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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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Introducing the AgentLab WeChat mini programme
As AgentLab is a web-based platform with English content, it needed a separate programme for Chinese audiences. The new mini programme not only uses Chinese language, but it also offers a localised user experience more suitable for this group.
“Education agents continue to have a crucial role in ensuring that international students and their parents have accurate information about what New Zealand, as a study destination can offer. Especially in China, agents are the main interface between education providers, students, and students’ parents,” ENZ Director – Greater China, Miranda Herbert says.
The agent landscape in China is extensive. The biggest agencies have around 50 branches in the mainland, with different agencies having particular regional strengths. Because agents run their own events – both B2B and with students – ENZ supports their activities rather than running our own ENZ Recognised Agency fairs.
AgentLab is ENZ’s dedicated communications portal for education agents, providing them with the training and resources they need to best promote New Zealand as an international study destination.
It has proven to be a very effective way to support agents during these uncertain, fast-changing times. There are now close to 5,000 users on the platform, which is a 60 percent increase since March 2020. This year alone ENZ conducted almost 50 webinars (some region-specific) through AgentLab, and shared regular updates via news feeds, direct messages, and the COVID-19 FAQs page.
Access 新西兰留学顾问计划 on WeChat, or use the QR code below:
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NZ EdTech’s taking a diversified and leading message to the Australian digital education market
ENZ had a stand at NZTE’s pavilion with six of the eight EdTech who had expressed an interest in attending EduTech as part of an ENZ delegaton, showcasing their products alongside NZTE’s five customers. The companies in the ENZ delegation included Pacific Kids' Learning, Nutriblocks, PipiLearning, Jix Reality, PolyMath and Code Avengers and the Student Volunteer Army were also part of the wider ENZ delegation. This diverse group of technology providers from K-12 to Vocational Training and Education (VET) and Higher Education (HE) provide a range of digital education solutions including numeracy, literacy, financial literacy, STEM, programmes for neuro diverse learners, Pacific based and culturally responsive digital tools, immersive digital education experiences and health and wellbeing educational games.
PolyMath Co-Founders Sophie and Christian Silver (second and third from left) talking with attendees at their EduTech Melbourne 2023 stand.
ENZ’s participation supports Focus Area Two of the New Zealand International Education Strategy which is to ‘Build a new international education future’. In taking NZ EdTech offshore, ENZ’s goal is to show how Aotearoa New Zealand is leading in education innovation while also helping NZ EdTech companies explore and understand the export opportunity in Australia in a low-risk and low-cost way.
ENZ’s Business Development Manager | Kaiwhakawhanake Pakihi, Alana Pellow, said that having a stand on NZTE’s pavilion gave ENZ’s delegation profile and extra visibility during the Expo. This included the opportunity to promote their products, a presentation slot to pitch their products, visibility of their collateral and the opportunity to engage with expo attendees over the two days of the event.
“All six EdTechs on our stand generated a total of 80 prospective customer and partner leads, with one company signing a contract with a local university while there.
“All met with decisions makers and government education officials, explored opportunities to partner with other NZ EdTechs and refined their thinking and business planning on the opportunities presented by the Australian market. They all referenced the significant value of being ‘in market.’”
Nutriblocks Co-Founder Dr Claudia Leong and Tech Programme Developer Tim Kern presenting at EduTech Melbourne 2023.
ENZ also sponsored the NZTE networking dinner for the combined 13 EdTech businesses. Invited guests included representatives from the Victorian Department of Education and Training, Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals, Matterworks/Board Director and the NSW Department of Education. Both Education Departments set the scene for the education technology landscape in NSW and Victoria and the journey both states are on in digital adapting and adopting specifically in K-12.
ENZ also supported giving broader visibility of Aotearoa New Zealand’s expertise in digital education and secured two speaker sessions for the EduTech VET conference stream. Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga, presented on ‘Collaborative Innovation: Transforming Vocational Education through Technology and Work Based Learning’ while Elizabeth Asbury, Director of Pipi Learning also spoke on ‘Cultural responsive and designed for neurodiversity in the Vocational Education and Training sector’. Both sessions were well attended and Norie and Elizabeth have been approached for further discussions involving contracting their EdTech services.
