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• From Education Minister Chris Hipkins

  It represents a shift from international education as a revenue generating export industry to one that incorporates domestic students, boosts global skills and enriches our country socially and culturally.

  We’re making strong progress towards this vision. Education New Zealand’s latest Perceptions survey shows more New Zealanders – nearly 60% – believe international education makes a positive contribution to this country. The survey also reveals an increased appreciation for benefits such as greater cultural understanding.

  We’re seeing more international students located around the country, supporting regional economies and contributing to diversity and inclusion in local communities: the regional distribution of international students is now at its highest level in the past five years.

  We are also seeing a rise in the numbers of international students enrolling at our universities – up seven percent from 2017, and also in our schools, which are up six percent.

  This is evidence of the quality of the educational experience we are offering to the world. The Reform of Vocational Education is another step in the right direction, ensuring this sector is strong, unified and continues to be globally relevant in the fast-changing world of work.

  The reform includes bringing together the country’s 16 ITPs under a single national Institute of Skills and Technology. This will strengthen New Zealand’s profile internationally and increase our ability to attract quality students from around the world.

  Of course, an excellent educational experience is about more than just what happens in the classroom. It is about students feeling welcome, safe and supported. The International Education Strategy places wellbeing front and centre. We can be proud of the progress that has been made in this area – enhancing the pastoral care of international students and improving the information provided to prospective and current international students.

  Let’s continue to work together to grow this vision. As one of the Kiwis surveyed for ENZ’s Perceptions research says: “by bringing a global perspective to our educational facilities, international students increase New Zealanders’ understanding of global cultures and perspectives – and collaborate with them".

• Letter from the CE: Kiwis see the benefits of international education

  The 2018 Perceptions research announced today tells us that an increasing number of Kiwis value the sector, which is great news. More New Zealanders can see how international students impact on more than just the education provider they are attached to.

  Some of the key findings include that 73% of New Zealanders believe international education benefits New Zealand tourism, 62% believe it benefits our economy and 61% believe it benefits our international networks and trading connections.

  These positive perceptions are growing – more New Zealanders noted these benefits than in previous years.

  This is a fantastic result and reflects the hard work undertaken by education providers, regional bodies, government agencies, students and the many other champions of our sector who tell our story and showcase the many ways international education enhances our country.

  The Perceptions research findings come on top of the $5.1 billion valuation announced last week, which places international education as New Zealand’s fourth largest export industry – one that also supports close to 50,000 jobs.

  Taken together, these reports show an increased understanding among New Zealanders of how international education can help to build New Zealand's global linkages, fill skill shortages, enrich our cultural diversity and grow our regional economies.

  I’m optimistic that this understanding will grow and, by looking to the International Education Strategy to guide us, our sector can continue to deliver for all New Zealanders and provide meaningful experiences for international students.

  For more information on the Perceptions research, click here.

  For more information on the economic valuation, click here.

   

  Grant McPherson

  Chief Executive, Education New Zealand

  

   

   

   

• Student experience takes centre stage at NZIEC 2017

  Delegates will gain insights from Study Auckland’s student experience transformation project, discover community support mechanisms to enhance your pastoral programmes and learn how to facilitate the successful education transitions of international students.

  There are also sessions on how to foster collective leadership to encourage student wellbeing, how to challenge and motivate students, and how to equip yourself with teaching strategies to engage tertiary international students.

  “We have the opportunity to deliver a unique and life-changing student experience in New Zealand,” says Hayley Shields, ENZ’s Student Experience Director.

  “This year’s conference includes a broad range of sessions sharing best practice from around the country, and will be useful for institutions and regions seeking to enhance the experiences of international students throughout the student life cycle.”

  This year’s conference also brings the voices of international students into the programme as never before. We will explore what current international students think about their New Zealand study experiences and learn from international student graduates about what worked and what didn’t as they transitioned to employment.

  You’ll also find international students popping up throughout conference, including in Lian-Hong Brebner’s session ‘We just want to be included’.

  Don’t forget to check out ISANA New Zealand’s breakout stream. ISANA have developed a comprehensive breakout programme with positive student experiences at the centre.

