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• From the Chief Executive: Strengthening our global education brand and New Zealand’s diversity

  Kia ora koutou,

  On Monday, we were delighted to see the signing of the India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement taking place in New Delhi. This is a positive development and signals a new era in the relationship between New Zealand and India.

  Earlier this month, Sahinde Pala, our Group General Manager – International and Sector Engagement, and I were pleased to meet with the Chair, CEO and Board of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC). With India a priority market and our second‑largest for international students, the meeting was a valuable opportunity to discuss collaboration, including market research and alumni storytelling.

  Indian students are thriving in New Zealand. Results from the International Student Experience Survey continue to show that Indian students report a highly positive overall experience, underpinned by strong ratings for education quality, people and community connections, and arrival and orientation. These findings reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a welcoming, supportive study destination where Indian students feel connected and well supported across their study journey.

  In turn, the Indian student community continues to make a significant social, cultural and economic contribution to Aotearoa. This contribution was recently acknowledged by the Prime Minister, who highlighted the Indian community as an outstanding role model, noting their ambition, aspiration and strong work ethic.

  Alongside engagement with India, our work across priority markets continues more broadly. Our China team is preparing to attend the World Digital Education Conference, hosted by China’s Ministry of Education, focused on how digital and AI technologies can enhance education quality and equity globally.

  In case you missed it, last week I was pleased to share new ENZ research showing New Zealand’s international education brand continues to strengthen.

  Our Global Brand Health and Awareness Survey found that 22 percent of prospective international students now rank New Zealand in their top three study destinations – reaching the Government’s 2034 Going for Growth target nearly a decade early.

  Given ENZ’s focus on bringing New Zealand’s education brand to life internationally, it’s encouraging to see that prospective students are not only aware of New Zealand, but are seriously considering it as a study destination. I encourage you to read more in our media release.

  Closer to home, I’m looking forward to supporting the school sector at the annual SIEBA Hui – New Zealand’s largest international education conference for schools, in Christchurch next month. ENZ values its relationship with SIEBA as we work together to support high‑quality, sustainable growth.

  He whenua auaha tātou, he whai tikanga, he whai whakaaro tonu ki te hapori.
  We are a creative, practical and community‑minded country.

  Ngā mihi nui,
  Linda Sissons
  Acting Chief Executive

• Around the world in five  

  Asia 

  Recruitment fairs resume at China schools 

  China is resuming in-person recruitment fairs for international universities, with international representatives invited to attend events in person again following the lifting of border restrictions. School education professionals highlight the importance of face-to-face interactions for Chinese families. 

   

  North America 

  Canada: Ontario colleges adopt new standards for programmes and supports for international students 

  Ontario's colleges have established a new set of standards of practice for international students, including guidelines for marketing and recruitment, education agents, and programme and service delivery, to ensure that international students have access to accurate information and support to succeed in their programmes. 

   

  South America 

  Brazilian outbound market booming in 2023, agents report 

  Brazilian agents are optimistic for the future with expectations for 2023 to be a record year in outbound travel. Strong demand for teen courses, higher-value sales, shifting requirements from parents, and emerging trends in products and destinations were noted at the ST Alphe Brazil 2023 conference.  

   

  Europe 

  Drastic policy changes ‘could damage’ UK sector 

  Stakeholders have expressed their concern that if the UK government implements significant policy changes related to post-study work and allowing students to bring their dependants, it could lead to a decrease in the number of international students in the country. 

   

  Africa 

  Regional framework for microcredentials to be developed 

  Southern African countries are developing a framework for the recognition of learning through micro credentials, with the aim of informing and guiding individual countries and institutions to develop their own country-specific frameworks. 

• From the CE: Promoting New Zealand’s education in Asia

  The visit by Education Minister Chris Hipkins to South Korea, Indonesia and Singapore in October 2022 was an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s strong commitment to international education. Representatives from the university sector, Te Pūkenga, schools, as well as the PTE and EdTech sectors, and ENZ were part of the accompanying delegation. Bilateral meetings were held with key Ministers in each country, and there were opportunities to meet with alumni, agents local school children and others. You can read more about this trip in this edition of E-News. 

  This month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Asia also included a significant international education component, particularly in Viet Nam. Education was highlighted as an important pillar of partnership in all bilateral meetings, and we were delighted to help arrange and participate in an education forum in Hanoi. We will report on this trip in more detail next month. 

