Jason King, the mini-course includes basic Te Reo Māori, Māori mythology, waiata (songs) and cultural customs. It includes with a noho marae (weekend-long marae experience).
King describes the course as “the base of a tree, from which branches and leaves grow”.
“The course puts indigenous goggles on students,” he says. “It opens them up to areas of discussion with their own indigenous people.
“My ultimate aim is to connect us not only globally, but indigenously.”
Thanks to their connection to Māori via AUT and the Noho Marae programme, Champlain College made a formal connection to their own indigenous people, the Abenaki tribe. A representative from the Abenaki was present at the unveiling of Te Hononga.
Many US students choose to keep in touch after they return home through the student-led Whānau Councils. These were first established in 2010 after students from Europe were so moved by their AUT marae experience that they set up their own group to maintain their connection to New Zealand and each other. There are now three Whānau Councils across Europe and the US actively supported by AUT.
For the European council’s 10-year anniversary, members of group are planning to return to New Zealand – this time with their partners and children.
“We tell them during the Noho Marae, after studying in New Zealand you are whānau for life,” King says.
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Wellington awards recognise inspiring students
This year’s awardees came from intermediate, secondary and tertiary levels, and included the founder of a bilingual tutoring programme for international students, the founder of the Asian English-Speaking Club at Victoria University of Wellington and the official pianist at the 44th International Viola Congress.
They were selected for a range of achievements from academic excellence, community engagement, to leadership and sport, with each winner receiving a trophy, certificate and tickets to a Wellington experience.
MP Paul Eagle, WREDA CEO Lance Walker and WREDA’s Talent, Skills and Education Manager, Brook Pannell, were on hand at the ceremony, alongside a group from Wainuiomata High School and Kuranui College who performed Kapa Haka for the guests.
Brook said he was thrilled to be on hand at the ceremony to acknowledge the achievements made by some of Wellington’s young talent.
“International students make a powerful impact in their communities, and these awards reflect the great contributions they make in Wellington.
“It’s a unique, modern and compact city where international students can feel at home, gain life skills in a safe city, and make friends.”
Chinese international student Benjamin Lin, 18, received a Leadership Award for his achievements. As the youngest ‘authorised’ writer in his home country, he’s published two books and opened a writing school to raise money to study at Wellington High School.
“Thanks to my father I loved reading and writing. My teacher at the time encouraged me to publish some of my poetry when I was around 10 in the form of a book. People really liked my work and it gave me the confidence to keep going,” says Benjamin.
In 2015, Benjamin decided to progress his education in Wellington, and settled on Wellington High School. He funded his international study by tutoring students in writing.
“I wanted to come to Wellington because it’s a smaller, modern city where I could improve my English.
“In Wellington, I’ve appreciated having more time with my teachers and working on my English,” says Benjamin.
Award winners:
Academic excellence
- Nam-Phuong Ho, Victoria University of Wellington (Viet Nam)
- Yukiko Kuboshima, Victoria University of Wellington (Japan)
- Khoi Nguyen, Te Aro School (Viet Nam)
- Zihan Wang, Wellington Girls’ College (China)
Alumni
- Zilong Li, WelTec (China)
Community engagement
- Hanna Aulia, Victoria University of Wellington (Indonesia)
- Ashley Cao, Victoria University of Wellington (Viet Nam)
Creativity
- Gabriela Glapska, New Zealand School of Music (Poland)
Leadership
- Benjamin Yin, Wellington High School (China)
- Simran Bechan, Samuel Marsden Collegiate (Fiji)
- Nur Natasha Faziera Mohd Fadzil, Victoria University of Wellington (Malaysia)
Sports
- Mohammad Zahirul Amin Mohd Azam, Victoria University of Wellington (Malaysia)
Internationalisation
- Samuel Mathew, Wellington College (New Zealand)
- Jordan Anderson, Victoria University of Wellington (New Zealand)
Internationalisation Employer Award
- InterContinental Hotel Group
Click here for full details of the winners.
The awards were developed as part of WREDA’s Wellington International Student Growth Programme (WISGP), which aims to double the number of international students arriving in Wellington by 2025, enhance the student experience and build pathways to employment in Wellington.
