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Showing 10 of 1931 results for how to register international groups
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Around the world in five
INDIA
Confusion reigns as GST hits education agents
The overhaul of India's national tax code to a simplified Goods and Services Tax (GST) has led to confusion among education agents about the new law and its implementation. Agents fear their income will be badly hit as they are liable to a new 18 percent GST, and say passing on the extra cost to institutions may be the only option.
US
Growth in international students seeking high school diplomas
The number of international students who come to the US for a high school diploma has more than tripled between 2004 and 2016 to nearly 82,000, according to a new study. Among these students, there is a shift towards enrolling in US high schools directly to earn a diploma rather than entering short-term exchange programmes.
UK
UK to adopt Chinese maths textbooks to improve test scores
Students in the United Kingdom will be using textbooks almost identical to students in Shanghai from January 2018, in a bid to improve ailing mathematics test results. The UK government will implement the initiative whereby half of all primary school teachers will use the Real Shanghai Mathematics textbook series, with the option to implement the course’s 36 books into their curriculum.
JAPAN
Regional universities a new focus of research excellence
A Japanese government plan to set up world-class centres for research in regional universities hopes to strengthen its international competitiveness and narrow the divide between Japan’s elite research institutions and regional universities.
AUSTRALIA
18 percent growth in economic value of int’l education hides future worries
The value of Australian international education has surpassed record levels for the fourth consecutive financial year, growing by over 18.5 percent in 2016/17, according to the latest export data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. But despite the overall growth, some within the industry warned the figures, which only detail the economic impact to the whole of Australia, could be hiding state and sector-level problems.
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Māori cultural experience builds lasting bonds for international students
Alongside courses in Māori culture, customs and language, some educational providers in New Zealand have offered an immersive noho marae (marae stay) experience. For students a long way from home, the warmth of the welcome and the sharing of knowledge, traditions, and food, gives them a lasting sense of belonging to Aotearoa.
One of the first educators to recognise the importance of sharing Māori culture with international students is Taituwha King, Senior Lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Development at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). For almost 20 years he has been running noho marae at the beginning of each semester to give international students a comprehensive cultural introduction to their study experience.
Such was the success of noho marae that King developed a course around it, called International Noho Marae – Indigenous Encounters of a Māori Kind, in 2010. It covers basic Te Reo Māori, Māori history, waiata (songs), and cultural customs, and is capped off with a weekend marae stay. It quickly became the second most popular class for international students at AUT, after another of King’s classes – Te Ara Pou Leadership. More than 1500 students have enrolled in the courses since 2002.
“The courses put indigenous goggles on students and open them up to areas of discussion with their own indigenous people,” King says.
Immersing in Māori culture is life changing
This is certainly true for Native American student Hailey Suina, from the Pueblo of Cochiti and Navajo Nation. She travelled to New Zealand on the Education New Zealand Go Overseas scholarship, already curious to explore the cultural connections between the Māori people and the indigenous people of North America.
She describes the time she spent immersed in Māori culture as “life-changing,” and returned home determined to use her experiences to become a leader in her community.
Hailey says she was amazed by the similarities between the Cochiti Pueblo and Māori peoples, which include a collectivist rather than an individualistic culture, a sense of guardianship for nature, and strong ties with ancestors.
“From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep connection with the Māori culture. It was like stepping from one home to another.”
So strong was the concept of whānau and whakawhanaungatanga (kinship connections) for a number of King’s students, that they developed Whānau Councils as a way of staying connected and building on the bonds of their shared New Zealand experience once they returned home. With the first one established in 2010, there are now three - two in the US and one in Europe.
Pre-Covid, students in Europe would meet up annually. King and other AUT staff committed to joining them, cementing the enduring relationship and ongoing commitment of AUT to its alumni.
“Events like noho marae and the Whānau Council meet-ups also provide an opportunity for prospective international students to learn about and consider AUT as a destination to study abroad and build relationships with key employers linked to our alumni,” says King.
Europe council co-founder Anne Heimbeig says being part of the Whānau Council is “a very emotional thing”.
“I’ve met great people from different countries. Together, we’ve overcome lots of stereotypes and wrong assumptions, and brought Māori culture out into the world.”
There was a sense of home, belonging, warmth, and love on the marae, says East Coast USA council co-founder Jessica Cohen.
“Being in the Whānau Council allows us to keep that spirit alive and remember the value of our whānau even when we are far away from our beloved Aotearoa.”
