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Around the world in five
Canada

Why international students could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s economic resilience

As Canada navigates strained relations and an escalating trade war with its largest economic partner, international education could be a critical factor in bolstering Canada’s resilience.

China

Push to speed up open-source AI adoption by universities

The government is intent on speeding up development and adoption of open-source AI by higher education institutions, including setting up a government-led open-source collaboration platform, according to new plans shared by the Ministry of Education.

Australia

International student policy in the spotlight during Australian election

Immigration will figure prominently as an issue in this election cycle, including policies related to international students.

United States of America

Sector leaders step up legal pressure on US government

The President’s Alliance, along with 86 US institutions, has submitted a statement supporting the American Association of University Professors’ legal challenge against the administration’s student visa revocations and detentions.

United Kingdom

UK staff and course cuts ‘putting off prospective students’

News of constant job losses and course closures across the UK sector is causing lasting damage to universities’ reputations and may inflict further financial harm by hitting student recruitment numbers, academics have warned.
New Zealand Global Competence Certificate programme proves a hit

What is New Zealand’s Global Competence Certificate programme?

The customised cultural exchange programme, which started as a pilot partnership last year between New Zealand’s international education agency, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao and AFS Intercultural Programs, Inc. has proved so successful it is now being extended and taken up by schools and tertiary institutions around the country, connecting them with students in Asia and Latin America.

The “Kiwi way” has much to offer the world, and international education has much to offer New Zealanders at a time the world needs people with cross-cultural competencies. The New Zealand Global Competence Certificate, delivered through Massey University, develops cultural self-awareness, emotional resilience, and build bridges across cultures. It also piques the interest of students offshore in coming to New Zealand in better times.

The programme delivers animated videos, quizzes, assignments, and weekly live facilitated dialogue sessions for learners to talk with each other online in real time and learn about life from perspectives other than their own.

What have students been saying about the NZGCC programme?

“Not only have I learned to become a better communicator, empathiser, and global citizen, but also how a group of like-minded individuals can come together to form something bigger,” says Jack Hittle, of Northland’s Springbank School.

“I found the programme life-changing,” says Vaagisha Kanwar, a Year 11 student at Indus International School in Bangalore, India, who connected with the Northland students. “We learned about conflict, empathy, inequality, different communication styles, how different people adapt to new situations, and about suspending judgement. I know that I’ll use the skills we’ve learned for the rest of my life, not just when I travel abroad but also in daily life.”

"You see the way a culture greets each other or the way they dress, but then there are things like relationships, gender roles, and health,” says Whanganui Girls College student Tilda Donson.

What have educators been saying about the NZGCC programme?

Whanganui Girls College Principal Sharon Steer is delighted with the NZGCC programme, which she says will help students build their understanding of global cultures, and other critical “soft” skills which will prepare them for life as they enter the workforce.

“An important part of our curriculum is developing strong communication skills and setting our students up for success in the workplace. The NZGCC programme will add another dimension to our lessons by teaching our students how to develop meaningful relationships with one another despite language and cultural differences.”

Educators say that with the borders closed, the programme now forms an important part of the reshaped international education experience.

“It is so important that our students don’t miss out on the enriching life skills that are gained when we interact and connect with people from around the globe,” says Whangarei Girls High School International Director Amelia Morrison, who has students working with peers in India.

"Global competence is mission-critical for our world," says AFS Intercultural Programs President and CEO Daniel Obst. “Educating more young people to become global citizens is crucial if we want to create a more just and peaceful world.”

The expansion of the GCC programme reflects the diversification of education in new virtual forms fit for a globally connected world, says Education New Zealand Chief Executive Grant McPherson.