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Gambier Islands students ‘snowstruck’
The 33 students and their guardians spent three days travelling from their home in Mangareva Island, the largest island in the remote Gambier archipelago, which is more than four hours’ flying time south of Tahiti, to reach Taupo.
This remoteness means the Gambiers are known as 'the islands at the end of the world'. With a tropical climate, coral white sands, coconut palms, mountainous peaks and expansive fishing lagoons, the French-administered Gambiers are most famous for their black pearl industry. The 14 islands are also a popular sailing destination.
Unaccustomed to Taupo temperatures, the group – a sizeable proportion of the entire 1530 Gambier population – had to borrow warm clothing from their homestay families when they arrived. There are no clothing shops and very few stores on their remote island. The teenagers quickly discovered Taupo's shops and got busy buying clothing and gifts to give to their families.
As part of their two-week English immersion course, the students took part in activities in and around Taupo, including indoor climbing, meeting pupils from Taupo-Nui-a-Tia College and visiting a marae. The visitors could understand the Māori language, as their local Marquesan language is similar.
However, the highlight of the trip was two days spent learning to ski at Happy Valley, the “magic carpet” learner slope of Whakapapa Ski Area on Mt Ruapehu near Taupo.
Parents and teachers accompanying the group said Taupo Language School was recommended by Air Tahiti nui because it could offer the skiing and adventure activities, and the town is an easy and safe place to shop. They spent nine months planning and fundraising, although some expenses were subsidised by local government.
One of the parents, Denis Salmon, said they were pleased with how much the students' English had progressed.
"Not only have they become more independent and confident, but they now realise the importance of learning this language."
Taupo Language School director Rose Blackley said attending multi-cultural classes meant the students made friends with Saudi, Chinese, Japanese, Thai and South American nationals.
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Japanese education agents experience New Zealand’s school education offering firsthand
Delivered in partnership between Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, Auckland Educated, Christchurch Educated and SIEBA, the visit highlights the value of a joined-up, sector-wide approach to offshore recruitment.
Building connections through collaboration
The programme builds on a 2025 initiative where 16 Auckland schools travelled to Japan to develop relationships with education agents and schools. Inviting those agents to New Zealand enabled them to experience local schools, teaching environments and student life firsthand.
The agents visited 12 secondary schools and one primary school in Auckland over five days, meeting international directors, exploring campus environments, and experiencing local attractions.
Several agents said the visit reshaped their perceptions of Auckland, with firsthand experience of its expansive school campuses and green spaces highlighting a learning environment that supports both academics and outdoor activity.
In addition to visiting Auckland Grammar, Botany Downs Secondary College, Gulf Harbour School, Massey High School, Mount Albert Grammar, Mount Roskill Grammar, One Tree Hill College, Rosehill College, Sacred Heart College, St Mary’s College, St Peter’s College, Waitākere College and Waiuku College, the group of agents also had the opportunity to enjoy New Zealand’s unique lifestyle and hospitality, with local beaches, tourist sites and hospitality sector across Auckland over five days.
Extending reach beyond major centres
The group then travelled to Christchurch to attend the SIEBA Hui Agent Forum, providing exposure to over 100 schools and a broader view of education opportunities across regions.
Christchurch Educated also facilitated connections with local schools (Burnside High School, Cashmere High School, Craighead Diocesan School, Middleton Grange School, and Rolleston College) and hosted a briefing session with international directors, further strengthening sector relationships.
They also valued the opportunity to engage with a wider range of regions, deepening their understanding of education options beyond major cities.
Supporting future growth
ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager, Japan, Takako Tominaga, said an additional positive development was Air New Zealand’s recent announcement of direct flights between Narita and Christchurch that will begin in November.
“This is a great development that will further strengthen future promotion opportunities for Christchurch and the South Island in the Japanese market,” Takako said.
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Oldest Korean education agency files for bankruptcy
Korean local media reported that Uhak.com has failed to pay up to NZ$2 million in tuition fees to its partner education institutions around the world, impacting approximately 200 of Uhak.com’s clients.
Uhak.com had facilitated paying clients’ tuition fees to international education institutions. The company would receive the fees from parents two to three months in advance, and receive commissions from the overseas providers for the service. The company is alleged to have used clients’ tuition fees to pay its expenses.
