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• IEGF funding broadens markets

  Unsure how you can use the International Education Growth Fund (IEGF) to help innovate your offering?

  We talked to Mike Walmsley, Chief Executive of Code Avengers, about how he has used the IEGF to grow his business.

  ENZ: So Mike, what’s Code Avengers all about?

  Mike: We have developed an online learning platform that teaches people how to build their own apps, games and websites in a way that is effective and fun as possible.

  We are looking to expand into other related subject areas. Starting with a design focus – so, not only how to code software but also how to make it look nice. And, moving on to things like copy writing – making sure the content on your website or app engages learners – and tips on digital marketing that will get people actually using the product!

  What has the International Education Growth Fund enabled you to do?

  Our IEGF proposal was for internationalising our website. Our online courses contain a whole series of interactive exercises where people actually write code and build products as they learn. Initially, the instructions in these exercises were only available in English and those who didn’t have a reading age above 12 would struggle to follow them.

  The fund enabled us to translate the course material into other languages – Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch! We’re also working on a Japanese translation. Thankfully, we’d developed the material with this in mind, so the translation process has been relatively straightforward.

  Dutch is sort of the odd one out there. How that arose, was that one of our customers in the Netherlands offered to translate the content into Dutch while she was on holiday in Thailand. We jumped at the chance, and used that as a translation test case, which was really helpful.

  This young woman is now working with us full time on marketing and promoting Code Avengers, including the code camps and clubs that we run. The IEGF funding has also enabled her to promote our products and engage partner organisations in other parts of Europe.

  While we’re here, do you have any advice for others considering launching an EdTech business?

  In any start up, passion is the key. You’ve got big competition, there are a lot of challenges and it’s not easy. In my case, I’m also doing a PhD part time and have a couple of kids, so that all adds to the challenge. For at least the first year and a half, I didn’t have anyone working with me full time, so really I think it’s the passion that keeps you going. The passion, combined with the feedback you get from customers, means you end up building a product that they like. Those two things are key.

  What’s the most rewarding thing about your work?

  One is definitely the feedback you get from customers. One customer emailed us saying that for their whole life – for 45 years – they thought they were really bad at maths and useless at learning anything that was quantitative.

  After doing our courses, which have quite a bit of math in them, they’re feeling really good about themselves. They said, “for 45 years, I thought I was dumb and now it’s just I’ve been taught in the wrong way.”

  Realising that your work can actually have real impact on someone’s life is probably the most satisfying thing. 

  Find out more about Code Avengers here.

• Study Auckland local agent forum

  Connections were made via a series of 15-minute meetings plus networking over lunch at the Hilton Auckland.

  “It was a great day and well organised,” said Lesley King, Director of International Students at Glen Eden Intermediate School. 

  “Meeting local agents is always worthwhile and hopefully we will gain some worthwhile partnerships.”

  After lunch, the agents received an update from Immigration New Zealand’s Education Sector Relationship Manager, Katy Aldcroft.

  The update covered Immigration Online and the Pathway Student Visa option.

  “Local agent forums have been part of Study Auckland’s work for many years, and highlight the important role onshore agents play in driving international education growth in the Auckland region,” said Study Auckland Manager, Nick Arnott.

  “The agents also really appreciated the Immigration New Zealand update and the lively Q&A session that followed.”

• New website address reflects government endorsement

  Our research demonstrated that websites which are clearly identifiable as government-endorsed have a distinct advantage in the international marketplace.

  The studyinnewzealand.govt.nz address lends legitimacy and credibility to the website. The .govt url can’t be faked, and our audience understands this.

  It is invaluable in building trust in our brand and the information we provide for international audiences. It is also in line with the practice of our nearest competitor: www.studyinaustralia.gov.au

• Student visa approval rates available

  

  The list of approval rates for student visas is updated every year by Immigration New Zealand and relates to the change to Rule 18 of the Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules, which was implemented in October 2015. Only relevant student visa categories are counted to produce this list, which covers offshore student visa applications only.

  The rule change brought in to effect different programme entry requirements for international students from countries with a student visa approval rate below 80 per cent. English language entry requirements for international students from countries with a student visa approval rate of 80 percent or above remained the same.

  Organisations have until 2 March 2016 to reflect the updated approval rates. 

• Saudi event changes

  The 2016 International Exhibition and Conference on Education (IECHE) – traditionally the key recruitment event for the year – has been cancelled by the organisers.

  To ensure New Zealand continues to be promoted as an education destination to prospective students in 2016, ENZ is considering participating in IGEC’s upcoming International Educational Expertise Forum (IEEF) events in Jeddah and Riyadh on 24 - 27 April 2016.

  These events are expected to attract industry participants from Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Turkey and South Africa, as well as New Zealand.

