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  • We’re on the way back

    ENZ’s Director of Insights, Marie Clark says interest in New Zealand as an education destination remains high, and the numbers contained in the April 2023 Insights Story back her up. 

    • Traffic to the Study with New Zealand website leapt from 75,000 users in November 2022 to 295,000 users in February 2023. 
    • At the beginning of March there were nearly 34,000 international student visa holders, up 98% since our borders opened. 
    • Overall application approvals return to around two thirds of pre-pandemic levels 

    In December 2022, ENZ moved into Phase 2 of the I AM NEW campaign. This involved moving to an ‘always-on’ approach that focuses on the individual stories of the students involved in the campaign which targets potential international students and their parents across 10 markets. With a mix of paid digital advertising across Google, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, DV360, WeChat and Bilibili, the campaign reached an audience of 57 million outside China and a further 19 million within China. Clicks on the campaign’s digital advertisements totalled 1.2 million and 109,000 respectively. 

    New Zealand’s largest source of international students also comes into the spotlight with an updated China Insights dashboard which presents key data and commentary to help readers understand the current state of the market. Other insights contained in the report highlight: 

    • international education competitor destination growth in 2022, 
    • agents’ perspectives of New Zealand, and  
    • analysis of the potential for older professionals whose focus on learning to help their career success is balanced by their preference to continue this study from within their home country. 

    Included in the report is analysis of domestic perceptions of how beneficial international education and students are to New Zealand, and newly released analysis of the broader impact of the sector on the New Zealand economy and communities. 

    The full Insight Story for April 2023 will be available on Intellilab shortly. You can sign up to Intellilab here. 

  • May update from Immigration New Zealand

    Update on Student visa processing*    

    Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 35,069 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 30,936 of these applications.   

    Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated each month: Visa processing times for international students | Immigration New Zealand 

    *Figures current as at 10pm on 8 May 2023.    

    Visitor visas and short-term study 

    A holder of a visitor visa is permitted to attend a programme or programmes of study which are not more than a total of 3 calendar months in duration per 12-month period. 

    Recently we have received several queries regarding students intending to undertake a programme of study of more than 3 months duration (for example, a diploma) who wish to begin their studies while holding a visitor visa. This is not permitted as the intended programme is more than 3 months duration. Students must hold a student visa for the full duration of their intended programme of study (or hold an interim visa with open study conditions) if the programme of study is longer than 3 months duration. 

    Tuition fees  

    We would like to remind you that changes to the requirements for tuition fee payment evidence for students were introduced last year as part of the Immigration Rebalance.   

    Students need to pay tuition fees for the first year, or first programme of study (whichever is the shorter), and they will have to prove personal/maintenance funds for the same period. We do not accept payment of tuition fees by instalment; the only exception is for some aviation students.  

  • July update from Immigration New Zealand

    Visa processing update (to 11 July 2023) 

    Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 43,541 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 37,916 of these applications with 32,457 approved. 

    Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated by month: Visa processing times for international students 

    Apply early 

    Unfortunately we have received many applications submitted only a few weeks before the student intends to commence study in New Zealand.  

    Students should apply for their visas around four months ahead of intended travel, and at least two months ahead of intended travel. We cannot prioritise late applications ahead of students who have applied in good time. Unfortunately, some students who apply late may miss their start date. 

    Please remember that students should not confirm travel bookings until the visa is granted. 

  • New AgentLab platform launched to support education agents

    Launched in early August, the new platform features a wide range of relevant information and updates to support education agents and consultants promoting study with Aotearoa New Zealand. This includes a calendar of agent-focused events and webinars, resources, and latest news and updates from across the Aotearoa New Zealand education landscape. 

    In 2022, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) reviewed its agent engagement programme to ensure its offering for education agents is best placed to support the international education sector’s recovery.  

    ENZ commissioned Edified to research and evaluate its broad agent engagement programme as well as the ENZ Recognised Agency programme. Refreshing the AgentLab platform to offer agents a wider range of information about Aotearoa New Zealand education was among the recommendations of the Edified report. 

    ENZ’s Director – Sector Services, Laura Simpson, said the AgentLab platform’s refresh was guided by a need to better support all education agents, knowing the crucial role they play.  

    We are developing the AgentLab platform with more tools and resources. We will continue to grow the platform to best serve all agents in their work to support students wanting to study with Aotearoa New Zealand. This helps us ensure that agents have access to accurate information, so they are best placed to drive international student recruitment and support the sector’s post-pandemic recovery.  

