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• NauMai NZ is 2

  Since launch, NauMai NZ has had half a million page views and just under 300,000 users accessing practical resources on topics such as Visas and immigration, Personal wellbeing, Housing, and Working, not to mention learning about Māori culture, improving English language skills, making friends, living like a local or getting a part time job.

  The platform has a bounce rate of just 15% and 11,500 students have joined the NauMai NZ database.  ENZ’s AI chatbot Tohu sits on the platform, and the NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme launched late last year, ensures resources are delivered to the platform of choice for Chinese students.

  One focus in 2020 was obviously how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. An official COVID-19 page was launched, collating and curating trusted and relevant government information particular to international students. To accompany this page, a ‘Stay Well, Stay Connected’ page was launched, recognising the particular challenges that the pandemic brings around health and wellbeing. These pages have to date received over 90,000 views.

  Throughout 2020, content that wasn’t COVID-19 specific was also developed. Through research, we identified and developed new topics including Managing your money, Sexual healthcare and Dating, relationships and sex.

  As the 2020 academic year ended and borders remained closed, the ‘Summer in NZ’ microsite was launched, remaining live until April this year. The purpose was to inform and support students remaining in New Zealand over summer when they would normally return to their families and home country. The Student Experience team at ENZ was very aware that an unexpected summer in New Zealand may put stress on some students.

  We pulled together information from multiple sources, including from tourism operators and regional development agencies. Summer partnerships with LinkedIn and AFS New Zealand were also promoted to proactively engage students with their skill development resources.  

  NauMai NZ is still growing and as 2021 moves at pace, ongoing content development continues alongside user journey review and improvement.

  “NauMai NZ is a valuable resource enabling ENZ to communicate with and support international students – particularly during the pandemic,” ENZ Director – Student Experience & Global Citizens, Sahinde Pala, says.

  “We look forward to evolving it to better serve students’ needs, both in New Zealand and offshore, in 2021 and beyond.”

  2021 brings a complexity of challenges for students.  The challenge for NauMai NZ is to meet and address those challenges - better supporting the many students who remain studying in New Zealand and the increasing numbers of those studying offshore with a New Zealand provider, and of course being ready to welcome students when they are able to travel here in the future.

  But for now, happy birthday NauMai NZ, and a big thank you from us to everyone who has supported its development and use.

• Schools sector infrastructure a key focus of renewed ENZ-SIEBA partnership

  Under the agreement, SIEBA will provide resources and support tailored to schools, including webinars, workshops and newsletters, mentoring, good practice templates and advice.

  “We hope that this partnership will help schools retain the infrastructure and expertise they’ve worked so hard to build,” ENZ Business Development Manager Mary Camp says.

  “We’re looking forward to continuing our strategic partnership with SIEBA, working together to offer practical ways to support schools and their staff through the next phase of the pandemic.”

  SIEBA played a key role in supporting hundreds of schools through the early days of COVID. From April to June 2020, ENZ enabled SIEBA to provide triage support and crisis advice services to schools across the country, providing advice to manage issues related to the closure of the border and repatriation of international students.

  “We are very pleased to extend our partnership with ENZ and be involved in the important work of helping the school sector be ‘Ready-to-Go’ when students can once again enrol in New Zealand schools,” SIEBA Executive Director, John van der Zwan, says.

  “Special effort will go to providing professional learning and development and support for new international professionals as they join the sector and to provide opportunities for all international staff to explore and prepare for the challenges of working in a post COVID-19 environment.”

• Festival puts spotlight on global citizenship

  The three-day summit held in-person at Wellington’s TSB Arena and around the world virtually, hosted more than 1,300 attendees from across all New Zealand regions. The event also attracted an online audience from more than 30 countries.

  ENZ supported several international students and Prime Minister’s Scholarship alumni to attend the festival including  Matt Le, who says the three-day summit was a valuable and memorable experience to be part of.

  “Simply put, Festival for the Future represents the idea of: when change-makers get into the same room and have an open discussion about the future, great things are bound to bloom.

  Matt says he enjoyed the inspirational stories and meaningful conversations cultivated by the event.  

  “For me, it was the realisation that change is possible, and change can start today.”

  ENZ Global Citizens Manager Carla Rey Vasquez says the festival was a great opportunity to advance continued work on Global Citizenship, the third pillar of the International Education Strategy (NZIES).

