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Student welcomes continue throughout the country
Timaru
In the Timaru District, a total of 83 students from America, China, Japan, Germany, South Korea, Hong Kong and Laos were officially welcomed by the Mayor at a function at the Caroline Bay Hall on March 20. It was the first time a mayoral welcome of students has been held in Timaru since Feb 2020.
The welcome featured performances from the Roncalli College kapa haka group and Mountainview high School’s jazz band. Guest speakers included district Mayor, Nigel Bowen and MP for Rangitata Jo Luxton.
Whanganui
Earlier this month 27 students from Japan, India, Germany, China, Thailand, and Scotland were treated to a rousing (and musical) welcome from the Cullinane College kapa haka group at the Cooks Gardens event centre in Whanganui.
Whanganui Deputy Mayor Helen Craig welcomed the students to “New Zealand’s only UNESCO City of Design” highlighting the importance of cultural interaction between international students and their New Zealand counterparts.
Cullinane College kapa haka group welcoming Whanganui’s international students. Click on the image to view the video. -
ITENZ International Education Forum 18 May
As part of Education New Zealand’s Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) objective to give attendees a better understanding of ENZ’s direction of travel for the coming year, Geoff Bilbrough, General Manager Marketing and Communications presented at the forum. He gave a high-level view of ENZ’s marketing plans for the coming year including marketing and branding insights from recent research. ENZ’s Global Citizens Manager, Tyler Te Kiri, delivered a presentation on the Prime Minister’s Scholarship to Asia and Latin America scheme, what opportunities are available to the PTE sector and how PTE students can take part. The forum also included a speed meeting session with Auckland based ENZRA agents.
ENZ’s General Manager of Sector Engagement, Wendy Kerr said that it was important that we support the sector in a way that grows inbound students’ mobility for Aotearoa New Zealand in the next 12 months.
“Initiatives like the ITENZ International Forum encourage a collective approach to promote New Zealand education internationally. Since borders reopened in August 2022, all sub sectors have experienced a return of student visa holders. We look forward to working closely with the sub sectors to continue this upward trajectory,” added Wendy.
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From the CE: Building the momentum at NAFSA 2023
Kia ora koutou,
I’m writing this in an airport lounge in Vancouver, Canada as I wait for my flight back to New Zealand. I’ve spent the past two weeks in North America with several of our tertiary education providers at NAFSA, the world’s biggest international conference and exhibition, and here in Canada. In last month’s column I reflected on the delegation I led to India.
These trips involve lots of hard work from many people – time, effort, money and being away from whānau. They are always valuable and this one was no different.
Two things stood out from me on this journey.
We must continue all our efforts to ensure people know we are open, and we are welcoming of students into New Zealand. A lot of good work is occurring across the sector and ENZ but we need to keep going.
The last time I looked Immigration had received close to 50,000 student visa applications since August from both outside and within New Zealand. It’s a good start considering our borders have not been open for a year yet and it’s wonderful to have international students back at our education providers and in our communities. But we need to keep telling New Zealand’s education story and reestablish our partnerships and relationships.
I was again reminded how intense the competition is to attract students to New Zealand as we all continue to rebuild. There were nearly 10,000 attendees, 400 exhibitors and over 50 countries represented at NAFSA. New Zealand has a very good story to tell based on the quality of our education, the experience the students have when they study here, and the excellent people that work in this sector.
Rebuilding is not an easy task. I don’t think any of us thought it was going to be. There are plenty of articles and news stories identifying challenges being faced by other countries. New Zealand is in an excellent position to attract great students who receive a leading education and have a life changing experience.
India. The United States. Canada. No matter the geography. The message is the same. Ten months in we’ve made a good start, but we have work to do.
Whāia te iti kahurangi; ki te tuohu koe, me he maunga teitei
Aim for the highest cloud, so that if you miss it, you will hit a lofty mountain.
Ngā mihi nui,
Grant McPherson
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Celebrating the 28 Pasifika graduates of the He Manawa Tītī Programme
He Manawa Tītī was a 13-week bespoke training course for emerging Pacific leaders delivered between February and May 2023 under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP). The name He Manawa Tītī stems from a Māori Whakataukī (proverb) meaning ‘stout of heart’ and the course formed part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) contribution to the suite of reparations for Pacific peoples announced in 2021 by the New Zealand Government. The press release announcing these scholarships is available here).
Emerging leaders (aged 25 – 35) from public, private, and voluntary sectors took part in the course combining academic and experiential training. Scholars participated in several weeks of online learning from their home countries and spent nine weeks of the programme based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. He Manawa Tītī included modules on good governance and public sector leadership, trade policy in the context of the Pacific, and explored Pasifika values as key tenets of modern leadership.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) was involved in this kaupapa (programme of work) through its partnership with MFAT on the operational management of the MNZSP.
