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Graduate’s Kiwi know-how helps reduce water use in UAE desert
Rather than travelling to New Zealand and undertaking theoretical research with limited relevance back home, Wafa was able to carry out hands-on work addressing critical water management issues in her arid home country, while being supervised by New Zealand-based experts.
It was a personalised and practical kind of international education experience which Wafa is grateful for. “It allowed me to continue working, while at the same time learning and finding solutions to the water management issues facing the UAE.”
The education partnership grew out of a New Zealand G2G (Government to Government) relationship with the UAE which dates back to 2014. “The aim is to build the capacity of local people and find solutions to real problems through scholarships for study,” she says.
Already qualified with a Bachelor’s degree in ecology and environmental science and Master’s degree in water and environmental engineering, Wafa was working as an environmental scientist for Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) when asked to be involved in the programme.
The region needs to find ways to manage the growing demand for groundwater in a hyper-arid, saline environment. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has about 19 million planted trees in desert “forests”, a precious legacy of founding father Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan. They provide a range of ecological benefits but are heavily dependent on groundwater irrigation.
With EAD given a government mandate in 2016 to protect groundwater reserves, water meters were introduced and areas of wastage identified. Wafa’s research was required to determine the exact water needs of the plants through the implementation of New Zealand technology, and experimentation with the use of treated sewage effluent, or “grey water”.
Distance learning partnership with Massey University
She worked with a team at New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research and her project was supervised by Principal Scientist Brent Clothier. The programme was managed by Lesley Kennedy of Wellington-based consultancy firm OnlyFromNZ.
“I travelled to New Zealand once or twice a year to meet Massey University requirements such as attending exams, presentations, or conferences. Likewise, Brent would come to the UAE with his team and help oversee the research.”
“It’s fit-for-purpose academic knowledge with real practical utility,” Dr Clothier says.
Wafa used Plant & Food Research’s heat pulse technology, which has been employed successfully in New Zealand and other parts of the world, but never in a region where temperatures can reach close to 50degC in summer. Once up and running, the technology provided readings every 30 minutes which allowed Wafa to calculate precisely the amount of water being absorbed by the plant.
“The data provided new and exciting information for us. We found that many of the trees had already adapted to the summer heat and did not take up as much water as we were providing through irrigation,” she says.
“By the end of the study we determined that we could save 35 - 70 percent of the water we have been supplying through irrigation.”
The technology was extended to other crops, and farmers are now provided with crop calculator software which provides guidance on the specific water needs of a tree, according to the month of the year, location, and soil type. “It’s a very important tool for growers in the UAE.”
“It’s good for countries to work together and find solutions to our challenges.”
Enduring relationship with New Zealand
Wafa is proud of the fact that her research is helping to solve a critical environmental issue in her country and knows that the collaboration with Massey through the NZ G2G partnership has been an integral part of her success. It has also paved the way for two other Emirati students to follow in her footsteps.
“I met other international students from the Middle East while at Massey and they were envious of me. They said I was very lucky because I was doing something for my country.”
She believes international education plays a key role in the exchange of information with other countries. “It’s good for countries to work together and find solutions to our challenges. If we are talking about the environment, we are all living in one world so it’s important that we work together to solve issues.”
But this academic partnership has not just produced practical results. It’s also seen a special bond develop between the New Zealand scientists and their Emirati students.
“I have built a long-lasting relationship with New Zealand,” Wafa says. “I know that I can always call my contacts in New Zealand to discuss an issue and they will be there for me.
“The relationship is much bigger than the life of the project and this is very important for me as a scientist and a researcher.”
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International graduate helps strengthen New Zealand’s cyber-security
Qualified with a Bachelor of Business Administration from Taiwan and a Master of Science from the United States, Eric saw further international postgraduate study as a good opportunity to enhance his overseas life experience.
So, having spent many years working in the IT industry in Taiwan across a range of roles including systems engineering, information security, and personal data protection, he decided to move his family to New Zealand in 2018 to pursue a Master of Cyber Security at the University of Waikato.
“The University of Waikato is recognised among the world’s best in computer science and has the country’s first Master of Cyber Security focusing on malware analysis, penetration tests, cloud computing and legal compliance,” he says.
Master’s programme “challenging and complex”
Eric says he enjoyed the challenge of the master’s programme.
“Security in the IT field is challenging and complex, and covers many technical and non-technical aspects. Being a trusted IT security player is an intellectually and financially rewarding job, which can make our lives, communities and society better by ensuring IT is applied and managed securely.”
While at Waikato, Eric spent much of his time working on assignments in one of the computer labs. “I have many unforgettable memories that took place in the 24-hour computer areas where classmates and I would have countless discussions, exchanges of ideas, and even arguments.”
Since graduating in 2019,he has been working as a professional consultant at an audit firm in Auckland, putting his cybersecurity skills to good use implementing adequate security controls and incident management procedures to protect his clients.