• Auckland Agency Group progresses student well-being initiatives

  AAG Chair Isabel Evans, Director of the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Auckland, says more than 60 per cent of international students currently study in Auckland.

  “The AAG group was established to build cross-agency government leadership in the Auckland region,” she says.

  “We also wanted to ensure that agencies on the ground in Auckland are collaborating effectively.”

  Education members of the AAG include the MOE, Education New Zealand (ENZ), New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and Tertiary Education Commission. Other government agencies include New Zealand Police, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), Immigration New Zealand, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Ministry of Social Development and Office of Ethnic Communities, Waitemata and Auckland District Health Boards and the Human Rights Commission. Auckland economic growth agency ATEED also plays an important role.

  Ms Evans said the AAG was involved in stakeholder engagement in August which contributed to a draft International Student Wellbeing Strategy.

  “From this engagement, we identified a number of action areas. Since then, group members have been working on ways to improve the overall international student experience in Auckland, with the potential to roll these out nationally if successful.”

  Below are some of the initiatives underway.

  • ATEED and NZ Police are working on a refresh of a safety video for international students. While it will be filmed in Auckland, its messaging will apply to students nationally, and should be available from early 2017.
  • ATEED is developing an International Student Experience programme in partnership with ENZ and industry partners.
  • Several agencies are looking at ways to improve the information available to international students and their families. Students are seeking more information on such topics as the true cost of living, insurance and what it covers, employment rights, health services and New Zealand culture.
  • Agencies are also looking at ways to provide more volunteer and internship opportunities for international students. ATEED and MBIE will also launch phase two of their job-ready graduate programme working with ICT grads specifically.
  • Several agencies are looking at ways to better support international parents, particularly those accompanying children who are studying at primary school here. These parents can be isolated and lonely. This support can also extend to the homestay parents who host international students.

  “These initiatives are a start, and the AAG members are enthusiastically collaborating to make sure that opportunities to enhance the international student experience are progressed,” says Ms Evans.

  She says the AAG’s work is aimed to enhance the service that international students receive from their education provider, rather than replacing it.

  For further information, please contact ENZ Acting Director, Student Experience, Sahinde Pala at Sahinde.pala@enz.govt.nz.

• Around the world in five

  GERMANY

  Why Germany educates international students for free

  In Germany, international student numbers have risen about 30 percent since 2012. In most countries, this would mean lots of extra cash from hefty tuition fees but, in Germany, students famously learn for free, regardless of where they come from. With international students making up nearly one in 10 students, why does the country choose to pass up tuition from other countries’ young people?

  Read more

  UK

  UK aims to double number of students going abroad by 2020

  Universities UK International has updated its strategy to boost outward mobility, which includes doubling the number of students who go abroad during their degree to 13.2% of total enrolments by 2020. In 2014/15, 6.6% of full-time, first degree, undergraduate, UK-domiciled students undertook an international placement. The strategy outlines six objectives to achieve the goal, such as building capacity to facilitate outward mobility, sharing best practice, and providing a collective voice for the sector.

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  GLOBAL

  IIE’s tips to welcome international students

  IIE’s team of experts has pulled together 11 actions to make international students feel welcome. These include using your institution’s social media to share specific messages about your campus; enlisting international students and alumni as ambassadors to reach out to newly admitted students; sending periodic updates about issues of concern such as safety and visas; highlighting student associations and re-examining your print and online materials to make sure they represent the diversity and welcoming nature of your campus.

  Read more

  VIET NAM

  Vocational training drains State budget

  For many years, thousands of billion đồng have been invested in many vocational secondary schools or technical high schools nationwide. However, many remain idle due to poor student enrolment. Đào Ngọc Dung, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, admitted that a key reason for the situation is poor planning, saying schools have been built without conducting a survey of the market demand, and failing to meet the actual needs of the country.

  Read more

  INDIA

  IIT heads are worried about the quality of India’s engineers

  A number of directors from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are concerned over the employability of the millions of engineers in the country. The rapid growth of India’s IT industry in the 1990s and 2000s saw thousands of low-quality engineering colleges pop up as an alternative to the IITs, which are notoriously hard to get into. However, without proper training or access to the right curricula, only a quarter of India’s engineers are employable. Experts say what’s needed is education with a more practical and relevant approach to learning.

