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Around the world in five
THAILAND
Reassessing the Thai education system
Thailand’s PISA scores have plunged. Among the challenges are the many celebrations and holidays that take children out of the classroom and the huge quantity of paperwork that reduces teachers’ ability to focus on students’ learning.
INDIA
IT superpower India has the world’s least tech-savvy classrooms
India’s classrooms are by and large outdated. Most Indian classrooms lag in incorporating smartphones, tablets, or even the simple whiteboard – over two-thirds of Indian classrooms surveyed use blackboards and chalk.
CHINA, UK
Over 500 teachers from China, UK exchange math teaching methods
Over the past four years, more than 500 teachers from China and the United Kingdom have participated in an exchange program enabling both sides to learn from each other's math teaching methods.
AUSTRALIA
Rainbow Hub launches LGBTQI video campaign
Brisbane’s Rainbow Hub initiative has launched a new video campaign to promote the city as a welcoming destination for LGBTQI+ international students and promote their services.
GREECE
Significant increase in U.S. students studying in Greece
There has been a significant increase in the number of American university students visiting Greece for study abroad programs in the 2016/17 academic year – a 21.1 percent increase from the previous academic year.
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Supporting international education mobility in China with Tourism NZ and Air New Zealand collaboration
ENZ and Tourism NZ Launch the "New Zealand Study Tour Promotion Alliance" Initiative in South China
Tourism New Zealand and ENZ have been working closely together since 2020 to promote study tour programs for Chinese students and their families. This collaboration has had a positive impact, with a growing interest in short-term studies and family tours to New Zealand during the Chinese summer holiday period (this July and August). To further strengthen relationships with Chinese business partners, Tourism New Zealand recently launched the "New Zealand Study Tour Promotion Alliance" initiative, with support from ENZ.
From left to right: Sandy He – South China Manager, TNZ; Rachel Crump – NZ Consul General in Guangzhou; Grace Yao – Regional Trade Manager Greater China; Felix Ye, ENZ Guangzhou
The purpose of the "New Zealand Study Tour Promotion Alliance" is to tap into the potential for growth in this segment post COVID-19. The initiative offers students a short-term study tour experience, providing them with a glimpse into the New Zealand educational system and lifestyle. The alliance consists of ten selected members, including key partners such as K-12 schools and educational organisations directly or indirectly associated with K-12 schools in South China. These members include two provincial-level international education associations representing the public and international school sectors, an international school networking platform, and seven Chinese international/private schools. All ten members of the alliance have either sent students to Aotearoa New Zealand or have committed to promoting New Zealand as a study tour destination in the next three years. They will receive direct or indirect support from both Tourism New Zealand and Education New Zealand.
The official launch of the initiative took place on 21st June, with over 80 participants from the education and tourism industries invited. Rachel Crump, the New Zealand Consul-General in Guangzhou, officiated the ceremony and expressed her excitement about this cross-industry cooperation between Tourism New Zealand and Education New Zealand.
Rachel said “I have often participated in Tourism New Zealand and Education New Zealand events, but this is the first time I’ve participated in a joint event. This type of cross-industry cooperation is new and significant for both agencies.”
Michael Zhang, ENZ's Regional Director - Greater China, also said "As we reconnect following the three years of the pandemic, we invite Chinese students and their families, to come back to New Zealand and become an important bridge between our two countries again.”
Felix Ye, Rachel Crump, and Grace Yao took a group photo with the members of the Alliance
The initiative focuses on promoting a two to four-week New Zealand short-term study experience, which combines classroom study with a sightseeing holiday component. During the Chinese summer holiday, students attend one or two weeks of classroom study in a New Zealand school while their parents enjoy a holiday in the country. After the study part of the tour, families have the option to spend additional weeks in New Zealand. The initiative is expected to attract over 1,000 students plus their families to New Zealand during this July and August Chinese summer holiday period.
After the launch ceremony, the guests mixed and mingled, chatting and networking with each other
ENZ and Air New Zealand to develop strategic partnership for growth of international student sector in China
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and Air New Zealand have pledged to work together to develop a strategic partnership for the international student sector in China.