“It was fantastic to be able to celebrate these 28 inspiring young leaders as they completed this programme in Wellington last month. In true Pacific style, there was plenty of laughter, fun and colour, and it was a fitting celebration for all that these graduates have already achieved throughout their education and early careers,” said ENZ’s General Manager International, Lisa Futschek.
“The programme was designed by MFAT in collaboration with key Pasifika stakeholders and community members, highlighting Pasifika ways of learning and recognising the knowledge that is already held by Pasifika peoples. This collaboration also ensured opportunities for the scholars to build networks with Pasifika communities here in Aotearoa New Zealand, which connects them to our country now that they have returned home,” Lisa added.
The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme is part of the International Development Cooperation support that MFAT provides for developing partner countries across the globe. Manaaki alumni are well-known to be integral contributors to the development of their home countries.
“These Pacific emerging leaders are enthusiastic about returning home and putting into practice the leadership skills they have gained in Aotearoa,” said MFAT Lead Adviser, Alexandra Grace.
“While they have successfully completed this bespoke cohort course, real success will be demonstrated over coming years through what they achieve for their communities and countries. Scholars told me they won’t miss the weather (!) but will take with them enduring memories of the manaakitanga they experienced in our country.”
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ENZ leads NZ university delegation to the Middle East
From 29 April to 8 May, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) led an education delegation, involving four New Zealand universities, to Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia.
Across the region, the delegation visit focused on engaging with government agencies to promote New Zealand as a study destination for scholarship students, as well as meeting with agents and presenting to self-funded students looking for opportunities to study abroad. In Dubai, New Zealand universities visited international schools that offer strong student recruitment opportunities with expatriate students.
In Oman, the focus was on promoting the New Zealand education offering at the Global Higher Education Exhibition (GHEDEX) in Muscat. ENZ’s pavilion with the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, the University of Auckland, and Massey University attracted strong interest from well-qualified students and their parents, and government and institution representatives.
In Riyadh, the delegation visited Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) with representatives from the University of Waikato and Massey University to explore institution partnerships. PNU is a women’s university with 50,000 students (57 percent studying STEM subjects) and its own metro system. The university is interested in broad cooperation agreements covering study abroad, joint programmes, exchange, and PhD, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, computer science, digital media, and sports.
The New Zealand delegation with the Director of International Cooperation and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh
Saudia Arabia has a new Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship programme that aims to send 70,000 students to top-ranked universities by 2030. In the UAE, ENZ met with the Scholarships Office of the Presidential Court in Abu Dhabi to discuss New Zealand as a destination for this prestigious programme. Approval of New Zealand universities by government agencies in Saudia Arabia and the UAE would have a positive impact on New Zealand’s engagement with other government ministries and funding bodies in both these countries as well.
ENZ’s Regional Director Americas, Middle East & Europe, Amy Rutherford, said this delegation visit was a valuable opportunity to engage with senior education officials in Riyadh on this new scholarship programme as well as exploring institution-to-institution partnerships.
“We have emphasised to Saudi officials New Zealand universities’ areas of expertise that align with the subjects set out under the programme. However, getting New Zealand onto the Saudi Arabian government’s list for scholarships will take regular and persistent engagement from NZ Inc partners and education institutions,” Amy said.
“The approval of New Zealand education providers [on the list] would be an important signal of the high quality of New Zealand education and potentially support our involvement in other areas of government funding, such with the National Institute for Education and Professional Development, the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), or the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism.”
ENZ’s Senior Advisor, Middle East and Europe, Bronwyn Shanks, said the delegation visit was a good opportunity to grow vocational education links and reengage with New Zealand alumni in the region.
“As Saudi Arabia works to diversify its economy and upskill its population in line with Vision 2030, there are clear opportunities for Te Pūkenga. There is a cooperation agreement on the table with TVTC, and the new Wa’ed scholarships pathway is focused on vocational education and training.
“We engaged with many New Zealand alumni who were very positive about their experiences in New Zealand and the opportunities a New Zealand education has created for them. The real excitement recently has been around Rayannah Barnawi, the first Arab woman to go into space, who is a University of Otago graduate,” Bronwyn said.
Read more about University of Otago graduate Rayannah Barnawi
The New Zealand delegation with Ambassador Richard Kay and Second Secretary Jess Minehan-Fitzgerald from the New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi, with officials from the Scholarships Office at the UAE’s Presidential Court
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Around the world in five
Asia
China urged to “go global” as NAFSA cohort returns
Chinese higher education institutions are encouraged to increase their global presence, as a significant number of Chinese universities attended the NAFSA conference in 2023. Despite geopolitical tensions, some American and European universities remain open to collaboration with Chinese institutions. Chinese HEIs are urged to diversify their portfolio and actively engage in international exchanges and cooperation.