Eric credits his international education experience at Waikato for putting him on a pathway to success. “The new literacy of cybersecurity risks, cloud computing technologies and legal compliance requirements I received from studying at Waikato has equipped me to make professional judgements on each security assessment, which has been extremely beneficial for my clients.”
New Zealand a great study destination
Based on his experience, Eric is keen to encourage any aspiring international student to seriously consider New Zealand as a study destination.
“Studying abroad is an exciting journey,” he says. “If you want to earn a qualification from a prestigious university, study new things in a multi-cultural environment, and have a laid-back and affordable lifestyle then New Zealand is the place for you.”
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Around the world in five
Canada
Canada considers study permit cap tweaks as job losses mount
Despite possible adjustments to come, experts are warning of deepening financial and educational fallout from Canada's study permit caps.
Global
University impact rankings expand but remain volatile
Designed to showcase how institutions are working towards addressing the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, this year’s Times Higher Education Impact Rankings edition is the biggest yet.
Asia
"Asian tigers" ramp up internationalisation amid big four woes
Territories and countries like South Korea and Hong Kong, part of the so-called “Asian Tigers” alongside Singapore and Taiwan, now view international students and intra-East Asian mobility as critical to sustaining economic growth in the region.
United Kingdom
Over 50 UK universities have dropped in the latest QS World University Rankings, with funding concerns emerging as a key factor behind the decline.
The United States of America
Can the US afford to lose its 1.1 million international students?
International students contributed $43.8bn to the US economy last year and created 378,175 jobs nationwide.
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New Zealand’s EdTech at centre-stage of International Education
Export digital products and services have long been an important element of New Zealand’s international education sector, but they have largely flown under the public radar. Overnight, the needs of learners changed, and education providers found themselves in uncharted territory.
New Zealand companies with an established reputation delivering digital educational programmes quickly stepped up both the range and reach of their products. This, combined with Aotearoa’s reputation for creativity and innovation, and more than a little manaakitanga, has resulted in the phenomenal growth of some of our best-known EdTech brands over the past year.
Kami is helping Schools Globally
At digital online learning platform Kami, the goal is success for every student, regardless of ability, by providing inclusive and intuitive tools that support any learning style. They include text-to-speech, voice-typing, freehand drawing, and audio and video commenting.
Many of the schools which closed globally adopted Kami’s digital classroom technology. The company has grown from 8 million to 27 million users in 180 countries over the past year, adding one million new users in one week alone.
Code Avengers taps into the popularity of Gaming
Code Avengers takes a left-field approach to engaging learners by tapping into the popularity of gaming and uses those concepts to captivate students and build their digital capability. The platform was only founded in 2012 and is now being used in 15,000 schools in 14 countries.
“Our goal is to prepare teachers and students, from all backgrounds, for the current reality of the job market, and the jobs of tomorrow,” says Code Avengers CEO Hamish Day.
“We want to help give people confidence and an opportunity to learn the skills that industry tells us it needs.”Education Perfect are inspiring the next Generation of Changemakers
EdTech providers also have the power to engage students on social issues and challenge them to think critically. Key market player Education Perfect, which reaches more than one million students in 1800 schools globally, is finding new ways to inspire the next generation of changemakers.
It is building curriculum content to include issues such as social justice, sustainability, student health and wellbeing, and indigenous issues. It recently partnered with Australian animal rights organisation Voiceless to deliver modules focused on animal welfare, including the issues of dolphins living in captivity and the export of live animals.
EP Partnerships Director Anna Redmile says that joining forces with Voiceless allows teachers and students to have conversations which promote critical thinking and better understanding of the world they live in.
Education consultant and Voiceless adviser Dr Christina Jarvis agrees. "As we help children embrace an increasingly complicated future, such skills are paramount for developing engaged citizens.”
EdTech will continue to play a key role in New Zealand’s International Education Offering
The EdTech sector was estimated to contribute $300 million to the New Zealand economy in 2017, and those figures will have ballooned with the impact of Covid.
Looking to the future, educational technology will play an increasingly key role in the diversification of New Zealand’s international education offerings. And there is no shortage of amazing and pioneering companies ready to play their part.
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Aminat chases sustainable energy dream for Nigeria
The former maths teacher and electrical engineering undergraduate has recently returned home to Nigeria after studying renewable energy at the University of Otago’s Energy Research Centre. She completed both a post-graduate Diploma and a Master’s of Science in Energy, Science, and Technology.
“It has always been my dream to study abroad, and New Zealand made my dream come true because I wanted to study renewable energy,” she says.
Manaaki scholarship key to education opportunity
“New Zealand is one of the top five countries in the world which excel at renewable electricity generation, and it is important to study in a country where you can get practical experience.”