ENZ’s Felix Ye moderated the panel discussion with the Alliance members
The initiative was launched with the signing of a Statement of Intent at a special ceremony in Shanghai which was witnessed by Minister of Tourism, Hon Peeni Henare in Shanghai on 30 June during the Prime Minister’s Trade Delegation to China.
Both parties will seek to take advantage of existing cooperation and provide a framework for further potential areas to be developed.
These could include joint promotional and marketing efforts in China, as well as supporting student mobility from New Zealand-China partnerships, joint programmes, and institution to institution co-operation.
ENZ’s Chief Executive Grant McPherson and Air New Zealand’s General Manager – Asia Jonathan Zhang, sign a Statement of Intent at a special ceremony in Shanghai on 30 June during the Prime Minister’s Trade Delegation to China.
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Applications and nominations for the Impact Awards are open until Sunday 23 July
The Impact Awards celebrate young New Zealanders aged 16–30, who are making a difference for our communities, country and beyond. This includes those with NZ citizenship, permanent residence or other visa for five years or have the right to work/study in NZ and have been here for two years.
This year there are five different award categories - climate, enterprise, inclusion, wellbeing, and local impact categories. Applications can be made either as an individual or a group, or you can nominate someone you know.
The Awards are run by Inspiring Stories, a kiwi charity that believes in the power of young people to create change. More information about these awards including links to the application and nomination forms can be found here The Impact Awards — Inspiring Stories
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From the CE: The outlook for the future
Many of you are wondering – and fielding a lot of questions – about the outlook for the future as COVID-19 continues to disrupt the world.
It’s very important to acknowledge that COVID-19 is an unprecedented event in our lifetime. While there have been crises, disasters, wars and terrorist attacks, none have had the scale, impact or complexity of this global pandemic. There is little certainty as the world navigates its way through this and looks to the development of effective vaccines to counter its impact.
As New Zealand’s Director-General of Health advises, COVID-19 is a very tricky virus and we have to be very vigilant. The Government is continuing to take a balanced approach to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of everyone in New Zealand and to carefully manage demand on the country’s quarantine facilities. We aren’t out of the woods yet and can’t be complacent.
Like many other countries, New Zealand’s border restrictions remain in place. The Government is granting entry to small, targeted cohorts by exception only, and only these visas are being processed. Students are not able to apply for a student visa from outside New Zealand, unless a border exception applies. This decision will be reviewed in February 2021.
Last month we saw the Government recognise the vital role international education will play in the recovery and rebuild of New Zealand and the need to continue the fight against the pandemic. The Minister of Education announced that the Government would allow a small cohort of up to 250 postgraduate (mostly PhD) students into New Zealand. These are students whose study has been interrupted by COVID-19 and who have a practical research component to their study that requires them to be here. Providers are currently selecting these students and they are expected to enter New Zealand earlier next year.
We acknowledge that this exception applies to a fraction of the number of students we normally welcome to the country. Some students and providers may be disappointed not to have been a part of this first border exception group.
The Government says it will review further possible border exceptions to enable more cohorts to enter the country, as and when the time is right, and to then build up numbers when it’s safe for all to do so. But no further decisions around cohorts have been made at this stage.
So, given this information, we won’t see normal numbers of students entering the country in time for term one or semester one next year. I suggest that tertiary students consider starting or continuing their New Zealand study online, until there is more certainty on border exceptions. Students and their families are advised to keep in close contact with their agent or study provider.
But throughout this uncertainty, I can assure you that New Zealand highly values international students and looks forward to their return. Until then, the team at Education New Zealand will continue to tell you as much as we can about the situation here, as soon as we can.
Ehara taku toa I te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini.
My strength is not that of a single warrior but that of many.
Ngā mihi,
Grant McPherson
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Wellington International Students Excellence Awards showcase the value of international education
Established in 2016, the Wellington International Student Excellence Awards, held by WellingtonNZ, recognise high-achieving international students based in the Wellington region.
Awardees included Academic Excellence Award winner and Whitireia NZ/WelTec student Matthew Hitchener from England, who was honoured for his project introducing pelvic binders to paramedic services in Wellington. Pelvic binders are commonly used overseas to compress the pelvis to prevent bleeding in those with a pelvic fracture. After a successful trial on a LifeFlight helicopter, the binders will soon be launched on all Wellington Free Ambulances.