North America
U.S. denied more than a third of student visa applications in FY2022
The USA denied 35% of student visa applications in 2022, resulting in an estimated $26.4 billion economic loss. Factors contributing to the increase include high demand, lack of non-immigrant intent, and a shift in source markets, with India surpassing China as the top source country.
South America
Brazil: Affordability will be key to unleashing demand for study abroad
The Brazilian economy is recovering, and there is a strong demand for study abroad among Brazilians. However, students and their families are facing financial challenges, making affordability a key factor in attracting Brazilian students. Scholarships, agent support, and work opportunities will be crucial in attracting Brazilian students in the coming years.
Europe
UK: operational shift in diversify drive mapped
90% of UK universities are diversifying international student recruitment, with changes in application processes, multiple rounds of applications, and the introduction of scholarships to adapt to the global market. Pre-CAS interviews, deposit requirements, and agent quality frameworks are proposed to maintain high recruitment standards and mitigate risks.Africa
Collaboration aims to help make Africa’s youth an asset
African universities unite under the Education Collaborative to transform higher education, focusing on shared curricula, student exchanges, and joint research. The goal is to make Africa's youth an asset, benefiting at least one million students by 2030. The initiative promotes leadership collaboration, incentivizing staff innovation, and embraces a dynamic approach to sustainability for transformative change.
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ENZ discontinues recognised agency programme
The decision followed a global review that included input from NZ education providers, education agents globally and NZ government agencies. It also considered practice across other jurisdictions and the global education agent landscape in a post-pandemic environment. The decision becomes effective immediately. The review was foreshadowed in the refresh of the New Zealand International Education Strategy in 2022.
“There are many positive aspects of our engagement with agents,” said General Manager of Sector Services, Sahinde Pala.
“Our global staff network and trusted relationships with agents are important factors in assisting students who wish to further their studies in New Zealand. ENZ’s AgentLab platform has also been a rich resource and information hub for education agents, particularly during the pandemic. We will continue to offer these services going forward.”
“But there were also issues. Our review showed that many successful agents did not see the value in joining the programme. The programme was also not accessible to emerging education consultants and organisations, and it did not meet the needs of New Zealand education providers.”
“After careful consideration of the feedback from many agencies and New Zealand education providers, it became clear that the existing programme was not fit for the emerging environment and the decision was taken to discontinue.”
“Looking forward, we want to ensure a more even-handed and efficient approach and feel the best way of achieving this is to open up the power of our international network, along with our information and training capability to all agents, regardless of their size, expertise or capability.”
While the ENZRA programme will cease, the new AgentLab platform will be launched in August and will include a wide range of updates relevant to education agents, including a calendar of events, details of upcoming webinars, resources, and latest news and updates from across the New Zealand education landscape.
Education agents will be able to access the same level of information and resources via the AgentLab platform. The discontinuation of the ENZRA programme will not affect this.
Any agent seeking more information or support should email: agent.help@enz.govt.nz
For further information:
Sai Raje | Senior Advisor Communications, Education New Zealand
+64 21 479 649
Notes to Editors:
About Education New Zealand (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency responsible for taking New Zealand’s education experiences to the world. ENZ promotes a New Zealand education as one that teaches students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and lifelong learners, which will help them succeed in their future careers and create a positive impact on the world.
With approximately 100 staff in 18 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector including schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Te Pūkenga (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics), universities; and internationally with NZ Inc agencies, Government agencies and education providers to encourage sustainable growth and identify opportunities.
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From the CE: A celebration of energy, optimism and human spirit
Kia ora tātou,
NZIEC TI KUA – the pathway forward, was a celebration of the energy, optimism, and the human spirit of the international education sector in New Zealand.
It was great to see, and be among, more than 590 delegates reconnecting in person, sharing experiences, discussing the future, and listening to a remarkable range of quality speakers. All the presenters were inspiring and all clearly outlined some the challenges and the opportunities as we move forward.
First among these was the visiting Minister for Education in China, His Excellency Huai Jinpeng whose warm outgoing personality was clear to all who met him. It was enormously positive that Minister Huai emphasised China’s was willing to work together with New Zealand to “promote win-win cooperation” and “to unite for mutual benefit”. I hope many of us accept his open invitation to visit China. As he said “Better to see for oneself than to hear from others”.
From the New Zealand side it was a great to have Minister for Education, Hon Jan Tinetti, attend the Gala dinner, and reinforce that “education is one of the key pillars of the New Zealand-China relationship and a foundation for enduring links between our countries”. China was the Country of Honour for this year’s conference and is an important long-term partner.
After a break of four years since the last NZIEC was held in-person, the friendship and happiness amongst conference delegates was tangible.
Certainly, there are challenges ahead as we continue to rebuild the sector. Several of the conference presenters highlighted the changes in global demographics, workplace demand for skills and technological developments as key drivers for a different future in the next 30 years. But the progress achieved in the year since the borders reopened was also cause for celebration and highlighted the adaptability and resilience of education providers throughout the sector.