  Our recent international education events have featured a mixture of ENZ-run events and commercial and global events. The key aim has been to raise the awareness and profile of New Zealand education, and provide a platform for New Zealand education providers to engage directly with prospective students and their families, with education agencies and other key stakeholders, particularly within Asia. Recent events have included a Korean agent seminar, COEX Fair and New Zealand education night reception in Seoul, a reconnecting series with Japanese partners in Tokyo, Viet Nam agent seminars and fairs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and a Thai agent seminar and fair in Bangkok. Looking ahead to next year’s events, ENZ’s international event calendar for the first half of 2023 is now on our website here. 

  The second phase of New Zealand’s successful international marketing campaign, I AM NEW, is now underway with a primary focus on China, India, South Korea, Japan, USA, Brazil, Viet Nam, Thailand and Germany. While the initial campaign aimed to raise awareness that New Zealand has reopened for international education, this second phase is focussed on reigniting interest in a New Zealand study experience, and transforming that interest into a commitment to study with New Zealand. A Spanish version of the I AM NEW campaign has also just been launched yesterday in Bogotá, Colombia, to reach this important segment of the Latin America market. 

  As we work with our partners and stakeholders within New Zealand and offshore to promote New Zealand education in the lead up to the 2023 student intake, we are hearing about a shortage of homestay accommodation that it would be good to resolve. More families are needed to welcome international students into their homes. This can be an enormously rewarding experience for everyone involved, one that builds lasting friendships and a deeper understanding of people from another language and culture. We will be talking with the sector to agree the best approach to addressing this challenge.  

  Finally, if you are looking to contact our Auckland-based team, please note that we have moved out of our office on Quay Street, and will be in a new office at 191 Queen Street from 5 December 2022.  

  He rau ringa e oti ai – Many hands make light work. 

• Student visa approval rates

  Updated student visa decision data

  The 2017 student visa decision data is now available on the INZ website.

  Education providers must use this list when enrolling international students, to confirm if the students come from a country with a high visa decline rate for the purposes of Rule 18.2 of the NZQF Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules 2013. This Rule specifies the English language proficiency testing requirements for international students from countries with a student visa decline rate of more than 20 percent.

  The list is updated annually and comes into force for Rule 18 purposes one month after publication.

  Education providers that enrol international students have until 25 February 2018 to adjust their enrolment policies. From that date, education organisations must use the published 2017 decline rates when enrolling international students, to determine which Rule 18 requirements apply.

  Agent approval data for Viet Nam and the Philippines

  Since 2016, INZ has published student visa approval rates of education agents in India on its website. INZ has now extended this to include the 2017 student visa approval rate data for education agents assisting student visa applicants in Viet Nam and the Philippines.

  The data includes all education agent and adviser types, including offshore exempt agents and licensed immigration advisers.

  The Viet Nam report is limited to education agents with five or more student visa applications completed in the stated time period, while the Philippines and India reports are limited to education agents with 10 or more student visa applications completed.

  Please contact IEengagement@mbie.govt.nz if you have any questions. 

• ENZ launches digital Media Centre

  ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the ENZ Media Centre will act as an entry point for international and New Zealand media to spark their interest and improve their understanding of the richness and breadth of New Zealand’s international education offering.

  The Media Centre will start small but grow over time – helped by contributions from education providers. Their stories will range from profiles of their world-leading research and academics to innovative teaching programmes and unique courses.

  “Each year, New Zealand attracts some 125,000 international students to our shores for the education experience of a lifetime. But the excellence, quality and diversity of these experiences is not widely understood.

  “Through the Media Centre, we hope to broaden the discussions about what international education in New Zealand covers. For example, in addition to stories profiling international students in New Zealand, we will also share news about New Zealanders studying and interning offshore and the success of New Zealand education exports on the world stage.”

  The content and design of the Media Centre is a result of consultation with ENZ’s international staff and PR agencies as well as discussion with education providers, regional economic development agencies and peak bodies. All content – written stories, listicles, think pieces, infographics and photography – is free to use.

  “Telling the story about international education in New Zealand is an important part of ENZ's work. Last year, we worked with marketing and communication agencies in nine markets to generate more than 2,000 pieces of coverage. The Media Centre will support these efforts and help to lift the quality and quantity of coverage, including more up-to-date stories direct from our education providers,” said Grant.

  Visit the Media Centre here: https://media.enz.govt.nz/ 

• Latest insights on international education

  “As we approach the end of 2022, we have an opportunity to take stock, and importantly look forward to next year, one in which we all hope to welcome increasing numbers of international students back to New Zealand,” says Marie Clark, Director Insights at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). 

