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  • Southern Institute of Technology cultural education exchange introduces Aotearoa to Kansas

    When Covid hit, the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) knew that it was well placed to engage with its students digitally, as it already had a well-established distance learning faculty. The next move was to look at how that capability could be used for international education.

    Using distance learning for cultural education internationally

    Beyond widening its offering of fees-based online courses, SIT understood the value of establishing cultural exchanges which would engage current learners and potentially generate interest from future learners, says Study Abroad and Partnership Officer Whitney Irwin. She worked in collaboration with the School of Business faculty to set up the cultural exchange between SIT students and those at Johnson County Community College (JCCC) in Kansas, USA. “Being able to create buy-in and have a motivated faculty to get partnership projects across the line is the key to success. SIT has a wonderful culture, and we have all worked together to reorientate our international strategy for the greater good of SIT and our wider community.”

    Experiencing New Zealand Life from afar

    Twenty-five JCCC Economics students asked to be involved out of a class of sixty, reflecting a desire to learn about far-flung New Zealand, meet global peers and to try something new. From SIT, 23 Management students and 28 Communications students took part, with both groups of students using the interactions to produce assessed work.

    “Our aim was to allow US students to see New Zealand life and get a taste of who we are, what we do, and how do we do it, with the bonus that it could also lead to the opening of doors for students to visit New Zealand, and vice versa,” says tutor Selena Coburn.

    Using Zoom, Snapchat, and Instagram, students interviewed each other to learn about our different cultures, looking at differences in communication, lifestyle, politics, and making economic comparisons. Minimum wage, average house prices, and everyday living costs were compared, what the US and NZ dollar bought, and who was actually better off overall.

    They learned about New Zealand’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, rural life, Māori culture, the filming of the Lord of the Rings film trilogy, our outdoors lifestyle, and our connections with Australia. They also explored more personal subjects - relationships, music preferences, religious beliefs, parental expectations, and what they did in their spare time.

    “The Kansas students now have a real sense of the kind of people we are,” Ms Coburn says.

    Creating opportunities with a cultural education exchange

    Digital collaboration also presents an opportunity for students, both in New Zealand and offshore, who could never afford to travel or would be uncomfortable leaving their home country, to still experience the cultural exchange which international education offers,” Ms Irwin says.

    “It builds confidence and familiarity with a destination such as New Zealand which may encourage the students to travel here for study later on.”

    And this has proved to be the case, with six Kansas students already saying they are keen to come to New Zealand.

    “All going well, the intention is to host JCCC students here at SIT in 2023.” Ms Irwin says she expects the changes in the ways education is being delivered will continue well into the post-Covid environment.

    “Virtual exchanges are a fantastic collaboration of ideas, which can lead on to the development of other educational products and services.”

  • New Zealand education fair caps off busy season of engagement in Thailand

    The New Zealand Education Fair 2025 at Samyan Mitrtown Hall attracted over 2,500 registrations and welcomed 1,763 visitors –   a 20% increase from the previous year.  

    New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand HE Jonathan Kings (pictured second from left) alongside Thai alumni of New Zealand (from L to R) Dr. Arisarawan Tanasinsiri, Dr Teerawan Vanadurongwan and Jirayut Srupsrisopa.

    The event gave Thai prospective students and their families a chance to meet with providers from across New Zealand’s secondary, tertiary, and English language sectors. Attendees also heard directly from New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand, Jonathan Kings, along with three accomplished Thai alumni of New Zealand institutions. 

    Prospective students and their parents exploring New Zealand’s education offerings.

    Attendees of one of the five simulated New Zealand classroom sessions.

    The fair featured five simulated classrooms, offering hands-on experiences of New Zealand’s innovative, student-centred teaching style.  

    Awardee of the lucky draw air ticket campaign (pictured centre) alongside (from L to R) ENZ Market Manager Chor Pramoolpol, ENZ Regional Director Ben Burrowes, Kanchana Jangjaroen, Account Manager from Air New Zealand and ENZ Programme Manager Jaruwan Pongjaruwat.