  The IEEF events have received approval from the Saudi Ministry of Education and organisers are able to issue invitations for visas.

  To coincide with the IEEF events, ENZ will host an Agent Seminar at the New Zealand Embassy in Riyadh, and will support in-market networking with key scholarship sponsors.

  IEEF event registration

  Registration for IEEF is made by emailing the registration form directly to the organisers. The form is available on the Saudi events page, accessed via ENZ’s Event Calendar.

  ENZ’s Agent Seminar registration

  Registration for the Agent Seminar can also be done via ENZ’s Event Calendar.

  Please email questions to middleeast@enz.govt.nz.

• Pulling in for a roadmap pit stop

  More than 200 participants from all sectors met across five centres to discuss where we are on the roadmap journey, what’s changed, and where we go next.

  The Strategic Roadmaps were developed in 2014 following extensive discussion and workshops to create a roadmap, or strategic plan, to achieve the 2025 goals for the international education industry.

  “It was good to reconvene and recognise the significant achievements of the past year, as well as look out to future challenges and consider what they could mean for the strategic choices that were identified in 2014,” says Greg Scott, ENZ Business Development Manager.

  “All 2014 strategic choices were put on the table to revisit and reconsider, and we’re working through the wealth of feedback industry gave us.”

  Feedback shows that diversifying markets, balancing growth across New Zealand, as well as strengthening cross-sector collaboration and pathways, continuing market-led product development, and growing capability are common top priorities.

  More detail on the reprioritised strategic choices by sector will be available in early 2016.

  Clive Jones, ENZ General Manager Business Development, says the pit stops showed a bright outlook: “Over 85% of participants indicated that they are more optimistic about their international education business than a year earlier, which is a good way to begin a new year.”

• Pathway visa announced

  This is great news for our industry and one of the priority actions identified in the international education industry strategic roadmap developed in 2014.  

  The pathway student visa will allow international students to undertake up to three consecutive programmes of study with selected education providers on a single visa that is valid for up to five years. A pathway programme can be offered by a single provider, or by a group of providers. For example, a student could obtain a pathway visa to study for three consecutive years at a school, or obtain a visa to undertake a year of study at an English language institution, progress to a year-long foundation programme, and follow that with a three-year degree programme.

  Over 500 primary, secondary and tertiary institutions have been invited to participate in the 18 month pilot on the basis that they have a student visa application approval rate of 90 percent or higher for the 2014/15 financial year. A list of participating New Zealand education providers is available on the Immigration New Zealand (INZ) website.

  The 18 month pilot period started on 7 December and will enable INZ to evaluate pilot outcomes, such as student transition rates from the first to the second programme of study and how well the arrangements between education providers are working.

  Find out more about the key conditions and features of the pathway visa on the Immigration New Zealand website here.

• Indian student success stories in the news

  You can read summaries of the stories below, and follow the link to read the article in The Hindu. To read the Woman’s Weekly article, you’ll need to get hold of a copy of the magazine itself.

  ENZ is keen to facilitate more of this sort of coverage at home and abroad, so please send your ideas for such stories to media@enz.govt.nz.

  INDIA: Design in New Zealand

  

  Aniket Ujjainkar, an Indian international student was profiled last week in a leading Indian newspaper, The Hindu, which has a daily circulation of more than 1.3 million. Anikat recently secured his dream job as a Creature Assistant Technical Director at Weta Digital. He credits his success to the practical, hands on teaching approach he experienced at Media Design School where he studied towards a Bachelor of Art and Design degree. Film and animation studies are niche courses that New Zealand has particular expertise in. Animation is an emerging market in India with good job prospects and is gaining popularity with students. It is through profile pieces like this that we are raising awareness about New Zealand’s offering in this area. One of New Zealand’s strengths is our focus on work-ready graduates and this first-hand student account powerfully demonstrates how students can apply their skills from study to the workforce. ENZ first met with Aniket when Media Design School kindly hosted an Indian journalist as part of ENZ’s media familiarisation programme.

  NEW ZEALAND: Everest record breakers – Southland Sisters’ Double Joy

  

  This month ten recipients of the Indian New Zealand Sports Scholarships completed their year-long scholarships at New Zealand institutions. Tashi and Nungshi Malik studied a graduate diploma in sport and recreation at the Southern Institute of Technology in Invercargill and were featured in the 23 November issue of the New Zealand Woman’s Weekly magazine.  In April the twins became the youngest in the world to complete the “Explorers Grand Slam” – having reached the North and South pole as well as climbing the seven highest peaks of the world including Mount Everest. They also champion women’s rights, using their mountaineering as a metaphor to demonstrate that women can achieve to the same heights as their male counterparts. The article highlights New Zealand’s reputation as a peaceful destination with friendly people and a great outdoor lifestyle.