  “Despite the long period of border closure there has been only slightly altered demand for international study. Our annual brand tracker shows the New Zealand brand is holding a strong position globally.” 

  ENZ has been closely tracking the beginnings of recovery. As New Zealand's border reopens, the immediate priority is for international education providers to build back their onshore offerings and attract students back to Aotearoa. The content of this issue is focussed on toward data and analysis related to our initial observations of the sector's recovery. 

  The Insight Story - Issue 6 includes insights on: 

  • Student visa applications and Study with New Zealand web stats 
  • New Zealand's education brand health  
  • Agent perceptions about international education 
  • 2021 international student enrolments 
  • New Zealanders' perceptions of the value of international students 
  • and more…… 

  Visit IntelliLab to download The Insight Story here. 

• NZISA hits the road  

  Congratulations to NZISA for organising and delivering these four separate events to give international students a warm welcome to New Zealand. The events were also an opportunity for students to connect with each other in person, hear from inspiring speakers from international and migrant backgrounds, and network with a range of government and NGO organisations who work closely with international students. 

  

  The Roadshow also provided a moment to celebrate NZISA’s five-year anniversary and recognise five years of advocating on behalf of international students, raising issues and concerns with appropriate government agencies.   

  

  More than two hundred international students attended the events, which attracted very positive feedback. There was real appreciation for the kōrero of the guest speakers and the opportunity to connect with other students, especially from students who have just recently arrived in New Zealand. 

  “It was so inspiring to hear from the panellists how they were able to adapt and grow in new surroundings in a short time. I asked them about their motivation to work in New Zealand despite the cultural differences, and their answers really opened my eyes, as they mentioned that we can see challenges as a barrier, but instead look at them as opportunities to change and grow.” – Anis Aqeelah Afrina Mohd Raduan, who recently arrived in New Zealand to complete the final year of her Bachelor of Commerce at Te Victoria University of Wellington, majoring in Actuarial Science and Finance. 

  “It was so lovely to reconnect with past Presidents and executive members from NZISA and acknowledge just how far the association has come in five years,” says Sahinde Pala, General Manager Sector Services, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao. 

  “Their hard work and commitment have given international students a voice with government agencies, ensuring the needs and concerns of international students studying with New Zealand are considered and addressed.”    

• Meet the Brazil expert

  Ana took the opportunity to clarify the recently-introduced – and then removed – tax on international education fee transfers and gain insights from Maura on New Zealand’s competitive advantage in the Brazil market.

  Ana: What is the Brazilian Educational and Language Travel Association (BELTA) is and what does it do? 

  Maura: BELTA is a non-profit organisation that works across Brazil. Launched in 1992, it was the first association working in the field of international education in Latin America. Today, BELTA agencies represent 75 percent of Brazil’s international education market. These agencies are committed to promoting, facilitating and delivering education and exchange services (educational and cultural programs of all kinds and for all ages, courses, internship and volunteer work programs), in Brazil and overseas. BELTA is often asked to share its experiences with other countries to help them organize their own associations.

  Besides promoting Study and Exchange Travel, BELTA monitors the standard of services offered by its associated companies, evaluating their performance from both a student and international partner organisation perspective. Only agency partners of the highest integrity and who agree to abide by the Association’s Social Statute and rigid Code of Ethics are allowed to join BELTA.

  Along with the Board of Directors, I am responsible for ensuring BELTA functions correctly, and for representing the Brazilian market to international government and education entities. BELTA is a member of the Federation of Agencies Associations, and I am its president for the next four years.

  The income tax on international transfers relating to educational purposes (such as student exchange programmes) has recently been in the news. The Brazilian government has now announced that it will not charge those transfers. Would you clarify and comment on that? 

  At the start of January the Brazilian government decided to end the tax exemption for payments due abroad. The proposed rate for the new tax was between 6.38 percent and 33 percent. Fortunately, on 26 January 2016, the Department of Federal Revenue published that study abroad programs would be exempt from the new tax.

  Brazilian students are now able to plan their international exchange programs with the knowledge that they will not have to pay this tax. This good news for our New Zealand partners!

  We know the weakening of the Brazilian Real in relation to the American dollar and the Euro has had an impact on the demand for education abroad to those destinations. Do you believe that New Zealand may be a more desirable study destination in the current economic scenario? 