Norie said it was a huge privilege to spend time together connecting on our shared passion for better outcomes for our learners, employers, and our colleagues.
“We had two incredible days of meeting, learning, and collaborating in person with awesome humans using Tech 4 Good in Melbourne. Time now to recover and setup all those post conference connections to further the new relationships forged and consider how to embed new ways of collaboration in and beyond.’’
Norie Ape, Digital Product Manager for Te Pūkenga (second from left) with Code Avengers Founder, Hamish Day (far right) and Bradley Hansen (left) plus Karl de Borst (second from right) of Amazon Web Services.
At the conclusion of EduTech Melbourne 2023, Alana shared here top three takeaways from the conference.
“Firstly, nothing beats being on the ground in market, to understand the needs of educators and the opportunity that exists.
“Secondly, there is power in the collective ‘we’ when Aotearoa New Zealand turns up en masse, in market. Collaborating and having deep relationships with other NZ Inc agencies adds greater support to the sector and provides one door to our government, truly putting the customer at the centre.
“My last takeaway is how the Australian education ecosystem is embracing all that technology offers without throwing learners or indeed educators to the kerb. We could learn more from our Australian education colleagues and how they are using digital to create competitive advantage that supports their international education success alongside building their domestic market citizens ‘fit for future’ capability”, said Alana.
Next stop for NZ EdTech companies with ENZ is EduTech Asia in Singapore this November. Any NZ EdTech and Education publisher companies or education providers looking to be involved in education technology related Conferences and Expos can contact Alana Pellow on alana.pellow@enz.govt.nz
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Lifeswap premiere celebrates friendship between New Zealand and Germany
The final two episodes of the cult-hit webseries Lifeswap, ‘Laughing Matters’ and ‘Die Brücke’, concluded the animated adventures of Duncan and Jörg – the German and Kiwi friends who helped one another understand a new culture.
‘Laughing Matters’ tells the story of Jörg, who had an excellent experience in New Zealand, and (due to his preparedness for the future) was accepted into one of New Zealand’s most innovative and technologically advanced companies ‘Rockets R Us’.
The episodes were commissioned by ENZ and the Germany Embassy respectively.
“We were very fortunate to be able to celebrate Lifeswap with its creators Steffen Kreft – who was himself an international student at Massey University in Wellington – and William Connor, and their many fans at a live event at Wellington’s Embassy Theatre,” ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said.
“After a year of restricted international travel and very few in-person events, it was a reminder that global education connection and cooperation has not stopped.
“The Lifeswap series highlights how the longstanding friendship between New Zealand and Germany transcends the situation we find ourselves in. It is a very powerful example of international education relationships keeping New Zealand globally connected while travel is limited.”
Following the launch of Laughing Matters – which built on the success of the first joint ENZ Lifeswap episode Group Effort in which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern had a cameo appearance – the partnership is also being shared with key partners and audiences in Germany as part of ENZ's Americas, Middle East and Europe Education Week.
To leverage the popularity of the new episode and the wealth of the important topics it deals with, ENZ is working with a PR agency in Germany to tell this positive story more widely.
The PR engagement will involve a mix of approaches, including traditional media, social media and partnering with influencers, to ensure we reach a wide audience on all relevant channels.ENZ General Manager – International, Lisa Futschekworked with Kreft and Connor for months on ‘Laughing Matters’.
“It’s a great fit for Education New Zealand to be working with such creative people who are telling a fantastic story about the friendship between New Zealand and Germany.”
Also in attendance was the German Ambassador to New Zealand, his Excellency Stefan Krawielicki.
In his speech to the audience, the Ambassador noted how the humour of Lifeswap allows New Zealanders and Germans to laugh at themselves, and understand our differences.
“It’s such an enriching experience for young people to go to New Zealand – or for young people to go to Germany – and learn about different approaches and shared values,” he said.
“Education is a bridge builder and makes young people [become] lifelong ambassadors.”
Lifeswap dates back to 2013, when creators and partners Kreft and Connor began to work together, pooling their considerable skills in language, animation, and cultural competency.
The pair said at the premiere that while they’re sad to leave Duncan and Jörg behind, their story is complete.
“It’s probably a little bit like what parents feel like when their kids are going to study overseas,” Kreft says.