  Read more

• Student-led business sets out to break down barriers

  InterStudentsNZ, a platform which will host resources and courses to meet the needs of international students, is a regional winner in the Company of the Year category in the Lion Foundation Young Enterprise Scheme. It also scooped the Excellence in Promotion Award and Paying it Forward Award.

  InterStudentsNZ is the brainchild of budding entrepreneurs Mackenzie Roskruge (CEO), KimSreng Keo (Production Manager), and Russle La Morena (Finance Director), who met through the college’s international student buddy scheme. They bonded over a shared interest in education and curiosity about their cultural differences.

  Mackenzie and Russle are both domestic students, but Kim arrived in New Zealand in 2018 as an international student from Phnom Penh, Cambodia, knowing no-one and understanding little of what seemed to be a strange, new culture.

  He believes that international students enrich New Zealand communities and have much to offer, but that many don’t make the most of their time here because they face challenges integrating into the community and planning a future beyond school.

  “Understanding how people think and how to communicate is important,” he says. “When we first arrive many of us have a big language barrier. There are even subtle cultural differences which we don’t understand, and which need explanation.”

  Platform driven by students, for students

  Sharing his insights of the challenges that international students can face, the friends determined that more support was needed and that a platform driven by students, for students, was the answer.

  The opportunity to enter the Young Enterprise Scheme through their Year 13 Business Studies course, gave the students a chance to turn their ideas into reality.

  InterStudentsNZ has big plans. The team want to create a one-stop shop for resources tailored for students to better understand New Zealand’s education system, work environment, and culture.

  “For example, if a student came to us and wanted to learn about New Zealand slang, we could direct them to a one-hour course with video tutorials, quizzes and written explanations to help them master slang,” says Mackenzie.

  “Or a student might want to learn about social innovation in New Zealand. We could potentially provide a one-two hour course each week for a month with case studies, opportunities for mentorship, and tools for how they could move into social innovation themselves.

  Empowering international students in New Zealand
  
  "We hope students will feel empowered to learn new subjects and inspired to remain studying and working in New Zealand."

  And it’s not only international students who stand to benefit. Surveys of domestic students at Waitakere College showed that they were also interested to explore topics which would likely make them more engaged and invested in their education.

  The InterStudentsNZ team all plan to study at the University of Auckland next year and hope to continue developing their business. With more funding, they would like to add workplace mentorship opportunities for international students, courses in te ao Maori, New Zealand history, and New Zealand industry pathways. They also plan a blog space and a social media presence. “We’re creating a digital Aotearoa for rangatahi all around the world to explore.”

  Giving international students a sense of belonging

  Kim is proud of how much he has achieved since arriving in Auckland as a shy 14-year-old, and grateful for the support he has received from his New Zealand friends. “Working alongside them has been amazing and allowed me to gain so much more confidence. Now we’ve come up with this idea on how to help international students, it’s really strengthened our relationship as a team. “Our business motto is ‘Encouraging Connections’ and that sums up our goals,” says Mackenzie. “It’s about building bridges and supporting international students, giving them a sense of belonging and a great future in New Zealand.”

• COVID-19: How ENZ is communicating to students, agents and providers

  On our own channels, ENZ’s communications with students are focused on the following streams of work:

  1. Keeping students updated with official government information about the COVID-19 situation in New Zealand, and how this affects them
  2. Supporting international students who are in New Zealand through this difficult time, with content to keep them connected and support their wellbeing.
  3. Keeping New Zealand top of mind for prospective students and providing information about studying here, so we are well positioned to recruit new students when the crisis period is over and borders reopen.

  Agents are a key audience for ENZ, as they are often a student’s first port of call when an issue comes up. Since February 2020, AgentLab has been our primary information channel for communicating with agents updates on COVID-19. The platform has 2,697 users, and has seen a surge in registrations (733 new) in the past three weeks alone.