WellingtonNZ Workforce and Business Growth Manager, Matt Carrere, says the awards show both what the Wellington region can offer international students, as well as the vast contribution students make to the region in return.
“Wellington is an interconnected, social and diverse region where international students learn and thrive. It’s unsurprising that many choose to remain here after their studies to pursue a career.”
The awards also recognised individuals and organisations that work to welcome international students to the region.
PhD candidate at Victoria University of Wellington, Anna-Marie White, received the Internationalisation Award – Domestic Student for organising regular PhD writing workshops (or ‘bootcamps’) with international students.
She was nominated by a group of PhD candidates from around the world, who said: “Anna has expressed her manaakitanga to her international friends and has increased our feeling of home, our love of New Zealand, and our passion for our research. Bootcamp will always be the highlight of our PhD studies, and Anna is a member of the Wellington community that you can be incredibly proud of.”
This year’s Internationalisation Workplace Award went to Wellington tech company MarginFuel for offering employment and internships to 20 international students and graduates.
“MarginFuel offers the students opportunities to further their careers, and in return we have found the students are intelligent, hard-working and add a rich layer to our team culture,” CEO Andrew Pascoe says. “New hires especially comment on how culturally diverse we are, and how this adds so much to the organisation.”
For the full list of winners, visit the WellingtonNZ website.
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Individual applications for PM’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America now open
“Following on from the successful group applications, the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America are now open to individual applications, and this is the only opportunity for individuals to apply in 2022,” Grant McPherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao said.
These scholarships enable talented New Zealanders who are passionate about supporting local and global communities to add an international dimension to their learning and develop their global citizenship competencies and networks.
“We welcome diverse applicants from all stages and walks of life - you don't need to be a current student, and you don’t need top grades. We are looking for applicants who can display qualities like cultural awareness, initiative, and confidence. Previous scholarship recipients have come from a wide range of backgrounds and have studied in a range of fields, including environmental science, languages, law, the arts, and business.”
More than 2,400 Kiwis have benefited from the programme since 2013, contributing to New Zealand’s ability to engage with key partners in Asia and Latin America.
The Prime Minister's Scholarship is open to New Zealand citizens or permanent residents who are at least 18 years old at the time of application and have been a resident in New Zealand for at least 12 of the previous 24 months.
Scholarship funding can be used to cover, for example, tuition fees to undertake a course in Asia or Latin America, flights to and from Asia and Latin America, living and accommodation costs, travel and medical insurance and visa fees.
More information is available on the Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao scholarship website here. Applications close on 31 August 2022.
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Tauranga education delegation travels to Korea and Japan
Two successful education fairs were held in Korea, with more than 100 Korean students committing to study in Tauranga from Term 1, 2023 onwards. 400 people attended the events overall.
Relationship-building was also a key focus of the trip, making many new connections and strengthening long-term ones in both countries.
Korea
The trip to Korea was coordinated by Education Tauranga and TKT agency. The two organisations held education fairs together in Korea for 12 years prior to COVID-19. This trip was especially important as 2022 marks 60 years of diplomatic relationships between New Zealand and Korea.
Regional marketing at the Seoul education fair
“It was exciting to travel offshore again to promote the Tauranga region. Korean families contribute so much to our city and our community - socially, culturally, and economically,” says Education Tauranga Regional Manager Melissa Gillingham.
The trip provided an insight into Korean culture and helped school representatives understand the support families need as they settle into life and school in Tauranga.
On average, Korean families stay in Tauranga for two to three years and contribute about $20 million per year to the local economy. A single family will spend about $100,000 per year on various costs related to establishing a home and participating in tourism activities.
Anne Young from The University of Waikato explains the Tu Ngatahi pin to a prospective parent at the Seoul education fair
Because the group was the largest New Zealand delegation to visit South Korea since the end of 2019, Education Tauranga organised a special Alumni Event with support from Education New Zealand. Hosted by New Zealand’s Ambassador to South Korea, Philip Turner, the event attracted 70 alumni Korean families.
The families were eager to reconnect and relive the positive experiences they had living and studying in Tauranga.
“It was fantastic to have the opportunity to connect with them again face-to-face and see what they've been up to since returning to Korea,” says Anne Young, International Manager of the University of Waikato Tauranga Campus.