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Think New with FutureLearn
Quicklinks
About the campaign
Campaign messaging
Tips for promoting the campaign
Check out the Brand Lab to download and use campaign assets
About the campaign
Objectives
- Test an online-focused audience’s appetite for courses delivered under an NZ country brand
- Explore sector capability and willingness for generating and promoting online courses
- Test, understand and validate ENZ's role in the online education space
- Maintaining awareness of the NZ Education brand and NZ as an education destination in target markets
FutureLearn platform and courses
- New Zealand’s offerings include short courses from leading universities, English language schools, vocational PTEs, Institutes of Technology, and edtech educators including virtual reality developers and game designers.
- These not for credit courses are on average 6-8 hours long from providers across the sector.
- FutureLearn is a global online education platform jointly owned by the UK’s Open University and The SEEK Group with an existing community of approximately 15 million learners globally.
- These courses are available to learners (including teachers and educators) all over the world, including here in New Zealand.
FutureLearn is actively promoting this campaign in the following prototype markets:
- Thailand, Japan, Korea, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, USA, Vietnam, Germany, UK, Colombia
In addition, ENZ will be promoting this opportunity to its global learner database, and through other owned channels, including website and social media.
Campaign messaging
By joining forces and sharing the same message, we can tell a stronger, more consistent story about the FutureLearn prototype, and the opportunity it represents.
The Campaign’s place in the wider strategy for international education
- ENZ is leading a programme of work that focuses on the diversification of international education products and services. It forms part of the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education, under the “Transforming to a More Sustainable Future State” workstream.
- The New Zealand International Education Strategy, 2018 is clear in its goals for achieving a thriving and globally connected New Zealand through world-class international education.
- Goal 2 of the Strategy is Sustainable Growth - the international education sector flourishes through diversification of markets, people flows and innovative products and services.
Talking points for providers
- We are proud to be part of ENZ’s new pilot, launched with FutureLearn.
- This initiative will showcase a selection of taster courses from New Zealand providers to worldwide online learners, under the national Think New brand umbrella.
- The 12-month initiative launched 8 June and is part ENZ’s Diversifying Products and Services programme of work.
- By taking part, we are supporting the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education.
Provider participation benefits
These messages are useful when talking about the campaign to other staff in your organisation- This initiative is an opportunity to further raise our profile to a global audience, benefiting from the exposure generated by FutureLearn and the ENZ-funded global campaign.
- We’re able to test a new recruitment and distribution channel at little cost.
- As providers, we receive notification of any further interest generated by these online courses, which could lead to further study opportunities – either online (on FutureLearn or elsewhere), or onshore when current border restrictions sufficiently ease.
- As part of the process FutureLearn worked alongside providers like us, supporting us while we created (or optimised) content for the platform.
- Standard membership fees are being waived by FutureLearn for this prototype.
- ENZ is also funding a global campaign via FutureLearn to promote the prototype.
More about FutureLearn
- FutureLearn offer courses from around 250 providers from around the world. These courses range from tasters to full online degrees.
- 15 million learners use the platform. Many (27%) users are UK-based but increasing numbers of learners across the globe are accessing FutureLearn.
Tips for promoting the campaign
By aligning our marketing activity, ENZ and providers can tell clear and consistent message about the online study courses available with FutureLearn and providers. Here are some tips to start promoting your FutureLearn courses on your channels:
Tip 1: Use the digital assets available in your promotions:
There are plenty of campaign assets designed with campaign messaging available for you to use now on The Brand Lab. Assets have been specifically created to use across websites, emails, social channels & other digital advertising.
Check out The Brand Lab to download and use images, animated tiles, email signatures, an editable ad template where you can feature your own logo and much more!
Tip 2: Share our FutureLearn & Online Learning blogs
We’ve created a blog for a learner audience to promote starting a New Zealand education online, through the FutureLearn product. Check out the blog here and share on your own social channels or website.
We also have supporting blog content written by students for learners thinking about online learning. You can also share this blog, and link to FutureLearn’s Study with New Zealand Online page
Tip 3: Follow and share FutureLearn’s posts on Study in New Zealand Facebook & Instagram channels
ENZ will be posting about New Zealand online study options on our Facebook and Instagram channels. You can easily share & repost this content on your own social channels to reach your own audience. This Facebook post is ready to share now.