“As well as helping to develop the global citizens of tomorrow, this programme demonstrates the reciprocal benefits of international education, giving our rangatahi a chance to learn with high school students from around the world, and giving their offshore peers a chance to learn ‘with’ New Zealand and our unique way of thinking.”
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.”
Response to student visa fraud allegations
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) have become more aware of risk and fraud in some markets including India and measures are in place to identify and manage the fraud. The high visa decline rates are evidence of a significant effort by INZ to manage students who submit false and misleading information.
India is the second largest source of international students to New Zealand. India is and will continue to form a large part of the international education industry. The vast majority of students who study in New Zealand make a very valuable contribution to our campuses, our workplaces and our society.
Every day Indian students, alongside other international students, are helping New Zealand to build its research capability and global linkages, to fill skill shortages and enrich our culture. The actions of a small minority must not damage the reputation of a whole nation and undermine the significant contribution the vast majority of international students make to New Zealand society.
If there are cases of the rules being flouted, we urge people to report those cases so they can be investigated and addressed fully.
ENZ works closely with our fellow agencies including INZ, New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Ministry of Education top ensure that New Zealand continues to have a high quality education system which delivers for New Zealand and international students.
New code for student care established
You are invited to contribute to the development of guidelines that will accompany the new Code.
Launched by Minister Joyce on 10 March, the new Code better reflects the outcomes expected by students and their families, and the high standards of student support that our industry seeks to maintain.
Find out more about the Code and the new contract disputes resolution scheme on the Ministry of Education’s website here.
As the administrator of the Code, NZQA is inviting our industry to contribute to the development of guidelines to help providers understand, in practical terms, what being a Code signatory involves and offer best-practice examples of pastoral care of international students.
Ensure your voice is heard as NZQA drafts these guidelines. As an industry we want to have a high bar of expected practice when it comes to the pastoral care of students. The guidelines should demonstrate examples of what good practice looks like and what, as an industry, you see as the minimum that should be expected.
The Ministry of Education, along with NZQA and Education New Zealand would like to acknowledge the important contribution many of you made to the development of the new Code by sharing your ideas and suggestions throughout the consultation process. It is through this sort of industry participation and commitment that New Zealand continues to be at the forefront of best practice in international student care.
We encourage you to take part in developing the guidelines.
Update on the New Zealand Story – Our shared story to support export growth
The New Zealand Story project is led by the chief executives of Education New Zealand, Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise.
The Story will:
- Communicate New Zealand’s values and personality
- Feel and be authentic
- Feel different to other countries’ stories
- Move us beyond place (our landscape)
- Be a foundation story from which other stories can grow
- Support growth in export earnings.
It will help communicate New Zealand’s distinct and unique attributes to international audiences around the world.
Education New Zealand Marketing and Channel Development Manager Kathryn McCarrison says that while New Zealand has a great reputation in a number of areas, “the New Zealand Story is an opportunity to sharpen and highlight our country’s many qualities.
“What we have got is a gap between how international audiences see us and the ideal positioning we need to ensure the world ‘buys’ New Zealand.
“The New Zealand Story will fill that gap so that exporters don’t have to spend half their meetings in international markets explaining why New Zealand is great. They can get straight into saying why they are great.”
The New Zealand Story will be a foundation for more specific stories about individual businesses and sectors like education. It will help give the stories told in international markets by individual companies and organisations a common voice when talking about New Zealand.
The Story has been tested and accepted by businesses and consumers in six markets –Australia, China, USA, Jakarta, India and Germany.
Leaders from New Zealand’s primary sectors, manufacturing services, export education, Māori and wider government have also had extensive input into the story’s formulation.
The project is now in its creative development stage. A toolbox for industry will be developed that will include images and videos to help ‘NZ Inc’ partners (from both the public and private sector) tell a consistent story about New Zealand across different sectors and in very diverse international markets.