    A popular initiative at the fair was the “Apply Now, Fly Free” campaign, where 39 New Zealand institutions collectively offered an air fare scholarship to students applying at the fair. A wide range of scholarships and study opportunities were also showcased. 

    Further activity in Chonburi, Bangkok, Chachoengsao and Chiang Mai 

    To build on the momentum of the fair, ENZ organised a roadshow to more than 15 schools across Chonburi, Bangkok, Chachoengsao, and Chiang Mai, engaging directly with students, parents, and school counsellors. 

    The agent seminar, held alongside the fair, brought together more than 100 education agents who received a market update from ENZ and other New Zealand government agencies on New Zealand’s education policies and programmes and networked with participating New Zealand providers. 

    Beyond Bangkok, New Zealand institutions extended their reach through agent-led mini fairs in Chiang Mai and Chonburi on 31 August, hosted by education agencies A&T New Zealand Centre and Infogroup Education, respectively. These events helped connect Thai regional audiences with New Zealand education opportunities. 

    Strategic partnerships between New Zealand and Thailand were also strengthened during the fair week, with a Memorandum of Understanding signed between Assumption College and seven New Zealand secondary schools. 

    ENZ Programme Manager for Thailand, Jaruwan Pongjaruwat, said the energy and enthusiasm from prospective students and their parents across the events was heartening.  

    “This year’s fair and roadshow was a powerful demonstration of the growing interest in New Zealand education among Thai students and their families,” she said. 

    “We’re proud to work alongside our New Zealand provider partners and Thai agents to create meaningful pathways for students. These events are not just about recruitment — they’re about building long-term relationships and trust,” Jaruwan added. 

    Post-fair engagements continued in Chiang Mai, where ENZ held sessions with school counsellors and directors to explore collaboration opportunities. A dedicated agent function in early September further reinforced the important role that Thai education agents play in supporting student recruitment. 

    ENZ then joined a school roadshow in Udon Thani and Khon Kaen, promoting New Zealand education alongside a school cluster from Auckland and Nelson. The team visited three schools, engaging over 400 students with presentations on New Zealand’s secondary education system, and hosted a seminar in Khon Kaen for prospective students and their families. 

  • Get involved in the next Korea–New Zealand Digital School Exchange Programme

    Programme information 

    • Number of New Zealand schools selected: Up to 10. 

    • Who can apply: Schools with students in Year 7-9. 

    • Number of participating students per session: 20-25 (Korean schools typically involve a full class of 20-25 students per exchange session. If a New Zealand school wishes to include more than 25 students, they can form multiple groups of around 20 students each to participate separately.)  

    • Exchange period: Four, one-hour Zoom sessions held weekly from Monday 11 May 2026 to Monday 8 June 2026. 

    • Exchange times: To accommodate both time zones, exchange sessions will be scheduled between 12:00-3:00pm NZT.  

    • Participation fee: Free of charge. 

    Why join?  

    • Promote your school to a South Korean audience for free  

    • Showcase New Zealand’s unique education environment and culture  

    • Engage your students in a hybrid STEM and cultural exchange  

    • No added work to your teaching load - LEL takes care of all the admin and logistics, allowing you to simply show up with your classroom and enjoy the global learning experience  

    Teachers in previous rounds praised the programme for its smooth delivery and the enthusiasm it sparked in their classrooms.  

    Check out the story from the previous programme:  New Zealand – Korea digital student exchange » Education NZ  

    How it works  

    ENZ and Seoul MOE work closely with Learn English Live (LEL), who will:  

    • Coordinate all communication with New Zealand schools. 

    • Match exchange times with Korean schools and New Zealand schools. 

    • Provide pre-training for New Zealand teachers and students. 

    • Facilitate sessions using topics tailored for digital exchanges ranging from culture & language sharing, United Nation SDG projects, STEM learning, global citizenship and much more. 

    In previous programmes, NZ teachers appreciated not having to prepare or run the sessions themselves—LEL takes care of everything.  