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Mayoral events provide vibrant welcomes to students in their regions
Last month we shared some of the wonderful images that New Zealand schools, universities, PTEs, Te Pūkenga and English Language Schools shared with ENZ as they welcomed their new students for 2024. This month we are sharing details and images from the Mayoral welcomes that some of our regions have held for their visiting international students.
Thank you for adding to our diversity and vibrancy!
More than 40 international students were greeted by Whanganui District Council Mayor, Andrew Tripe, at a special Mayoral welcome to the community on Monday 8 April.
Speaking to the students from countries including Brazil, South Korea, Japan, Germany, China, India Indonesia, Thailand, and Viet Nam, the Mayor thanked them for choosing Whanganui and adding to the “diversity and vibrancy of our community”.
The students attending had enrolled in both secondary schools and tertiary institutions in the district such as Whanganui High School, UCOL Whanganui and the New Zealand International Commercial Pilot Academy.
Formal greeting over, the Mayor was rushed by students seeking a special ‘selfie moment’ to share with families and social media.
A group of Brazilian international students attending Whanganui High School take up the opportunity of a photo with the Whanganui District Council Mayor, Andrew Tripe.
Similar levels of excitement were seen in Hamilton where the Mayor of Hamilton, Paula Southgate and local performance groups welcomed approximately 250 new international students to the Waikato region. The welcome event was held at the Pā, University of Waikato and is the first welcome since the Covid-19 pandemic put these events on hold.
Mayor Paula Southgate providing the official welcome to the Waikato’s approximately 250 international students.
Faymie Li, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao’s Senior Advisor Student Experience said, “I was deeply honoured to witness this significant event and see how we demonstrate manaakitanga to our international students.
“The diverse cultures we embrace in Aotearoa is truly something to cherish and celebrate. It was wonderful to see so many school students attending the ceremony, offering them a unique student experience they don't typically encounter.”
Jiabao Zhao (Boa), a former international student who completed a Bachelor of Management Studies with First Class Honours at the University of Waikato, shared a message of encouragement with the students. Boa’s advice for new students was: to study hard but also “talk to and meet students from outside your country. It’s easy to remain in your comfort zone but that is not the point of studying abroad. Network and build your presence”.
Former University of Waikato International Student sharing a message of encouragement to the new international students.
She also reminded students to take care of both their physical and mental health. There will be challenges but also great opportunities, and her own study and career journey is testament to that. She now works as an International Sales Operation Executive at Prolife Foods Ltd in Hamilton.
A handful of the 250 students who travelled to the Pā at the University of Waikato, for the international student welcome.
Also in March, nearly 100 international students received a fine welcome centered on the theme of connection, by Timaru District Mayor, Nigel Bowen. The Timaru District will be home to students from Japan, China, Germany, Thailand, South Korean, Hong Kong, Macau, Fiji, Philippines, Brazil and Poland, and more over the course of this year. You can read about this welcome in the Stuff article here - Nearly 100 international students welcomed to Timaru | Stuff.
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Big audience for ECE symposium streamed live from China
The New Zealand-China Early Childhood Education Symposium streamed live from Qingdao in Shandong Province in September, attracting an audience of around 24,000 viewers on a Chinese language streaming service, 170 at the venue and dozens more online from Norway, Mexico and Turkey.
The audience for the symposium, organised by Education New Zealand, has grown 20-fold since the first event in 2020, proving the appeal of events streamed in several languages.
The theme of this year’s symposium was the best practice for developing high-quality early childhood education (ECE) teachers.
Data from 2020 show there were over 48 million children enrolled in Chinese kindergartens and a shortage of nearly 300,000 full-time ECE teachers.
Delegates heard from New Zealand experts at the Ministry of Education, the University of Auckland, the Open Polytechnic, AUT, Te Rito Maioha Early Childhood New Zealand and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology.
Toi Ohomai presenter Dr Rosemary Richards spoke from New Zealand on how to interact with children on visual art. She welcomes chances like these to share her work with a large and diverse audience.
“In this increasingly globalised world of education, it is important for educators to find ways to have meaningful connections that extend our intercultural and professional understandings,” Dr Richards says.
“The online symposium and live streaming also allowed for connections with wider communities and audiences that are not possible in traditional formats. Perhaps our future holds more potential for a combination of both.”