  “We partnered with Inspiring Stories because we firmly believe in the kaupapa of Festival for the Future, we want to show the world that New Zealand is a place where people care, where they take action on the things they care about and where new thinking is encouraged.”

  As a silver sponsor of the festival, ENZ hosted attendees in a lounge on the festival’s marketplace floor, where they were invited to share coffee and a korero/conversation about international education and what it means to them. Their responses are being collated by ENZ and will help shape future work in advancing Goal Three of the NZIES.

  Carla says ENZ wants every student who engages with the New Zealand education system to unleash their potential to change the world.

  “The expo space offered ENZ the opportunity to connect directly with change-makers, innovators, influencers, leaders and dreamers, and to hear their thoughts about what Global Citizenship means to them, and what a New Zealand education can offer the world.”

  The booth was visited by over 800 participants, and the team conducted and collected over 500 surveys.

  “These insights will be critical in informing our approach to Global Citizenship strategy and how ENZ can contribute to this space in the future,” Carla says.

  ENZ also supported the Global Impact Award during the event’s awards night. The award was presented to Francesca Goodman-Smith - a young New Zealander taking action to stop food waste globally, and presented by ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson.

  See a list of nominees and winners of the 2021 Impact Awards here: theimpactawards.nz/2021-winners
  

  If you’d like to know more about the Festival for the Future and ENZ’s involvement, get in touch with us here: info@enz.govt.nz

• 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.

• New Zealand to begin opening up to vaccinated foreign nationals from 30 April 2022

  COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says New Zealand will be removing the requirement to go into managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) for most travellers in stages, but they will have to self-isolate for seven days, with pre-departure and post-arrival testing.

  Travellers will be able to enter New Zealand without going into MIQ in three steps:

  • Step 1 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from Australia, from 11.59 pm on Sunday 16 January 2022, provided they have been in Australia or New Zealand for the past 14 days.
  • Step 2 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from all but Very High-Risk countries, from 11.59 pm on Sunday 13 February 2022.
    
    
  • Step 3 – opening to fully vaccinated foreign nationals, possibly staged by visa category, from Saturday 30 April 2022 onwards.

  The Very High-Risk classification for Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed in early December 2021 and travellers from these countries will be able to enter New Zealand on the same basis as travellers from most other countries. Papua New Guinea will continue to be classified as Very High-Risk. 

  The three steps are a medium risk pathway. Those who do not meet the requirements for a medium risk pathway, but are still permitted to enter New Zealand under current border settings, will continue to enter MIQ upon arrival under the new regime of seven days in managed isolation, followed by three days of home isolation. This will include those who do not meet vaccination requirements, including unvaccinated New Zealand citizens and those from Very High-Risk countries.

  All travellers not required to go into MIQ will still require:

  • a negative pre-departure test
  • proof of being fully vaccinated
  • a passenger declaration about travel history
  • a day 0/1 test on arrival
  • a requirement to self-isolate for seven days, and
  • a final negative test before entering the community.

  “It’s very encouraging that as a country we are now in a position to move towards greater normality,” Minister Chris Hipkins said.

  “We always said we’d open in a controlled way, and this started with halving the time spent in MIQ to seven days. Retaining a seven-day isolate at home period for fully vaccinated travellers is an important phase in the reconnecting strategy to provide continued safety assurance.

  “These settings will continue to be reviewed against the risk posed by travellers entering New Zealand,” he said.

  “There continues to be a global pandemic with cases surging in Europe and other parts of the world, so we do need to be very careful when reopening the border.”

  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao Chief Executive Grant McPherson has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s move towards opening the borders to international students.

  “This news is a great boost for the international education sector. We will keep education providers and international students up to date as we learn more on the detail of how the changes will work,” he said.

  The New Zealand Government will release further details on how self-isolation will be implemented in December 2021. There will be guidance on how people can travel from their arrival airport to their location of self-isolation and requirements for the places where they can self-isolate.

  For more information, read the media release from COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins – Reconnecting New Zealand – the next steps.

  For the latest official New Zealand Government information and advice, go to covid19.govt.nz

• From the Chief Executive: Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays

  While I am optimistic about the New Year, the impact is real, and as we have seen today, the uncertainty is likely to be ongoing. There is much to do as we rebuild our sector through 2022 and into 2023.