This is an exciting development in the marketing of New Zealand globally and one that will help us all tremendously in raising the profile of our own sectors overseas.
How New Zealand education compares around the world
Education at a Glance provides comparable national statistics measuring the state of education worldwide. The report analyses the education systems of 34 OECD member countries, as well as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. Most of the recent data in the report relates to 2011.
The findings show New Zealand is performing well.
In terms of international education, key findings include:
- New Zealand has the 11th largest market in absolute market share terms (at 1.7 percent), about the same as last year, but much higher than its share in 2000 (0.4 percent)
- In 2011, we ranked fourth in terms of proportion of tertiary-level students who were international (16 percent). In particular, we had the highest proportion of diploma-level students who were international (at 21 percent ), and the fifth highest (with 13 percent ) at degree level
- The level of international doctorate students has continued its significant rise since 2005 (since the introduction of domestic-fees policy). Nearly 40 percent of doctorate-level students were international in 2011 (the third highest level after UK and Switzerland).
The report shows that New Zealand is:
- investing 7.3 percent of its GDP in education - the seventh highest in the OECD
- ·investing 20 percent of all public expenditure in education, which is the second highest percentage in the OECD
- in the top third of countries for participation in early childhood education - 95 percent of four year olds enrolled in 2011
- in the top 10 of the OECD for the highest proportion of tertiary qualified adults, with 39 percent of 25 to 64 year-olds and 47 percent of 25 to 34 year-olds in New Zealand having a diploma or higher qualification
- increasing significantly the number of 15 to 19 year olds enrolled in study - 81.5 percent in 2011, up from 74 percent in 2008.
The OECD report, Education at a Glance 2013 is available here
New China Team Members
Felix Ye, formerly Director of International Students at Auckland Grammar School, has just begun work as our Education Manager based at the New Zealand Consulate-General in Guangzhou. “Felix is perfect for this role”, says Alex. “Having spent the past 11 years in a variety of international education positions in both public and private institutions, Felix comes to us with strong and proven credentials and networks.” Additionally, “Felix originally came to New Zealand as an international student, and has a valuable innate understanding of the kinds of drivers and factors that go into the decision to go overseas to study,” says Alex. “Felix understands ‘Why New Zealand?’ – and can clearly articulate this to prospective students”.
“I am very excited, both personally and professionally, to have this opportunity to work for ENZ in China and to grow our links with the South”, says Felix. “Guangzhou is my hometown, and there is a lot of potential for New Zealand here. Guangdong is already the number 1 source province for Chinese students in New Zealand, and with an ENZ presence now here – we are well-placed to develop the education relationship even further”.
Felix is a fluent English, Mandarin, and Cantonese speaker, and will have responsibility for growing education business in Southern China, (Guangdong, Guangxi, Fujian, Hainan, Hunan), Hong Kong and Macau. To connect with Felix, drop him a line at felix.ye@enz.govt.nz.
Sam Mackay, another familiar face to many, will soon be joining the China Team, based with Alex, Li Zhi, and Rosemary An at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.
“Sam will be joining us as Senior Education Manager from the end of November, with responsibility for the government-to-government/policy side of the bilateral education relationship; as well as on growing education business”, says Alex.
Sam has a long history in international education, both at the government and institution level. Sam has previously worked on the China relationship at our Ministry of Education; and has studied Mandarin in Beijing, where he also worked at the New Zealand Centre at Peking University. “Sam comes to us with a robust international education and policy skillset and a solid understanding of both New Zealand and China”.
Sam will be kick-starting his China work at the ENZ Conference in November, where he will represent the China Team in giving overview of China opportunities. Sam can be reached at sam.mackay@enz.govt.nz.
Positive trends signal growth
"While the effects of increasing competition linger, hard work by many across the industry is turning the tide," says ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson.
Overall, there were 97,283 international students enrolled at a New Zealand education provider in 2013 – 1.8 per cent less than in 2012.
"This figure is the result of a really hard start to 2013, where from January to April numbers were 5 per cent down on 2012. Growth since then helped offset some of the decline; from May to December student numbers increased by 4 per cent on the same period in 2012."
"There’s no doubt numbers do vary sector by sector and market by market, but I’m confident we’re at a point where they’re heading in the right direction. As an indicator for this year, total student visas approved from January to March 2014 are up 22 per cent on 2013," says Grant.