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Summerland Primary joins SIEBA
The programme, supported by ENZ, helps to grow international programmes at smaller schools that don’t have the resources and capabilities to do it on their own.
By centralising administration of international programmes, schools can focus on the educational and pastoral aspects.
Barb Dysart, a Co-Principal of Summerland Primary, said as a school new to the sector, creating networks, administering programmes and managing all the paperwork on their own was a challenge.
“We had no time to market our school and we were reliant on ‘word of mouth’ or agents to bring international students.”
Barb says working with SIEBA made it easy to enrol prospective students, and provided clarity and good practice around the policies and procedures.
“With SIEBA’s involvement, we’ve seen a large increase in international students attending our school – in part because of our confidence and ease in the process.
“If we are unsure of any situation, SIEBA is an email away. With their advice and support, we are able to focus on what we do best – teaching.”
Richard Kyle, ENZ Business Development Manager, said for many schools the work load of managing an international programme often fell on already busy principals or senior staff. This was a barrier to get more actively involved.
“SIEBA already has the insight and expertise so reaching out to them saves schools from having to reinvent the wheel,” said Richard.
“Welcoming international students to your school is a big commitment, and to make it sustainable and as stress-free as possible, peak bodies such as SIEBA can be a big help.”
To find out more about SIEBA’s primary schools programme, please contact Robbie Pickford, Project Manager: robbie@sieba.nz
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PIF Recipient: Te Whare Hukahuka
Ka Hao is one of the successful initiatives to receive funding through the International Education Product Innovation Fund, a New Zealand Government-funded initiative designed to reimagine what an education from Aotearoa New Zealand can look like and mean for global learners.
With Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) - New Zealand's government agency for international education and the kaitiaki of the Product Innovation Fund – onboard as a partner, Ka Hao is set to grow and create impact beyond our horizons, empowering and developing indigenous entrepreneurs across Australia and the South Pacific.
Te Whare Hukahuka (meaning the House of Innovation) is an Auckland-based indigenous social enterprise on a mission to improve the lives of 10 million indigenous peoples. Across a six-year-long track record, Te Whare Hukahuka has run programmes and delivered training in governance, business coaching, innovation, and rangatahi (youth) development.
Through indigenous leadership, Te Whare Hukahuka is proving that enterprises owned and managed by indigenous communities can be financially successful, create positive social outcomes, respect the environment, and uplift the culture of local communities.
That’s exactly what Ka Hao, Te Whare Hukahuka’s latest initiative, delivers on. Ka Hao is a ‘by indigenous, for indigenous’ e-commerce programme. Across 18 weeks learners design, build, launch and grow their own e-commerce system selling products and services to the world. Although the programme is delivered online, Ka Hao supports and engages its learners with a pastoral care team of more than 50 people – a unique point of difference which sets Ka Hao apart from other education offerings. By enhancing the support for learners, Te Whare Hukahuka aims to create an engaging learner experience and significantly boost programme competition rates and graduation results.
Well-resourced learner support is just part of what makes Ka Hao different from traditional education offerings. Everything about Ka Hao has been designed to create a learning environment that is culturally sensitive, safe, and respectful of the historical, social, cultural, geographic and economic factors that have left indigenous peoples in a disadvantaged position near the bottom of wellbeing indicators, both in New Zealand and other countries.
With more than 500 Māori learners already on the waiting list for this year’s Ka Hao programme, Te Whare Hukahuka is looking to bring the Ka Hao kaupapa to indigenous peoples beyond Aotearoa. The funding provided by ENZ through the Product Innovation Fund will enable Te Whare Hukahuka to research, pilot, test and evolve their first education offering across 16 Pacific countries. The target audience is new and existing indigenous business owners.
The International Education Product Innovation Fund is also supporting six other pilot projects from both established and emerging education providers around New Zealand. Together, the pilots reimagine what a New Zealand education offering can look like for global learners. In the case of Ka Hao, the pilot will explore how providers such as Te Whare Hukahuka can weave Māori knowledge and worldview into an education offering that is culturally relevant and responsive for indigenous learners in other countries.
As New Zealand’s dedicated agency for international education, ENZ is working with all the fund recipients in a partnership approach, building mutual benefit and reciprocity. The lessons learned through the pilot projects will be shared for the benefit of New Zealand’s whole international education sector, contributing to a broader and more diverse understanding of what international education can do for New Zealand, as well as the global learners who trust us.