  We recognise that New Zealand education providers are also communicating with their international students regularly. ENZ hosts a dedicated COVID-19 page for education institutions and stakeholders, and has developed messaging for international students at both a tertiary and secondary school level that providers should feel free to recut for their own channels.

  Finally, ENZ is communicating regularly with institutions and peak bodies through regular meetings and email updates. 

  ​What we’re doing on our student web platforms

  NauMai NZ is our central information for hub for international students in New Zealand. Here, students can find out how to access healthcare, open a bank account, find a rental property, and more.

  Since February, NauMai NZ has hosted a dedicated COVID-19 page that is regularly updated with key information relevant to international students.

  Beyond immediate information updates, our content focus on NauMai NZ for the next few months will be on creating new content to support international students throughout their time in self-isolation and beyond. Wellbeing will be a key theme, as well as helping students stay connected through sharing their stories.

  NauMai NZ COVID-19 information page

  The Study in New Zealand website has a banner at the top and midway down the page that directs to the NauMai NZ COVID-19 info page.

  Tohu the chatbot is available (who lives on the Study in New Zealand website, NauMai NZ and on Facebook Messenger) to answer a number of COVID-19 related queries.

  What we’re doing on student-facing social media

  Our strategy for our student social media pages is first and foremost to ensure COVID-19 information is easy to find for anyone who visits our social pages.  Across our student-facing Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Group and Weibo pages, we have ‘pinned’ informative posts and links directing to the NauMai NZ COVID-19 page, for up-to-date, relevant information. On WeChat, we have a site tab with regular updated COVID-19 information.

  Over the coming weeks and months, our social media content will also focus primarily on supporting the wellbeing of current international students. We’ll be working with our Kiwi Ambassadors and other students to share their stories, experiences and tips, helping to keep students connected with each other.

  Student emails

  Most of the emails our marketing team sends out to students and prospective students are automated well in advance. It was therefore important for ENZ to review all of our emails to ensure they are relevant in the current national and international environment. 

  • We have paused all of our automated emails except enquiry emails that link prospective students through to institutions they are interested in.
  • We have emailed our current student and prospective student databases to acknowledge the situation and link them through to the NauMai NZ COVID-19 page.
    • Our key message here was that the safety and wellbeing of international students in New Zealand and New Zealand students who are overseas is our top priority at this time, and we look forward to welcoming new international students when borders reopen, and life starts getting back to normal.
  • We will be considering our ongoing automated email stream options over the coming weeks, and re-assessing any necessary content changes.

• NZIEC 2018: Theme and call for speakers

  ENZ warmly welcomes presentation proposals from across the global international education industry for the 27^th NZIEC. Submissions are welcome on any topic relating to the international education industry. Check out the guidelines for presenters and submit your proposal on the NZIEC website. Our call for speakers closes on Friday16 March 2018.

  Conference theme: Inspiring Global Citizens 

  ‘We must no longer consider ourselves
  as citizens of the cities or countries in which we live,
  but we must consider ourselves citizens of the globe.’

  In this time of rapid change and globalisation, international education has a vital role in equipping our society with the skills needed for the future. New Zealand is ideally placed to address this need. We rank first in The Economist Intelligence Unit’s Worldwide Educating for the FutureIndex for our ability to equip our young leaders with the critical thinking, collaboration and global awareness skills they need to succeed in an increasingly internationalised and technology-driven world.
  
  The 27th New Zealand International Education Conference and Expo (NZIEC) will explore how international education can build on this strength to equip and inspire our students, educators and professionals to become the new wave of global influencers and leaders. Our international education industry can help change the world.

  NZIEC 2018 will explore the following questions:

  1. How do we inspire and develop the next generation of global citizens?
  2. How can we harness technology to enhance our international education marketing, offering and practices?
  3. How can we forge leading-edge education products, services and technologies that will be in-demand in existing and future global markets?
  4. How can we connect the value of international education to our diverse communities?
  5. How can we work together to ensure international education contributes to New Zealand’s future development? 

  NZIEC 2018 will feature five breakout streams. Check them out here.