Uhak.com sends around 3,000 students per year to education institutions around the world. Over the past two years, the agency had sent over 100 students to New Zealand’s English language providers.
Established in 1981, Uhak.com operated 12 offices in Korea and had branches worldwide including Auckland. The company’s revenue in 2015 was approximately NZ$13 million.
In 2014, Canadian education group Loyalist Group Limited acquired Uhak.com for NZ$10 million.
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Wintec celebrates 10 years of friendship with Shimane University
Accompanied by Professors Jun Iwata and Dr Rie Sato, the students will undertake a two-week short study tour through Wintec’s Centre for Health and Social Practice and Centre for Languages.
The group was welcomed with a pōwhiri at Wintec’s city campus where the students responded with traditional Japanese songs. Shortly after, Wintec chief executive Mark Flowers and Shimane University professor Jun Iwata cut a celebration cake with the students.
Wintec international director Jason Matangi welcomed the visitors and spoke about the value of the relationship between Wintec and Japan.
“Maintaining international relations is essential for Wintec and for New Zealand. The 10-year anniversary is an important milestone in our relationship and is a recognition of our deep friendship and the regard with which we hold Shimane University and Japan.”
During their time at Wintec, the students will study nursing and medical education to get an overview of the health sector in New Zealand. This includes academic visits to Waikato Hospital and Waterford Birth Centre to allow the Japanese students to learn more about New Zealand practices.
To complete the Kiwi experience, the students will also take English language courses and live with local homestays. The group will also have a chance to tour around the Waikato region including weekend trips to Waitomo Caves, Rotorua and Taupō.
The relationship between the two institutions started 10 years ago through a staff exchange programme. Since 2010, Wintec has welcomed students from Shimane University for short-term training programmes every year.
Wintec and Shimane University aim to enhance this mutual programme in the next few years.
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Diversity and inclusion in North America
“Partnering with marginalised communities around us to confront harm in our past is something we all have to practise,” says course co-ordinator David Wick, Associate Professor, Middlebury Institute of International Studies.
"What was striking was that, from the first in-person meetings, everyone was willing to make personal connections to the content, share their own learning and vulnerabilities, and very curious as to how they can learn from one another to create better learning environments.”
Diversity Abroad, based in US, is the largest organisation focused on diversity, equity and inclusion in international education. ENZ works with Diversity Abroad on a range of initiatives, such as the annual Global Inclusion Conference, as well as partnering to deliver the specially designed course.
Attended by 18 people from NZ universities and ENZ, the three-month certificate course was fully online. Workshops, group discussion, videos, articles and assignments kept the participants highly engaged, and feedback on the course was very positive.
Dr. Anna Foster, Study Abroad and Exchange Manager at the University of Canterbury, says the programme provided a comprehensive exploration of Access, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity (AIDE) in relation to student mobility.
“The programme was really valuable in gaining a deeper understanding of AIDE as it relates to Education Abroad, particularly due to the focus on considering every aspect of the student mobility journey in an end-to-end approach from the perspective of diverse cohorts,” Anna says.
“This has certainly influenced our team approach on an ongoing basis - it has shaped many of the continuing conversations we have around our outreach and processes, and has also helped us consider how we can further partner with both external and internal partners to better support our students.
“I think all of the group also found the programme to be impactful from a self-reflection perspective, prompting some really useful reflection on the backgrounds, biases and perspectives that shape each of us and how we can use this awareness as leaders and in our work with students.”
Anna also appreciated the practical focus of the course, and says her team is now considering some of the barriers to outbound mobility for diverse and under-represented cohorts, and working on strategies to address these.
Sarah Sung, Study Abroad Manager at the University of Auckland, also found the programme very beneficial.
“The programme has given me opportunities to delve into every single aspect of our team’s work through AIDE lenses as well as reflect on our past initiatives relating to diversity and inclusion. I learned that to make diversity work, AIDE should not be seen as a stand-alone project or matter but be embedded in our everyday life and all work,” Sarah says.
Sarah says AIDE conversations will be part of regular team meetings, as well as being integrated into team members’ KPIs and performance reviews, and she is working on a plan to increase participation from under-represented students.