More information:
Visit Ka Hao’s Youtube Channel to see over 4700 videos from their indigenous alumni
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Consultation to further strengthen the Code of Practice
The consultation is part of efforts to continue supporting education providers to deliver quality education to international students.
The Code requires all schools and tertiary providers enrolling international students to take all reasonable steps to protect international students and provide a positive experience that supports their educational achievement.
Since the new Code of Practice took effect on 1 July 2016, some Code signatories and sector bodies have provided feedback on certain matters.
The Ministry wants to hear from schools, tertiary organisations, sector peak bodies and international students and their families on these issues and possible ways to address them.
Consultation will end on 29 August. All submissions will be reviewed and recommendations made to improve the Code.
Click here for further information about the consultation process and to make a submission, or email international.division@education.govt.nz with questions.
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International Student Barometer results
In the 15 April issue of E-News we reported on the results of the International Student Barometer (ISB) survey of international students studying in the English language and PTE sectors.
ENZ commissioned ISB surveys of students at universities and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITP) to investigate the decision-making, expectations, perceptions and experiences of over 8,000 international students enrolled with these providers.
The surveys feature a global benchmark which indicate how New Zealand compares to other countries offering similar levels of study. Satisfaction can also be compared to previous ISB surveys in 2008, 2009, 2011 and 2013.
The good news is that overall satisfaction in the university and ITP sectors is high.
Eighty-eight percent of ITP students surveyed were satisfied with their experience. This on par with the global benchmark and the 2013 survey. ITP students showing the highest satisfaction level were from South Africa (100 percent), Nepal (98 percent) and Sri Lanka (96 percent).
Satisfaction at universities is also in line with the global benchmark, improving by two percent since 2013, to reach 90 percent. University students who were the most satisfied with their experience included those from Sri Lanka (98 percent), Tonga (96 percent), and England (95 percent).
Across the board, four out of five students would recommend their institution to other students thinking of studying there.
It’s worth noting that overall satisfaction levels vary noticeably by institution and by nationality. Each institution has received their own results to analyse and help inform the development of services and support for their student cohorts. It is important for institutions to be aware of their students’ expectations and needs - in particular, understanding and addressing the needs of the 20 percent of students who would not recommend their institution to others.
Generally speaking, the areas with lowest student satisfaction tend to be around costs, employment/employability and social life; many elements of which are issues for international students globally, not just in New Zealand.
One particular point for New Zealand institutions to keep in mind is the relatively high importance students place on employment/employability factors – both during and after study. Focusing attention on aspects such as work experience and placements, learning that facilitates students’ employability, and careers advice, will help avoid a mismatch between expectations and reality in this area. It will also boost the reputations of both the institution and New Zealand education.
You can read the ISB ITP summary report and sector presentation.
Read the ISB university summary report and sector presentation.
i-Graduate’s New Zealand Director, Kyla Steenhart, presented overall findings from the ISB surveys at the New Zealand International Education Conference 2015 in Hamilton in August. Check out her presentation regarding all four sector surveys here.
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Around the world in five
CHINA
Plan to introduce universal preschool education
The Chinese government aims to introduce universal preschool education by 2035, including specific goals to make affordable preschool education available for all children by 2035.
FRANCE
New international student recruitment strategy revealed
The French government has revealed a new strategy to help attract half a million international students by 2027, including a global marketing drive.
GLOBAL
The new rules of digital marketing
Agents and educators are reporting a steady increase in the number of students recruited via digital channels, with a third of agents indicating that digital channels now generate 30-60 percent of all new business.
KOREA
Institutions look abroad for revenue, prestige
The number of international students in Korea has increased by 67.5 percent in the last four years to 142,200 students due to active student recruitment, particularly by universities.
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
Dubai bucks global trend as international students soar
The number of students at Dubai International Academic City (DIAC), the largest community dedicated to higher education in the Middle East, has witnessed a surge in 2018/2019.
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ENZ to test new digital platform for improving students’ experiences
“After two years of research and consideration, we have developed a world-leading digital solution to improve student experience outcomes wherever they study and live in New Zealand,” said ENZ Student Experience Director, Hayley Shields.
Hayley said ‘nau mai’ was both an invitation and a welcome in Māori and, in this instance, a call to action.
The platform, NauMai NZ, has been created in the spirit of manaakitanga – to welcome and respect our visitors, support them as they transition into a new country and culture, aid social inclusion and help them have the best possible experience whilst here.
“Students have consistently told us they require improved access to timely, accurate information, and guidance about the best places to find answers to their questions,” said Hayley.