Greenpark Primary School reconnecting with the sister-school they have had reciprocal exchanges with for 18 years, Hansin Elementary
Visits to sister schools were next, with representatives from the delegation calling on Sanui Primary School and Hansin Elementary. They were treated to full school tours and discussed next steps in strengthening their relationships and the potential for restarting international exchanges once again.
In addition to the education fairs, this was an opportunity to reconnect with Tauranga’s ‘friendship city’ in Korea; Ansan. Situated on the outskirts of Seoul, Ansan is a planned city that grew from a population of 120,000 to over 750,000 in the past 35 years. With a wide scope of primary and secondary industries, and a strong focus on sustainable growth, there are similarities connecting Tauranga and Ansan city.
Japan
After the success of the events in Korea, Tauranga city representatives Dean Prendergast and Melissa Gillingham travelled on to Japan to continue reconnecting with their international contacts.
Meeting with Waseda University and Japanese Women’s University at the New Zealand Embassy, hosted by ENZ representative, Misa Kitaoka
This year marks 70 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Japan. Mr Prendergast and Ms Gillingham visited the New Zealand Embassy to celebrate this milestone. There they met with representatives from top Japanese universities, Waseda University and Japan Woman’s University, to discuss studying abroad and online exchange activities.
High interest in the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals is shared between the two schools.
“It’s important to discuss ways for youth to connect over common goals that will continue to unite our two countries for future generations,” Ms Gillingham says.
The final stop on the trip was Tauranga’s sister-city, Hitachi, in the Ibaraki prefecture. Next year the two cities will be celebrating the 35-year anniversary of the sister-city relationship, a significant and long-term connection that has seen many exchanges on an educational, economic, and personal level.
The representatives had an opportunity to meet with Hitachi Mayor, Haruki Ogawa and exchange stories. Mr Ogawa was delighted to meet with the delegates and is waiting eagerly for the next mayoral delegation to visit Hitachi.
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Prime Minister’s Scholarships to study in Asia and Latin America announced
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Grant McPherson, today announced the names of 111 New Zealanders who will travel to destinations in Latin America and Asia for an international education experience on a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) or Latin America (PMSLA).
Funds awarded for individuals in this scholarship round total $1.5 million.
The individual recipients are the second round of scholarships to be announced this year. The earlier round of scholarships was awarded to groups.The recipients will undertake study, research and internship programmes in fields such as business, language, indigenous rights, sustainable development and architecture for a minimum period of four weeks (Latin America) and six weeks (Asia) up to two years. The top Latin America study destinations for this round are Chile and Colombia, with Japan and the Republic of Korea most popular destinations in Asia among scholars.
“The merit of our scholarship applicants continues to be impressive – we are proud to offer this opportunity for people to develop their inter-cultural skills, build networks and enjoy experiences abroad,” said McPherson. “We know they will make us proud to have them representing New Zealand in this important time of rebuilding and reconnecting with overseas partners.”
“Interest for this programme continues to grow, building collective skills and understanding of different cultures helps our country show leadership in matters of significance for Asia and Latin America regions.”
Māori Participation lifts significantly
A group of Māori Prime Minister’s Scholarship alumni, Te Kāhui Kaupapa, have been working to raise access and participation for Māori. Participation in this round increased to 22% for PMSA and 17% of PMSLA recipients, compared to an average of 5% for PMSA and 8% for PMSLA rounds in 2016 to 2019. This is part of a wider programme of work to ensure the scholarship programme is more accessible to all New Zealanders over the age of 18, and that it delivers on our Te Tiriti obligations.
The Prime Minister’s Scholarship programme aims to strengthen New Zealand’s ability to engage with key Asian and Latin American trading partners, improving the internationalisation of indigenous communities, New Zealand tertiary institutions, showcasing the strength and quality of New Zealand's education system and enhancing inter-cultural awareness and connections between New Zealand and other countries. The scholarship offers flexible funding to support both short and long-term programmes including study abroad / exchange, internships, postgraduate study, and language programmes.
The scholarships programme is funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by ENZ.
The PMSA was launched in 2013 and extended to Latin America in 2016. To date, there have been 2,879 PMSA and PMSLA scholarships awarded.