  New Zealand has a big market in Brazil because of the favourable exchange rate and the high quality of the education. The opportunity to work while studying is also very appealing for Brazilian students. All of these conditions combined places New Zealand in a special position as a destination for the Brazilian student. 

  Brazilian students are looking for qualifications that will help them succeed in the challenging job market. They are looking for postgraduate and specialized programs that will position them well in the job market, when the Brazilian economy is back on track. New Zealand is well-placed to fulfil this demand.

  What’s your connection to New Zealand? What’s your view of New Zealand as an education destination for Brazilian students and what advice you would give to NZ institutions wanting to attract Brazilian students?

  I have visited New Zealand as part of my job, visiting a range of education institutions. I have also had the opportunity to visit the country with my family as a tourist. It offers great education and lifestyle opportunities for students and fantastic tourism experiences.

  Students are able to live in a very safe environment, can choose from a great variety of high quality institutions and subject areas, in all kinds of cities or towns. And all within a country with beaches and mountains, fields and farms, with very hospitable and well-educated people.

  New Zealand is a top education destination and I love its people! This is my very personal opinion!
  
  

  Institutions wanting to receive Brazilian students should:

  • offer high quality academic programmes and excellent facilities, including accommodation

  • work with high-quality agencies

  • promote the school regularly throughout the year

  • offer good advice on visa processes

  • be open and understanding to the cultural differences between New Zealand and Brazil.

  Find out more about BELTA at http://www.belta.org.br/

• Reminder of new data collection requirements

  Private Training Establishments who do not receive SAC and/or Youth Guarantee funding from the Tertiary Education Commission, and are also signatories to the Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students are reminded that they are required to submit new data on their international students from 31 March 2016.

  The August 2015 change to the Private Training Establishment (PTE) Registration Rules made it a condition of PTE registration to submit specific data to the Ministry of Education.

  Consultation with exempted PTEs

  A temporary exemption was granted to PTEs that provide English Language training only. For further information on the exemption please refer to the NZQA website.

  An independent facilitator, Pania Gray of Kororā Consulting, is consulting with exempted PTEs on their approach to the new data collection requirements. Pania is consulting with exempted PTEs who are members of English New Zealand, via this representative body. Exempted PTEs who are not members of English New Zealand, and who would like to discuss the issues with Pania, are invited to contact her at: pania@kororaconsulting.co.nz.

  Background about the data collection project

  The Ministry of Education, Education New Zealand and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) have been working on a project which will gather better information from Unfunded International Education Providers (UIPs) using an automated data collection system.

  The aim of the data collection project is to provide better market insights and analysis, and more targeted risk assessments, that will to help inform plans and activities relating to international education.

  Good data and in-market intelligence can influence government strategy and policy, and enable informed data-driven decisions to be made. These decisions can work to the benefit of international education providers, international students and the wider international education industry.

  More about the data and how to submit it

  The UIP Data Collection – SMS Specification document explains which providers are required to submit data and how the data must be submitted.

  Further information is available on the Services for Tertiary Organisations (STEO) website.

  If you have any questions, or need clarification on who the exemption applies to, please email UIP.Datacollection@education.govt.nz.

  The rule change took effect on 1 March 2016 and the new data must be submitted from 31 March 2016. If you require assistance with setting up the data return, please email UIP.Datacollection@education.govt.nz.

• Allocation priorities for student visa applications

  Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has changed the way they allocate international student visa applications from students in New Zealand, so they have more flexibility and can process these applications more efficiently during the summer processing peak.  

  INZ’s allocation priorities change from time to time to reflect current demands and will be posted on their website. You can view these allocation priorities here.  

  Tuition fee receipt reminder 

  When a student is in New Zealand (onshore) and submits an application for a student visa, it is a requirement to provide a tuition fee receipt with the application at the time of submission. 

  The approval in principle process is not available for students who are in New Zealand. Any onshore application should include evidence a student: 

  - has paid their tuition fees in full for one year or one programme (whichever is shorter); or 

  - that they are exempt from paying tuition fees and their education provider has confirmed this. 

  If the receipt is not provided with the application, then it has an impact on the processing and the application takes longer to be processed. For more information, you can find INZ's Student visa application information sheet for continuing international students here. 

  International education data  

  Every year, INZ publish data on the offshore student visa approval rates and application volumes for education agents by market. They also publish the overseas student visa application decision data broken down by country. 

  Updated data for 2024 has now been published: View this data here