  Over the past 12 months, we have all had to adjust to an ever-changing environment. A good example is the growth of online and offshore-based courses, and programmes that offer pathways to onshore study or blended learning. These options are helping to hold the interest of students who want to study with New Zealand.

  At Education New Zealand, our focus has been on supporting our students and our sector, diversifying products and services and protecting New Zealand’s education brand. In each area, we have made progress.

  Our contribution to the development of border class exceptions has seen the return of some international students to our shores. We have enjoyed welcoming them back and look forward to seeing more students over the coming year.

  In August 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World framework. ENZ has been working with the Ministry of Education, Immigration New Zealand, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that government agencies are ready to respond to a phased reopening of the border. 

  I would like to acknowledge the efforts being made across government agencies and within the international education sector to engage and respond with fresh ideas and momentum. There will no doubt be further developments in the New Year.

  We have just launched a new website and brand materials in line with our latest campaign – Study with New Zealand. This is the next evolution of New Zealand’s education brand, designed to appeal to students who want to explore our new, flexible study options. 

  The shift from studying in New Zealand to studying with New Zealand is the result of a lot of careful work to protect our brand.  Alongside the efforts of our teams at virtual events and trade fairs, including the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai, this work is helping to keep our brand alive as we move towards reconnecting with the world.

  A pilot project with global learning platform FutureLearn is a good example of our work to diversify our products and services. The initial results have demonstrated the potential for marketing online courses from New Zealand to new audiences around the globe.

  With more to do as we move into 2022, I hope there is an opportunity for all of us to rest and recharge with family and friends over the summer break.

  I would like to wish everyone involved in international education across the world a Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays. 

  On behalf of all at ENZ, thank you for your open and honest support. I look forward to working with you all in 2022.

  He waka eke noa
  We’re all in this together.

  Grant McPherson
  Chief Executive, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao

• Education sector delegation for Dubai Expo

  The delegates from ENZ, the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, Victoria University of Wellington, Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology and private sector education technology companies ByteEd and ARA Journeys will be in Dubai between 22 and 25 January 2022.

  Expo 2020 Dubai is a global trade fair currently being hosted by Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. It was scheduled to get underway in 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.    

  ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the New Zealand Government’s recent announcement that it will relax border requirements for fully vaccinated New Zealanders and foreign nationals in stages next year was a clear signal of the country returning to more normal times.

  “The prospect of more open borders in the coming year is a timely reminder of the opportunities that exist to build awareness of New Zealand’s unique education offering,” said Mr McPherson.

  “The Expo is a great platform for New Zealand’s education sector to kick start this process at a global event.”

  Mr McPherson said the involvement of two leading education technology companies was particularly pleasing as both were introducing leading-edge augmented reality (AR) products to the Expo audience.

  ByteEd will be drawing on its web-based platform for teachers and students and introducing AR software to kits for STEM subjects – science, technology engineering and mathematics.

  ARA Journeys will profile its award-winning games, which will stream into the New Zealand Pavilion from the company’s Auckland headquarters to offer the full interactive experience to visitors.

  “Technology is a core building block for future education initiatives and a key element of the country’s international education strategy,” Mr McPherson said.

  “The participation of ByteEd and ARA Journeys at this major international event is a reflection of the forward-looking strategies of both these companies.”  

  While in Dubai, the delegation aims to foster government and institutional connections and build relationships with agents and students. 

  The four-day programme, facilitated by ENZ, will centre on Expo 2020 Dubai’s International Day of Education on 24 January 2022. It will include a networking function, seminars and face-to-face meetings with key stakeholders hosted at the New Zealand Pavilion.

  Find out more about Expo 2020 Dubai.

• New Zealand – South Korea digital student exchange

  From September to December 2021 more than 300 New Zealand students from a range of primary, intermediate and secondary schools joined with more than 700 students from elementary and middle schools in Seoul and Gangwon in digital classroom cultural exchanges.  

  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao worked in partnership with two education organisations in South Korea, Gangwon International Education Institute and Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, as well as with NZ-based Learn English Live, to deliver the programme.  

  The sessions included conversation in English, peer-to-peer teaching and learning, cultural learnings and sharing, and interactive games.  Student responses to the programme across both countries highlighted how much they enjoyed meeting people from different cultures and learning to respect different views. Around 70% of New Zealand students said they made a South Korean friend through the digital exchange forums while South Korean students highlighted the improvement in their English language skills, with 70% saying they would like to come to New Zealand. 