I’d like to thank officials from the Ministry of Education, New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Immigration New Zealand who attended the conference and gave insights and answering queries relating to the impact of policies and practice. International education is a team sport and it was great to see their commitment to the future of the sector. And a very special thanks must also go to the ENZ organising team and supporting cast who delivered a remarkable and uplifting event.
As the curtain came down at the outstanding Te Pae Christchurch Convention Centre, and delegates said final farewells before returning to their homes and communities, my lasting impression was that of an industry re-enlivened by the human contact we have all missed so much.
As our Chair, Tracey Bridges commented in her opening welcome, we have good cause to be optimistic about the future of the sector and the contribution it can make to all the people of Aotearoa and beyond.
It is now our responsibility to act on this optimism and to move forward. As Peter Drucker once said, “The best way to predict the future is to create it”.
Ngā mihi,
Grant
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Thai interest in New Zealand as an offshore study destination is growing
The annual Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Bangkok Fair took place on Saturday 26 August with 1,630 attendees visiting throughout the course of the day, a record number for the Fair.
Those who attended had the opportunity to talk to more than 50 education providers that were representing Aotearoa New Zealand education across the school, vocational, English language, and university sectors.
Ben McNally Burn, ENZ’s International Market Manager for Southeast Asia & India added that it was fantastic to see Thai interest in considering Aotearoa New Zealand as an offshore study destination growing.
“Having record numbers attend our Bangkok Fair this year demonstrates how important and reputable these fairs have become for prospective parents and students wanting to access reliable information directly from New Zealand education institutions.
“For our education partners, these events are so important for maintaining in-market credibility and reputation and we cannot underestimate the importance of keeping New Zealand front of mind. Especially in amongst accelerated competitor activities in Thailand including seminars and fairs hosted by Education USA, the Canadian Embassy, Austrade, and the British Council”, said Ben.
Ms. Kirsty Bundell, Assistant Director of Mathematics and Statistics at Avondale High School conducted five simulated classrooms to showcase hands-on New Zealand teaching and learning styles. Featured here is a class on Geometry - ‘SURFACE AREA OF 3D SHAPES’.
Feedback from the sector representatives was overwhelmingly positive, noting that not only was there a fantastic turn out of attendees but that prospective students had clearly researched Aotearoa New Zealand and its educational offerings prior to coming, which led to engaging discussions.
Anne Henwood, Director of International Students at Rosehill College in Auckland said that she was thrilled by the exceptional experience at the 2023 Bangkok Fair.
“The events proved to be an invaluable opportunity for New Zealand schools, fostering connections and opening doors to agents, parents and students seeking quality education. The events brilliantly showcased the diverse educational opportunities for Thai students in New Zealand.”
Garry Chronican, Director Pathway, University of Otago | Te Whare Wānanga o Otāgo also said that it was a pleasure to attend such a well-run and valuable event.
“The standard of advertising, communication, organisation and overall experience was outstanding. The events were well supported by education agencies – a testament to the excellent relationship ENZ staff have with local stakeholders”.
“Why study in New Zealand” special seminar held by key opinion leaders Choak and Suquan Bulakul. Their son is currently studying in New Zealand.
ENZ also delivered an agent seminar in Bangkok on 25 August, just prior to the Education Fair. The Bangkok Agent Seminar offered an opportunity for NZ institutions to reconnect with high performing Thai education agents. This event included market updates, networking opportunities, along with 1-to-1 meetings throughout the day.
Following the ENZ agent seminars and fair, the ENZ team partnered with local schools and agents to take part in three separate mini fairs and school roadshows across Thailand including in Chiang Mai, Phuket and Chonburi.
Any institutions looking to be involved in other ENZ organised fairs and events in the future in any of our markets, can do so by visiting ENZ’s events page here.
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Dr Linda Sissons appointed as Acting Chief Executive
Many of our international education community in New Zealand will know Dr Sissons from her two-terms on the ENZ Board and more recently in her role as Advisor to Grant, supporting the strategy development work. Dr Sissons has considerable experience in the tertiary and vocational education sector and her understanding of the opportunities and challenges ahead means she is well placed to step in at the current time. She has served as Chief Executive for UCOL, WelTec and Primary ITO and recently completed two terms as Chair of the Board of Governors of Commonwealth of Learning, an intergovernmental agency delivering technology-mediated learning for sustainable development throughout the Commonwealth.
Dr Sissons and Grant will work together between now and mid-November to ensure a smooth transition.
The Board is working on the process to recruit a permanent Chief Executive and aims to be advertising this role in the market by the end of October.
The Board would like to take this opportunity again to acknowledge Grant’s long and dedicated service to Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and the international education sector.