“This includes extensive work in identifying opportunities to collaborate with partners for diversity and inclusion goals, reviewing our scholarship, communications and co-curricular programming for diverse students and developing a system for data collection.”
Lewis Gibson, ENZ’s Field Director North America, also took part in the course and says feedback from the cohort participants demonstrates the need for further AIDE learning in the New Zealand international education sector.
“Hearing from colleagues about the personal and professional measures they are actively putting in place to support under-served inbound and outbound students, as a direct result of this programme, is inspirational,” he said.
For more information about the International Education Diversity & Inclusion Certificate, contact Lewis Gibson at Lewis.Gibson@enz.govt.nz
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APAC TVET Forum: Bringing us together
The inaugural Asia Pacific Technical and Vocational Education and Training Forum will be held online on the first two Fridays in November 2021. The event – themed “Bringing us together” – will allow people in the sector to share best practice and foster new connections despite COVID-19 travel restrictions.
The APAC TVET Forum will be opened by New Zealand’s Minister of Education, Chris Hipkins, and will feature an address by the Chief Executive of Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, Stephen Town.
The forum is driven by partners Te Pūkenga, Education New Zealand and Skills Consulting Group.
ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson says with an increasing emphasis on applied learning and work-ready graduates, the applied vocational sector in Aotearoa New Zealand has much to offer.
“A New Zealand education produces in-demand graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to join the workforce with confidence,” Mr McPherson says.
The APAC TVET Forum will bring together experts from the three sectors vital to effective technical and vocational education – government, industry and education. It will offer government-to-government, business-to-business and system-to-system content streams – bringing people together for a cross-system conversation.
There is no cost to register for forum sessions on 5 and 12 November, and there are networking opportunities and sessions on the days in between.
The international heft will come from speakers including Professor Christina Hong, President of the Technological and Higher Education Institute of Hong Kong and Marc Gomes, Group Senior Vice President and Head of Training for ADECCO Global.
The Pacific representatives include Dr Isimeli Tagicakiverata, Director of the National Training and Productivity Centre at the Fiji National University, who is presenting on upskilling, reskilling and lifelong learning as part of the system-to-system content stream.
The APAC TVET Forum builds on the strong foundations of the Sino-NZ Vocational Education and Training Model Programme, a forum for sharing best practice that is widely acknowledged as beneficial to both countries. Under this programme, Chinese and New Zealand institutions have taken turns to host the annual New Zealand-China Higher Vocational Education Conference.
China’s Central Institute of Vocational and Technical Education – a China Ministry of Education thinktank – has supported and presented at the previous conferences and will deliver a keynote presentation at the APAC TVET Forum.
Wherever we live in the world, a thriving future is what we all want. Governments, industries and educators are all working together to upskill and reskill workforces disrupted by the pandemic. The APAC TVET Forum is a chance to be part of the solution. To register or find out more, go to www.apactvetforum.com.
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Thai delegation visits New Zealand
In light of the Thai government’s new plan to develop a skilled workforce to meet industry demand, ENZ saw an opportunity to connect RMUT with New Zealand providers.
RMUT has a network of 40 campuses across Thailand, which are most similar to New Zealand ITPs. RMUT has a particular interest in customised, short-course training in New Zealand, and would like to see the establishment of an English language centre in Thailand.
The visit showcased New Zealand’s focus on practical skills and innovation in the classroom, with ENZ setting up meetings with Auckland University of Technology, Unitec, Air New Zealand Aviation Institute, Wintec, Wellington Institute of Technology, Whitireia Institute of Technology, Massey University, Otago Polytechnic and the University of Otago Language Centre.
Jaruwan Pongjaruwat, ENZ Programme Manager – Thailand, said the visit created a comprehensive understanding of New Zealand’s education system and fields of expertise.
“The RMUT group especially enjoyed the unique cultural experience and appreciated the welcoming and friendly New Zealand people.
“We visited some classrooms and they were able to see first-hand the practical learning environment.”
The visit is already showing positive results, with one RMUT president inviting selected New Zealand institutions to visit Thailand for further discussions.
The group of RMUT representatives at Air New Zealand Aviation Institute