    “This is important work given our goal to grow onshore international student numbers. Rebuilding the sector to a thriving, resilient one is a major focus for Aotearoa New Zealand. We know that the relationship between education providers and agents is the primary one. So our job, set out clearly in Focus Area One of the International Education Strategy, is to make sure we support high-quality education agents in recruiting students to Aotearoa New Zealand and supporting the sector’s recovery,” Laura said.  

    The new AgentLab platform is hosted at the same address as the old site at agentlab.enz.govt.nz. It is easily accessed through the single sign-on, MaiENZ portal through which ENZ offers all its digital services to Aotearoa New Zealand’s international education sector. Existing AgentLab users will be able to seamlessly access the new site with their current MaiENZ logins.  

    The discontinuation of the ENZ Recognised Agencies (ENZRA) programme that was announced to the sector and education agents in July was also an outcome of the agent engagement review. All education agents – including former ENZRA agents – will be able to access the same level of information and resources via the AgentLab platform. The discontinuation of the ENZRA programme will not affect this. 

  • Diwali celebrations light up New Zealand campuses

    It was a wonderful week of Diwali across New Zealand campuses as students and education institutions came together to celebrate the festival of lights.  

    AUT lights up for Diwali 

    The sights, sounds and colours of Diwali were on full display at AUT’s recent Diwali Festival.   

    With the largest cohort of international students from India in New Zealand, AUT’s Diwali Festival celebrated the incredible contribution Indian students make to life at AUT.   

    Pro Vice-Chancellor International, Professor Guy Littlefair, said the event enriches their campus culture and showcases the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.   

    “Our incredible Diwali event was a wonderful opportunity for our entire university to celebrate our Indian students and the richness and joy of Indian culture,” Professor Littlefair said.   

    “We are proud of our growing reputation throughout India for our wide range and quality of study programmes, for being the university of technology in New Zealand, and for our great student support, accessibility to academic staff, employability, and student success.   

    “India is an extraordinarily important partner country to us, but more importantly our Indian students are an extremely valued part of our AUT family and the unique perspective and rich culture they bring to us are treasured by all our staff and students.”  

     

    Students lead Diwali celebrations at Wintec | Te Pūkenga 

    Diwali 2023 performers, organisers, volunteers, and audience all enjoyed the celebrations at Wintec | Te Pūkenga City Campus, including International Student Services Advisors, Unmesha Veetil (far left) and Li Li (front row with orange sari).

    This year, the Diwali celebrations at Wintec | Te Pūkenga City and Rotokauri campuses were completely ākonga (student)-led, making them even more special than usual. Although facilitated by the International Student Support team, the events were entirely hosted by ākonga, from the MCs to all the entertainment.  

    Unmesha Veetil, International Student Services Advisor, said the events were vibrant and high energy and a real testament to the students.  

    “The MCs did a great job of engaging the audience and getting them singing along, the dance performances and magic tricks were stunning and there were even talented students doing henna designs. On the request of the audience there was a final open dance floor which got many from the audience dancing too and proved lots of fun.”

    A crowd enjoying a Diwali dance performance at Wintec | Te Pūkenga

    The true spirit of the festival was also on full display as a diverse, multicultural communities organised the festivities with much generosity and kaitiakitanga.   

    Members of the Chinese Postgraduate Society who volunteered as ecowarriors for the Auckland Diwali Festival.

    The Chinese Postgraduate Society volunteered for the Auckland Diwali Festival as eco warriors, helping make the celebration as eco-friendly as possible. 

    “It was a great experience for us to immerse in a different culture and make valuable contributions,” Wilson Pan, President of the Chinese Postgraduate Society said.  

  • Strong interest in NZ from Filipino students at the Te Pūkenga Agent Workshop and NZ Study Workshop 2023

    55 education agents representing 27 agencies from across the Philippines attended the one-day workshop on 27 October. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity for the four Te Pūkenga representatives, including Bipul Das, Kerry Clarke, Prashanth Nallur Puttaswamy and Richard Cao, to share their most recent updates and developments, including information on Te Pūkenga’s vocational education offerings. 

    ENZ’s Market Manager – Philippines & Thailand, Chortip Pramoolpol, supplied an update on ENZ’s activities and showcased the array of tools and resources available to empower education agents in promoting New Zealand as a study destination. Joining the workshop remotely were key figures from Immigration New Zealand. Celia Coombes, Manager of International Education, Dolores Hyde, Senior Advisor for International Education, and Philippa Lee, Immigration Officer, Visa Operations, delivered a comprehensive briefing on student visa applications and post-study work rights. If any education agents would like a copy of the slides delivered by ENZ, they are available on IntelliLab here - ENZ Philippines.