There are two scholarship rounds each year, and applications for the next individual round will be held in August 2023. Many of the awardees are enrolled in universities across New Zealand, but this is not a requirement for the scholarship. Any New Zealand citizen or permanent resident over 18 can apply for a PMSA or PMSLA.
More information on the application process can be found here.
A full list of this round of scholars can be found here.
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From the CE: A transitional phase
First of all, a big thank you to everyone. Your insight and problem-solving on so many urgent matters, including student wellbeing and repatriation, has been invaluable.
I’d like to reflect quickly on how we’ve worked together so far. Our activities together represent just a beginning on the long road ahead. Within ENZ, we have:
- Created and administered the International Student Hardship Fund, which has allocated $1m to 105 providers and community organisations, assisting approximately 11,000 students.
- Created the Future Focused Programme and invested $1.2 million of reallocated government funds into the future of the industry to encourage innovation.
- Stood up cross-organisation teams within ENZ to focus on student wellbeing and support the repatriation of school-aged students.
- Communicated and engaged intensively with peak bodies, education providers, agents and in-market partners.
- Invested in NauMai NZ and increased our communications to students within New Zealand
- Continued to maintain visibility of New Zealand as a high quality study destination, and
- We’re continuing to work closely with other agencies, who have optimised policy settings to cushion the sector from the impacts of COVID-19 as far as possible.
Of course, a crucial step of the international education sector will be bringing in students.
International students remain a priority group in the government’s planning for any managed border entry agreements. We’re looking forward to welcoming international students into New Zealand again, but we need to make sure we do so in a way that is safe for everyone.
There are many details to be worked through, including practical quarantine and self-isolation arrangements, monitoring processes, and how the costs can be shared by those arriving.
As a result of this complexity, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins has advised our sector leaders that international students will not be returning to New Zealand in July and August this year. He hopes that we will be able to safely welcome small groups of students by the end of the year and begin building up towards 2021.
We need to have and retain public confidence in the managed border re-entry process, before we welcome cohorts of students to New Zealand.
Finally, our work towards a sector recovery strategy continues and I look forward to sharing more with you this July.
He waka eke noa (we’re all in this together).
Ngā mihi,
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
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AUT international students connect with senior citizens
A uniquely engaging initiative supported by New Zealand Police and AUT recently brought together international students and local senior citizens to connect in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.
The initiative was an outcome of a meeting of the Auckland Agency Group, of which Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao is a member and enabled international students to understand and start to integrate into local culture guided by senior residents and members of the wider Auckland community.
As the last 12 months have seen the welcome return of international students to our campuses and communities, New Zealand Police Ethnic Services teams around the country, including in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, have been busy engaging with international students in a number of ways.
Around 18 students met with 10 senior citizens at the Northbridge Residential Village.
The event helped international students engage with their local community, establishing intergenerational bonds, helped them access support networks, engage in cultural exchange, and actively participating in community affairs.
The event included a panel discussion involving members of Northbridge Residential Village, AUT international students, and New Zealand Police. The panel discussion unfolded in two key segments: the initial part addressed the dynamics of culture shock, while the subsequent portion revolved around the overarching themes of diversity and inclusion.
AUT Students Association, International Affairs Officer, Yun Ke, said that the AUT international student interaction with local senior citizens event was a great success.
“We have received immensely positive feedback from students about the event, which is exciting.
“This interaction saw double the participation by international students, as compared to a previously held event in September,” Ke said.
San Winkyi, an international student from Myanmar, was grateful to New Zealand Police for the way they supported the event.
“The police’s presence and assistance contributed significantly to the event's success, and we deeply appreciate their commitment to international student safety and wellbeing,” San said.
For Huabiao Xiao, an international student from China, the interaction was a wonderful opportunity to appreciate cultural differences while enjoying communicating with an open and inclusive local community of senior citizens.
“Spending time with local seniors and police officers was an amazing experience, far beyond anything I could have imagined. These elders are simply the epitome of local cultures and society, and I deeply appreciate their differences and uniqueness. At the same time, I appreciated how New Zealand police officers are committed to promoting a community culture,” Huabiao said.
Education providers with international students who are interested in organising a similar event are welcome to contact Faymie Li, faymieli@enz.govt.nz or Ross Crosson, ross.crosson@enz.govt.nz.