  After meeting the group of scholarship students. ENZ saw the human interest aspect in the twins’ story and contacted the magazine. Telling the story of international students and their contribution to New Zealand is a priority for ENZ.

• Rugby and English language-the competitive edge for Brazilian athletes

  Canterbury welcomed three male Brazilian rugby players in March this year for a five month period as part of a pilot Game On English programme. This is a partnership between English New Zealand and Education New Zealand (ENZ), provided by Christchurch College of English Limited (CCEL) and the Canterbury Rugby Union, with the support of the Brazilian Rugby Union and Christchurch Educated.” The programme combines daily language classes with high performance rugby training.

  The three students have been enrolled at the Crusaders International High Performance Unit’s Elite Programme and at CCEL College of English. They all have represented their country as part of the U19 Brazilian National Team. The players have immersed themselves in Kiwi culture including staying with local host families arranged by CCEL, and they have travelled around the South Island during their free time. The boys have had the opportunity to be coached by current All Blacks coaching staff including Mike Cron. They have also trained with some of the Canterbury Crusader Academy players!

  “The way people welcomed me here when I first arrived was overwhelming. Everybody here is so friendly, so welcoming, always caring about my wellbeing – my host family, my teachers at CCEL, and in the Crusaders. Everyone is really amazing. This made me feel part of the place. I never felt disconnected or isolated, which made me adapt and fit in really easily.

  “Coming to the rugby nation sounded just perfect to me: studying and improving my English in a full immersion programme, which you can only get in an English speaking country. The opportunity to live in a developed country where it is safe, clean and people are so friendly and polite, stay in the Canterbury region home to some of the top rugby players in New Zealand and in the world is amazing. To get to travel through the South Island of New Zealand, with its beautiful landscape, clear skies, the Southern Alps was wonderful. I can’t think of a better place for this”

  Bruno Araujo 19, who played for Brazil’s national U19 team and currently plays at Jacarei Rugby, Sao Paulo State, Brazil.

  In 2008 the Canterbury Rugby Football Union (CRFU) established an International High Performance Unit (IHPU). The CRFU has a long and proud history since it was established as the first Union in New Zealand in 1879. In 2012 Canterbury won their fifth consecutive provincial titles – no team has ever won five titles in a row since the launch of the competition in1976. The IHPU’s purpose is to offer select players, coaches, and support staff an opportunity to visit the inner workings of the   organisation in one of the world’s most beautiful and rugby fanatical countries. It includes five alumni players who participated in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.  The Crusaders coaching staff have nurtured and developed many past and current All Blacks including the previous captain Richie McCaw, Kieran Read and Dan Carter.

  You never know you might see these Brazilian students representing their country at the next Olympics.

  Click here to find out more. 

• Audience welcomed by kapa haka-NAFSA

  This year the conference took place in Denver, Colorado and through Education New Zealand’s (ENZ) stepped-up investment in the conference, an increased profile of New Zealand education opportunities was evident throughout the week.

  ENZ’s platinum sponsorship of this year’s conference provided New Zealand with a speaking slot for the New Zealand Ambassador to the US, Tim Groser, at the beginning of the opening plenary session, a 10-minute performance by Te Tini a Maui, a kapa haka group from Vancouver during the opening plenary, and the screening of a video about New Zealand education at all plenary sessions throughout the conference.

  

  Other sponsorship benefits included the inclusion of flyers in the conference satchels and digital tote bags of the approximately 10,000 registrants, banner advertising in the online conference programme, and the opportunity to showcase New Zealand culture and education opportunities on the expo hall soundstage.

  The ENZ-sponsored opening plenary was a very proud moment for all New Zealand representatives, and NAFSA organisers said it would be a hard opening act to follow. A great kapa haka display prefaced by a heart-felt speech by the group leader about the importance of education and people, welcomed over 6,500 delegates into the conference theatre. Ambassador Groser’s speech had the audience in turns cheering (a thinly-veiled reference to Trump) and gasping (domestic fees for international PhD students in New Zealand).

  The increased New Zealand profile throughout the Expo was notable to New Zealand representatives and delegates alike. “NAFSA 2016 may well go down as the Kiwi NAFSA,” said Jason Cushen, Deputy Director International at the University of Otago. “Our booth was widely admired, the New Zealand function on the Tuesday evening was the talk of the conference, the kapa haka performances were show-stoppers and Ambassador Groser's address was well received. As an institution, the University of Otago, couldn't have been happier with how the week went.”

  ENZ will be a platinum sponsor of NAFSA 2017. If you are interested in discussing opportunities to attend next year’s conference, which will take place in Los Angeles at the end of May next year, please contact Amy Rutherford, Director of Education, North America.