    Bipul Das from Te Pūkenga’s International Team said that it was incredibly valuable to be able to meet face to face with education agents and prospective students in the Philippines. 

    It was wonderful to see the education agencies are excited to promote New Zealand as the preferred study destination for vocational education and we are grateful for the support from ENZ, our Education Agents and INZ on the work being done in the Philippines market. We will continue to focus on growing our international student population from the Philippines, " said Bipul. 

    Following on from the workshop, ENZ and Te Pūkenga welcomed over 170 visitors to the NZ Study Expo 2023. The event provided a unique platform for attendees to explore the breadth of opportunities in New Zealand including specific courses, scholarships, and post-study opportunities and discuss these personally with the NZ representatives on-hand.  

    From left to right: Prashanth Nallur Puttaswamy, Bipul Das, His Excellency Peter Kell, New Zealand Ambassador to the Phillippines, Kerry Clarke, Chortip Pramoolpol, Richard Cao and Joel Miranda Angon.

    New Zealand Ambassador His Excellency Peter Kell presided the event and shared his remarks, encouraging Filipinos and their families, to choose New Zealand as a destination to continue their education journey.  

    Ambassador Kell told the audience “This event is more than just a fair; it is a bridge that connects aspirations with opportunities. It is a platform for our Filipino students to explore and embrace new horizons, to acquire skills and knowledge that will empower you to become leaders in your chosen fields.  

    New Zealand’s education system is often highly regarded and ranked in the world for preparing students for the future. Our education providers often have strong connections to industry and the business community. This facilitates internships, work placements, and real-world experiences for students, preparing them for the workforce,’ he added.  

    ENZ Market Manager – Philippines & Thailand, Chortip Pramoolpol, was excited to have had the opportunity to speak face to face with interested students and their families following the pandemic.  

    “There is certainly a lot to be said for being able to explain in-person to prospective students and their families, why they must consider New Zealand as a destination for future study and we were so pleased to see such genuine interest 

    These events generated dozens of leads which has helped drive a significant increase in in visits and enquiries from Filipino students to the Study with New Zealand website,” added Chortip.   

    If any education providers or agents would like any additional information on marketing to students in the Philippines, please contact Chortip Pramoolpolchortip.pramoolpol@enz.govt.nz

    Bipul Das from Te Pukenga International Team presented on their programme offerings.

  • Around the world in five

    Asia  

    The government of Hong Kong has announced ambitions to become an international hub for post-secondary education with measures including an increased quota for international undergraduates at public universities, more scholarships and work rights for postgraduate students. 

     

    North America  

    Canada is set to introduce a “recognised institution” framework, through which colleges and universities with a positive record of vetting and supporting international students may be eligible for fast-track study permits. This comes after over 100 Indian students faced potential deportation earlier this year after their admission letters to Canadian colleges were found to be fake, which the students were unaware of.  

     

    Middle East 

    A British school in Abu Dhabi that has been rated outstanding by the emirate's school regulator for promoting the UAE's national identity said it has weaved elements of the country's culture, history, heritage and, Arabic language into its UK curriculum. The British International School Abu Dhabi is home to 2,080 pupils from 96 countries, with one in five pupils at the school being Emirati. 

     

    Europe 

    According to the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA), In 2022/23, Ireland set a new all-time high for the number of international students studying at Irish universities. 33,480 students were enrolled at Irish universities last year, an increase of nearly 12% compared to 2021/22, according to the report. Furthermore, India’s student population in Ireland has grown by a significant 17.8%, reflecting a surging trend. 

    Africa 

    South African business schools are a higher education success story and champions in terms of higher education on the African continent. Though competing for students, they display a strong ethos of collaboration, generated by a sense of shared purpose to upskill a “new” country. These schools show the power of collaboration, common purpose, and internationalisation outlook.  

  • From the CE: An amazing adventure

    With less than 50 days left in 2023, many of you will be preparing to wrap up this current year. For many it means farewelling some of their international students who have completed their study experiences. For others it is a moment of reflection on how far new learners have come since arriving on our shores at the start of the year. For everyone, while looking forward to a summer of well-deserved rest and relaxation, preparations for the beginning of the new year will also be well underway 

    Looking across the whole sector I cannot stress enough how important these preparations are in maintaining the momentum of the past 12 months. With, I’m told, close to 60,000 international student enrolments (up from the low of 40,000 students in 2022), we have collectively made significant progress in a very short time. However, now is not the time to rest on our laurels. As we finish this year, the effort that is made now will certainly lead to further success in 2024.  