ENZ worked with the China Ministry of Education and the China Centre for International People-to-People Exchange to organise the symposium.
Local organisers included the Qingdao Municipal Education Bureau, the China National Society of Early Childhood Education, the Qingdao Preschool Education College and the Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education under Shanghai Normal University.
New Zealand and China collaborate on early childhood education under the mechanism of the Joint Working Group on Education and Training, last held in February 2021.
Want to know more about the symposium or upcoming ENZ initiatives in China? Contact China@enz.govt.nz
The University of Auckland’s Dr Marek Tesar and Dr Kiri Gould gave a keynote presentation on the pathway to becoming an ECE teacher. Audience members could scan the QR code on the screen to connect on WeChat.
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International students get behind Super Saturday vaccine drive
A group of students showed their concern and social responsibility by telling their stories to The New Zealand Herald ahead of the Super Saturday vaccination drive on 16 October 2021.
Education New Zealand Chief Executive Grant McPherson said it was great to see international students getting involved in the vaccination effort.
“New Zealand reaching its 90% vaccination target will aid in our recovery and bring us one step closer to welcoming more international students to Aotearoa,” he says.
“These are people who bring an array of benefits to community wellbeing, our global relationships, a productive workforce, a strong education system and enabling trade and diplomacy.”
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New student forum for NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme
Education New Zealand’s NauMai NZ platform is designed to inform, support and empower international students.
A WeChat mini programme – an app designed for the WeChat ecosystem popular with Chinese students – has extended NauMai NZ’s reach, attracting over 12,000 users in its first year.
The NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme helps students make the most of their New Zealand experience, with advice on everything from finding a part-time job and knowing their rental rights to looking after their wellbeing and understanding Kiwi English. There are also stories from students about their lives – for instance, people sharing ideas on what to do during their summer in New Zealand.
“We know that Chinese students prefer to connect with each other in their language, on the WeChat channel they trust,” says Faymie Li, Senior Advisor for Student Experience at ENZ.
“We’re delighted to see how much they enjoy this digital platform and how quickly it’s growing. It’s great to be able to connect Chinese students to each other and to people who’re willing to help them out.”
The WeChat mini programme has now run six livestreams hosted by experts, alumni and current international students on topics including employability, how to grow your network, and mental health and wellbeing. Students tuning in to watch can use the chat feature to ask questions.
The livestreams have attracted a total of nearly 3,000 live views with over 18,000 engagements during the live events and, so far, more than 1,000 views afterwards.
The WeChat mini programme has now added a new forum so that Chinese students and alumni can better share their life and study experiences and support one another. The text-based, moderated forum allows students to have their questions answered by their peers.
A group of international students have signed on as ambassadors for the WeChat forum, including alumni from the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia programme. One of the forum ambassadors, Mengdi Zhang, says she’s looking forward to connecting with newer students.
“I am excited to be a student ambassador so that any students with unresolved questions can reach out. I can see my own past in the students’ questions, and I hope to help them through to a better experience in New Zealand,” she said.
If you would like to know more about the NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme, contact faymie.li@enz.govt.nz. You can share it with others using the WeChat QR code.
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Strengthening ties with Chilean education agents
The event brought together a group of Chilean education agents for an opportunity to connect with ENZ Director of Engagement Javiera Visedo and Whitecliffe Regional Manager Lorena Mendes.
The attending agents learned about study options for Chilean students at Whitecliffe and had the chance to ask questions in an open, interactive setting designed to support learning and strengthen relationships.
Agents highlighted an increasing interest in studying in New Zealand amongst students, noting a significant increase in meetings and enquiries.
Whitecliffe College Regional Manager Lorena Mendes presenting to local education agents.
ENZ Director of Engagement Javiera Visedo said strengthening relationships with agents and capability building is key to increasing awareness of New Zealand and its diverse study options.
“Nothing compares to a face-to-face training session, where agents can raise day-to-day questions from students and have them answered on the spot,” she said.
Whitecliffe College Regional Manager, Lorena Mendes, said Chile is a market with enormous potential and a key partner for international student growth in New Zealand.
“Here, we find professionalism, warmth, and a genuine interest in continually offering students the best opportunities for them,” she said.