“NauMai NZ will help international students get the pre-emptive information they need, and make suggestions to support them as they navigate daily life in their new home.”
The new platform will be rolled out in three phases. The first phase will help education providers to meet student needs by directing them to a single source of government information. Information on the site reflects the international student journey from pre-arrival and across the first six months.
“NauMai NZ is directed toward life, work and social connections beyond a school or campus – for example, information on housing and accommodation or the New Zealand accent,” said Hayley.
During the testing period, ENZ will invite a targeted group of students who are studying at a range of providers to engage with NauMai NZ as we prepare for its official launch.
NauMai NZ aligns with a key action in the International Education Strategy launched last August – to continue to improve the availability of clear, timely and customer-focused information about education and immigration to students and providers.
It also embodies the key objectives of the International Student Wellbeing Strategy, launched in June 2017, by providing content supporting and enhancing the social, cultural, community, health and wellbeing needs of international students.
“NauMai NZ is a distinctively New Zealand initiative, and will contribute to setting New Zealand apart as fully committed to the wellbeing of international students and ensuring they have a great experience here,” said Hayley.
“Stay tuned for announcements over the coming months – we will be sharing more once NauMai NZ is confirmed.”
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Canterbury launches Strategy Leadership Accord
The Accord represents a commitment to grow the social, cultural and economic value of international education in the region over the next 10 years.
The strategy vision is that Canterbury is a “a globally connected region for international education with education and training that leads to enhanced student opportunities and outcomes with enduring benefits for the community”.
This will be achieved through:
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Strong industry leadership via the Accord
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Building partnership with government, iwi and other sectors
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Building a regional value proposition and strong international partnership in key markets
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Developing flagship programmes in areas of regional strength
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Developing pathways through school, higher education and employment in areas of regional strength
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Enhancing the student experience through developing a regional qual-mark for international education providers
At the launch function this week, Michaela Blacklock, General Manager for Business and Sector Development at Canterbury Development Corporation (CDC) noted:
“CDC believes that Christchurch’s international connectedness is critical to growing a strong economy which contributes to a better quality of life for people living in the region. We recognise both the economic and social benefits to Christchurch and Canterbury from a strong international education sector.”
The Leadership Accord has appointed Murray Strong as the Independent Chairperson, charged with overseeing the implementation of the strategy.
“It is important that we build on the industry cohesion and momentum gained during the post-earthquake period, which may be lost if there is no medium-term strategy to provide focus - the real work starts now.” says Murray Strong.
The strategy development process was funded by Education New Zealand and facilitated by Canterbury Development Corporation, the Christchurch City Council economic development agency.
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Quiz shows and education fairs in India
Tip:
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Interactive events are an engaging way to generate interest and enthusiasm from students
ENZ hosted The Kiwi Quotient (KQ) at the Symbiosis International University (SIU) campus in Pune, one of the most prestigious private universities in India.
ENZ’s Country Manager for India, Jugnu Roy, said New Zealand is an increasingly popular destination for high-quality international students.
“We’ve seen a 44 percent increase in Indian student enrolments in New Zealand universities for the first three months of 2017 compared to last year, and India is New Zealand’s second-biggest source country for international students.
“Highlighting New Zealand’s specialised courses and overall education quality will hopefully see this growth continue.”
KQ drew roughly 500 high-calibre students to the event, alongside key influential media, by highlighting two things beloved by India – cricket and Bollywood.
Soha and Stephen discuss international education
Bollywood star Soha Ali Khan (alma mater Oxford University and London School of Economics) joined former New Zealand cricket captain and ENZ Brand Ambassador, Stephen Fleming, for an inspiring panel discussion on international education. They then took part in a quiz show, picking students from the audience to compete against each other in teams, answering New Zealand-themed questions.
The event received significant media coverage and also created opportunities for New Zealand providers to partner with SIU to develop pathway programmes, particularly for specialist fields such as sports science, sports management and media. ENZ is currently following up.
ENZRA Fair
Following the KQ, ENZ supported four education fairs with Education New Zealand Recognised Agencies (ENZRA). This is the first year ENZ’s fair programme is being delivered exclusively through ENZRA partners, as it’s a cost-effective way of expanding New Zealand’s presence across key Indian markets.
The April series showcased more than 25 New Zealand institutions, including all eight New Zealand universities.
The 2016 fair series achieved enrolments worth $4.5 million economic value to date – so ENZ India are looking forward to seeing what the 2017 fair outcomes are.
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