  Parents and teachers also shared heart-warming comments about the how the programme had built their child’s confidence and given them a leadership opportunity. In a survey conducted at the completion of the programme, parents of Lara, a nine-year old New Zealand girl, shared their experience. “It’s been excellent to observe Lara’s leadership ability shine through. I never realised how confident she is and her ability to teach and interact with kids from a different culture…  Lara has become more aware of other cultures and appreciates the diversity around her.”

  Teachers were also impressed, with one from Manurewa Intermediate commenting, "I want my students to be a part of this programme because it teaches them so many skills."

  Following the success of the initial programme, the digital student exchange is set to continue in 2022, expanding to more New Zealand schools and implementing new ideas from students to meet their growing interest in other cultures and languages.  New Zealand schools interested in joining the 2022 digital culture exchange can contact William Clarke at Learn English Live: William.h.clarke@hotmail.com

  Education cooperation initiatives with ENZ, such as the Global Competence Certificate and this programme of digital culture exchanges are supported by the Arrangement on Education Cooperation that was signed by ENZ and Gangwon International Education Institute in November 2021.  A similar agreement was reached with Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education last March.   

  The digital student exchange programme is in line with ENZ’s goal to develop global citizens as part of the New Zealand International Education Strategy 2018-2030.

• Fourth cohort of 5,000 international students as a border exception

  The students will be able to enter New Zealand from mid-2022 as a border exception, through a centrally managed process.

  Student places will be allocated across the sector, based on the proportion of international students who were attending each type of education provider pre-COVID in 2019:

  • University 1,450 
  • Te Pūkenga 700
  • School (year 9 and above) 1,000
  • PTE (including pilot training) 850
  • English Language School 1,000 

  ENZ and the Ministry of Education are currently consulting with the peak bodies for universities, Te Pūkenga, PTEs, ELS and schools, on a draft implementation framework. The framework will include information on the allocation of places to providers, criteria for nomination of students to these places and all related processes. If you are an education provider who is not aligned to a peak body, you can request a copy of the draft framework by emailing c4@enz.govt.nz.

  The implementation framework is expected to be finalised by 14 March 2022, and more information will then be made available for prospective students and the wider education sector. 

  Education providers will be responsible for determining eligible students to fill their allocation of places, and submitting information on these students to education agencies. Education agencies will confirm with providers that the students meet the criteria, and nominate these students to Immigration New Zealand. 

  As with previous border exceptions, students who are interested should talk to their prospective education providers and indicate their interest.

  Expected timings are as follows:

  • Mid-March 2022 – decisions begin to be communicated about the allocation of places to individual education providers
  • Mid-late March 2022 – education providers begin nominating students 
  • 13 April 2022 – the border exception visa application process opens for cohort 4 students
  • From mid-2022 – students are in New Zealand ready to begin their study.

  We appreciate that the timings are tight, and everyone involved will need to work closely together so we can make the most of this opportunity.

  Students will need to meet the same living cost requirements as the previous cohort, namely funds of $15,000pa for school students and $20,000pa for other students. 

  Students will also need to comply with the vaccination and other health requirements that apply at their time of travel. Read more about travel to New Zealand on the Unite against COVID-19 website: Travel to New Zealand

• Strong interest in Aotearoa New Zealand from Latin America

  Students ranked New Zealand second highest as a destination of interest for a future international education programme.  The top factors influencing their decisions post-COVID-19 were visa processing, accommodation costs and the academic quality of the institution.

  The top decision-making factors for agents were course costs, border settings and airfare costs. 

  New Zealand ranked highly for competence in managing the pandemic and health control, but it ranked fourth for agents on adequate infrastructure for the reception of international students in the near future.  Both agents and students said face-to-face was the preferred mode of study. 

  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao sponsored the survey run by the Brazilian Education and Language Travel Association (BELTA) across Latin America, to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international education sector.

  ENZ’s Latin America team shared the BELTA Latin America 2021 survey results with around 50 industry representatives and agents at a virtual forum in December 2021.

  The event also celebrated ENZ’s Recognised Agencies (ENZRA) for their contribution to maintaining the visibility of New Zealand’s education brand during the pandemic. 

  You can view the webinar and related materials on Intellilab here.