    Is this right for your school?  

    This programme is a great fit for schools that:   

    • Are looking to build long-term sister-school relationships with Korean schools, especially through social studies, cultural/global studies, languages or global citizenship education.  

    • See value in soft marketing opportunities, promoting their school in Korea in a meaningful, low-pressure and no cost way, and are interested in attracting potential international students over the long term.  

    Application timeline 

    • Applications close: Friday 12 December 2025 11:59pm  

    • Selection process: 15 – 16 December   

    • Notification of outcome: Wednesday 17 December  

    • Next steps: From April 2026, selected schools will be contacted by LEL with a detailed guide  

    If you wish to apply for this programme, please fill out the Expression of Interest (EOI) here or scan the QRCode below.  

    If you have any questions, please contact ENZ (Alana Pellow ) or Learn English Live (William Clarke ).  

    Background    

    ENZ has partnered with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (Seoul MOE) to run digital classroom exchanges since 2021 with ENZ education technology partner Learn English Live (LEL) . These exchanges have created meaningful connections between students, teachers, and schools in both countries. NZ students have had the opportunity to connect with their Korean peers, build global friendships, and experience cross-cultural learning—all from their own classrooms.  

  • South Korea event series highlights growing interest in New Zealand

    New Zealand Education Fair in Korea draws strong interest 

    The New Zealand Education Fair in Seoul brought together 40 New Zealand schools and institutions, offering students and parents the chance to explore study opportunities directly with representatives. 

     

    Representatives from University of Auckland English Academy showcasing study options available to prospective students and their parents at the New Zealand Education Fair.

    The event attracted 2,100 pre-registrations, with 900 participants attending on the day, underscoring the strong demand for New Zealand education pathways. Families engaged in one-to-one consultations, gaining tailored advice on study options, English preparation, and scholarship opportunities.

    During the fair, alumni speakers were invited to share their personal journeys and provide guidance to attendees. They spoke about effective English study strategies before departure, practical approaches to a family “one-year living in New Zealand” experience, and the pathways from New Zealand study to admission into leading universities.  

    Strong interest in primary education 

    The fair confirmed a notable shift in interest, with Korean families showing particularly strong enthusiasm for primary education opportunities in New Zealand.  

    Many families expressed interest in spending at least a year in New Zealand with their young children, allowing them to experience the country’s safe and nurturing education environment first-hand. This reflects a growing trend in Korea towards family-based study abroad and “one-year living overseas” experiences. 

    Expanding interest in New Zealand education 

    While in Korea, New Zealand schools took part in the Agent Seminar and one-to-one meetings attended by 51 Korean education agency representatives. There was notable participation from agencies not specialising solely in New Zealand, who are now increasingly considering it a key English-speaking study destination to promote.  

    The event also provided a valuable opportunity for active engagement between New Zealand education providers and agents, followed by the New Zealand Education Night Reception at the official residence of New Zealand’s Ambassador to South Korea, H.E Dawn Bennet. There, deeper exchanges were held with Korean government officials, education stakeholders, and agency representatives. 

    Positive feedback from schools and families 

    New Zealand schools noted the high level of engagement and the quality of conversations with Korean students and their families at the New Zealand Education Fair. Attendees also shared positive feedback, commenting on the value of direct consultations with New Zealand education providers. 

    The Korea fair followed ENZ-led events in Thailand, Japan, and Vietnam, and marked the final stop in this season’s dedicated New Zealand education fairs across Asia. Together, these events have strengthened New Zealand’s connections with families across the region and reinforced the country’s reputation as a world-class study destination. 

    ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager based in Seoul, Kay Lee, said the fair was a valuable platform to not only promote a New Zealand education, but gather insights too. 

    “It clearly showed how market trends and the expectations of Korean students and families are evolving,” she said. 

    “For students, it provided a strong understanding of the benefits of New Zealand’s education system, while for schools it was an invaluable opportunity to engage directly with highly interested families,” Kay added. 

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