Highlights from the report include growth in students from China and India, with both countries increasing by 3 per cent on 2012.
"These are countries where ENZ has made a significant investment. This investment is reflected in increasing awareness of New Zealand education – our brand awareness is trending up in China and India and preference for New Zealand as a study destination is level with Australia. We’re starting to get noticed, although we’re still well behind UK and USA.
"In Japan, where enrolments grew 7 per cent between 2012 and 2013, we have also seen our consideration levels increase from 33 to 39 per cent."
In conjunction with the snapshot report, the Government released another report – the Business Growth Agenda Leadership Statement for International Education Progress Update.
The report sets out progress, since 2011, in achieving the goals of the Leadership Statement for International Education. It outlines key actions by government, and ongoing work to support the growth of international education.
"International education is New Zealand’s fifth largest export industry, contributing $2.6 billion to the New Zealand economy annually, and building links of lasting benefit to our communities."
"As an industry, we are working together in many ways to increase that contribution. For example, with more than 1,200 people now subscribed to The Brand Lab we’re telling a unified education story internationally. This can only strengthen our brand as a country, paving the way for providers to promote the distinctive strengths of your region and institution."
New appointments in South and South East Asia
Including some new roles to support the existing and potential opportunities the region offers New Zealand education providers.
“The SSEA region accounts for around a quarter of all international students in New Zealand and offers significant export education opportunities as well. It is home to two of ENZ’s three tier one markets and our fastest growing market this year – India,” says Peter Bull, General Manager International.
Peter says the new appointments will increase the depth of in-market expertise in marketing, business development and government relations, as well as ensure strong coordination with NZ Inc agencies and the education sector in New Zealand.
Following the appointment of Ziena Jalil, as Regional Director – SSEA from 1 July, the latest additions to the region include:
Sarah Stabler has been appointed Lead – Public Relations/Marketing (SSEA). This is a new role and aims to provide stronger marketing and PR expertise and leadership in the region to increase awareness of New Zealand as a study destination and to lead the delivery of ENZ PR and marketing activity. Sarah is currently Senior Director at PR agency Baldwin Boyle Shand in Singapore and has more than 16 years of PR and marketing experience in South East Asia. Sarah is based in Singapore.
Grant Fuller has been contracted as a Senior Advisor to work on a specific project with ENZ in-market staff and the Business Development team in New Zealand to develop a strategy for realising the many business development opportunities that the region offers. Grant is a former New Zealand Trade Commissioner to Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore and has considerable in-market experience.
Jugnu Roy has been appointed Lead – Events (SSEA). In this role, Jugnu will provide leadership to ENZ’s SSEA marketing staff on developing and implementing an events strategy which supports New Zealand institutional needs. Jugnu has most recently been ENZ’s Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager for South Asia and will continue to perform this function while taking on leadership for regional events as well. Jugnu is based in New Delhi.
Francesca Hilbron has been appointed Lead – International Market Manager, South and South East Asia, Japan and Korea. Francesca’s role provides the conduit between ENZ in-market staff and New Zealand strategic relationships. It also provides leadership for activities such as Ministerial missions and bilateral meetings. Francesca has most recently been ENZ’s International Market Manager for South Asia, Japan and Korea and brings useful NZ Inc experience to the role, having also worked for Immigration New Zealand. Francesca is based in Wellington.
Johnny Tramoundanas-Can has been appointed International Market Manager, South East Asia and reports to Francesca Hilbron. Johnny has joined ENZ from the Tertiary Education Commission where he was most recently Private Secretary in Minister Joyce’s office. Johnny is based in Wellington.
In addition, ENZ will shortly be recruiting for another new role – Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager Malaysia, to be based in Kuala Lumpur.
“Malaysia is a very important market for New Zealand given the high value of students who come from there. However, recent changes in-market have meant that our student numbers are down. This role will play an important function in strengthening in-market relationships and strongly driving awareness for New Zealand in this key market,” says Ziena Jalil, ENZ Regional Director SSEA.
“There are exciting times ahead for the South and South East Asia team, with ASEAN 2015 commemorations and the Cricket World Cup coming up, among many other activities. Our team is determined to ensure we make the most of these opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector,” says Ziena.
For further information on ENZ plans for SSEA please contact Ziena Jalil at: ziena.jalil@enz.govt.nz