  About NZIEC 2018

  The New Zealand International Education Conference and Expo is the annual conference for New Zealand’s international education industry. NZIEC 2018 will be held at Te Papa Tongarewa on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 August and is expected to attract 700 delegates. Registration will open in May 2017. For more information, check out www.nziec.co.nz. We hope to see you there!

• What Kiwi employers value in New Zealand-educated international graduates

  A new research report published by ENZ looks into Kiwi employers from small to medium-sized (SME) businesses to show what they most value in New Zealand-educated international graduates.

  The report, Employer Perceptions of Hiring International Graduates, was launched today at the Global Internship Conference, hosted by the University of Auckland.

  The research looked into the hiring practices, pressures and opportunities for employers from SME businesses, which make up 97 percent of enterprise in New Zealand.

  ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the research identified two key areas of New Zealand-educated international graduates’ value to Kiwi SMEs.

  “One was the keen attitude of international graduates, which is defined as positively contributing to work outputs; and the graduates’ multicultural energy, which is seen as positively contributing to workplace morale,” McPherson said.

  Characteristics associated with a keen attitude include perseverance, earned success, drive and willingness to take on tasks, while those associated with multi-cultural energy include an energising effect and the fostering of creativity and innovation.

  “Research we have commissioned previously highlighted the importance that international students place on post-study work and career opportunities and outcomes, and how central this is to a successful overall student experience.

  “This research showed that some students find New Zealand poses some challenges in this area,” McPherson said. 

  The research involved in-depth interviews with SME employers from a range of industries across New Zealand from Whangarei to Dunedin, and a further half-day workshop. The focus was on international graduates who have a post-study work rights visa within current immigration settings.

  “There are clearly opportunities to improve employment outcomes for New Zealand-educated international graduates,” he said.

  “ENZ is planning to re-define the perceived value of New Zealand-educated international graduates in the eyes of New Zealand employers, based on the research findings.”

  Employability is a theme that sits across all three of the goals in the New Zealand International Education Strategy 2018-2030, launched in August last year.

  For a full version of the report – see here: Employer Perceptions of Hiring International Graduates.

• Keeping international students at the forefront of the RoVE conversation

  ENZ has an important role in the implementation of the NZIST. We are tasked with ensuring the international education voice is heard and considered; supporting the vocational education sector during the transition; and helping shape the long-term plan for the NZIST international offering.

  ENZ recently hosted a communications workshop with government agencies, the IST Establishment Unit and RoVE communications professionals to discuss the potential impact the vocational education reforms may have on international students and the international education sector.

  The outcomes of the workshop included an international education focused communications approach that will consist of articles for overseas media, tailored updates for agents and students, and supporting brochures and factsheets. These will ensure international students and their support networks, which includes agents, family members and international office staff, receive relevant, timely information on the transition to the NZIST and feel confident that they know what it means for them and that New Zealand remains the best place for them to study.

  ENZ’s Kaylee Butters is currently on secondment to the role of Director, IST Implementation. This role is focused on developing a comprehensive marketing programme to support the vocational education sector during the transition to NZIST, and helping shape the long-term brand positioning of the institute internationally.

  “ENZ is excited by the opportunity to support the sector and the NZIST in these crucial stages of development,” Kaylee says. “We see this as an incredible chance to market New Zealand’s vocational education offering internationally under a strong, unified national brand.”

  The short-term plan will leverage ENZ’s existing channels and platforms to communicate a clear and confident message to prospective international students, agents and partners. The goal is to continue to attract high-calibre learners to the ITP sector with key messaging and content that aligns with ENZ’s Think New brand.

  Long-term, ENZ has an opportunity to work with the NZIST and other Government agencies to design a customised and competitive ‘package’ for international students.

  To assist with the day one requirements of the NZIST, ENZ is also supporting the development of the institute's new website. ENZ has developed a student-facing digital ecosystem with award-winning digital marketing capability, business intelligence and Government-level security. ENZ is able to leverage crown investment by using www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz as a foundation to build a new digital platform tailored to the ITP and ITO sector. We can also support the sector by sharing our learning to ensure the best possible user experience and customer journey for all international and domestic students.