    Here at ENZ, alongside our sector partners, we have been very active in market putting New Zealand in front of agents, parents, and prospective students across the globe. Fairs in Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam spring to mind. The new brand campaign is in the market. It is a positive, upbeat, high-energy picture of what you get from a New Zealand education. It builds on the awareness created by I AM NEW while focusing on what makes us different. As international education campaigns go, it is very different, and that is a good thing. 

    Alongside this work, we are busy preparing for the announcement of the new Minister. This has involved the preparation of briefing papers that will be shared with the new Minister once they take up their office While we are awaiting instructions which will come in the form of the Minister’s Letter of Expectation and the introductions that will take place in due course, we do know that international education will be a focus of the new government. This is especially in the areas of international connectivity and economic development.  

    Change and opportunity are ever-present for everyone living and working in international education, it is something we all understand and embrace. 

    Many of you will be aware that this is my last week at ENZ following my decision to leave after almost 12 years steering this waka. I have been with ENZ since its inception and have seen many major achievements and milestones. While getting stuff done is always important, for me the pleasure and the reward has been the many talented and passionate people I have met and worked with. The collective desire to transform the lives of learners, our communities and at the end of the day Aotearoa New Zealand, sees them doing incredible things day in and day out. This is what saw our industry through the most challenging times our sector has faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. This strength and bravery will see our industry continue to rebuild and thrive; of that I have no doubt.  

    It has been an amazing adventure championing a New Zealand education. Thank you. 

    Ngā mihi nui 

    Grant McPherson 

  • Around the world in five

    Asia  

    The government of Hong Kong has announced ambitions to become an international hub for post-secondary education with measures including an increased quota for international undergraduates at public universities, more scholarships and work rights for postgraduate students. 

     

    North America  

    Canada is set to introduce a “recognised institution” framework, through which colleges and universities with a positive record of vetting and supporting international students may be eligible for fast-track study permits. This comes after over 100 Indian students faced potential deportation earlier this year after their admission letters to Canadian colleges were found to be fake, which the students were unaware of.  

     

    Middle East 

    A British school in Abu Dhabi that has been rated outstanding by the Emirate's school regulator for promoting the UAE's national identity said it has weaved elements of the country's culture, history, heritage and, Arabic language into its UK curriculum. The British International School Abu Dhabi is home to 2,080 pupils from 96 countries, with one in five pupils at the school being Emirati. 

     

    Europe 

    According to the Irish Higher Education Authority (HEA), In 2022/23, Ireland set a new all-time high for the number of international students studying at Irish universities. 33,480 students were enrolled at Irish universities last year, an increase of nearly 12% compared to 2021/22, according to the report. Furthermore, India’s student population in Ireland has grown by a significant 17.8%, reflecting a surging trend. 

     

    Africa 

    South African business schools are a higher education success story and champions in terms of higher education on the African continent. Though competing for students, they display a strong ethos of collaboration, generated by a sense of shared purpose to upskill a “new” country. These schools show the power of collaboration, common purpose, and internationalisation outlook.  

  • ENZ survey to understand the supply of student accommodation is underway

    The availability of accommodation for international students is often cited by our education partners as a potential barrier to the growth of the international education sector here in New Zealand. To date, evidence of this as a barrier has been anecdotal from individual providers and regions, with no specific data to offer a clear picture on the actual situation and extent of it.  

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is therefore conducting a survey of international education providers with the aim to understand more about any potential or actual shortages, where and what accommodation type, and why that be, at a regional, sub-sector and national level. While the survey aims to better understand capacity issues and whether it is a barrier for growth in any part of New Zealand, we importantly want to build an evidence base to then enable tracking over time if a need is identified. Survey results will be shared with peak bodies and regions at an aggregated level to inform cross sector regional conversations and planning to address any issues found.  

    The survey link has already been sent out to the peak bodies who are forwarding this on to their members. If you are an international education provider here in New Zealand with experience in international student accommodation and have not yet received an email with the survey link, please email SectorEngagementTeam@enz.govt.nz. The survey will be open from now until 1 March 2024 

    This is an inaugural survey and if you think a key question or aspect has been missed and should be included in future surveys, please use the free text box to capture this.  

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