Aminat says that the cost of international education overseas is beyond the reach of most people in developing countries, but that her experience was made possible through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, funded by the New Zealand government. When she applied in 2018, she was one of only a small number of students accepted from Africa “so it was a big deal for me”.
And so was getting here. “It was my first experience travelling overseas, my first time on a plane, my first time in a new country.”
But she says she was grateful for the orientation programmes available and quickly felt at home both at university, and in Dunedin. “Just two months after I arrived, the Christchurch mosque shooting happened, and the support I got from my neighbours, my colleagues, and my lecturers was amazing.”
Energy poverty drives study choice
Aminat says she is motivated to study renewable energy because of where she comes from.
“I wanted to study something would allow me to improve my own country. Every economy depends on a reliable power supply and in Nigeria we have nationwide blackouts regularly. We need to buy petrol to run generators. Most people have generators in their homes, even in the cities.
“If you don’t have adequate reliable power, it holds back every aspect of the economy and makes it very difficult for businesses to succeed. It affects everything - manufacturing, schooling, farming. You can’t even freeze excess seasonal crops, so most of it goes to waste.”
A European Union report released last year titled “Time to make energy poverty in Africa a thing of the past”, backs up what Aminat says. It found that nearly 800 million people globally live without access to electricity, about 600 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In a world of deepening inequalities between the haves and have-nots, this is a glaring injustice, the report says. “Africa is the world’s premium location to harness solar energy and is already demonstrating that a cleaner path is possible.”
“Renewable energy is a passion for me,” Aminat says. “We need to talk about renewable energy for the future in Africa. And the future is now.”
By coming to New Zealand, Aminat says she saw the potential of what can be achieved with a reliable power supply.
Her research, supervised by Associate Professor Michael Jack, explored how to use domestic hot water cylinders for energy storage in microgrids comprised of clusters of households with solar photovoltaic supply. “It’s definitely achievable but needs more research and I’m very keen to take it further.”
International education more than classroom learning
Aminat says studying in New Zealand was “the best-ever experience”, with excellent university facilities and approachable staff always ready to offer help and support.
“Studying in New Zealand has given me a voice. It has expanded my horizons, made me more informed, and opened doors for me. People are keen to listen to you when you talk. When you’re looking for a job, an international education experience makes you stand out.”
“Studying in New Zealand has given me a voice" - New Zealand international student and Manaaki scholar Aminat Razaq
While the quality of education is essential, Aminat says it’s also about what you learn beyond the walls of a classroom. “You learn a different culture, and you are given the opportunity to explore your chosen field of study and gain another perspective. By offering scholarships, you are also helping the country the students come from.”
For any students considering New Zealand as a study destination, Aminat says “don’t think twice”.
“New Zealand is probably the most peaceful place in the world, it has all the facilities you need to study, the researchers are top notch, and the people are welcoming.”
While studying in New Zealand has fulfilled one of Aminat’s dreams, she is already working on another one. “My new dream is to set up my own energy consultancy company and I’m sure I will achieve it. All the positive experiences I have had in my education will take me there.”
And she hasn’t ruled out a return trip to New Zealand. “I am considering studying for my PhD. I loved everything about studying in New Zealand and would love to come back.”
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Vanessa builds digital skills to help drive change in PNG
She had a diploma in computer technology and a good job with a major telecommunications company, but she also had big ambitions and knew that an international education experience in New Zealand would take her where she wanted to go.
“I saw that there were many areas where digital solutions could really make a difference. It was one of the driving forces which motivated me to study in New Zealand.”
As Vanessa was searching for a university where she could study computer science, her friend returned home from Auckland University of Technology. “She told me so many wonderful stories and I was just so inspired to go and experience New Zealand and AUT for myself.”
“She gave me an idea of what to expect and I knew I would be going into a supportive community. It was only when Covid arrived that I truly experienced how supportive it really was.”
Vanessa came to New Zealand on a Manaaki Scholarship, funded through the New Zealand Aid programme. “It was the reason I could come and I’m grateful for the opportunity.
The value of a Manaaki Scholarship
“The scholarships allow students who are passionate about creating a brighter future in their home countries to gain expertise in their field of our study,” she says. “It also provides exposure to new perspectives and the chance to build life-long relationships with like-minded professionals, which is something I really value.”
Although Vanessa’s father and brother both travelled overseas for education, not many of her friends have. “So now I’m trying to be the influence on my friends, encouraging them to take up that pathway.
“I tell them that in New Zealand you get a fantastic study environment and will meet people from many different backgrounds.”
Vanessa considers that a real bonus to her study experience was the opportunity to take up a summer internship.
“It was optional for my programme, but it was provided through the Pacific Cooperation Foundation for students who were part of the Manaaki scholarship programme. I applied so that I could gain experience working in a large multi-cultural organisation.”
Securing a role at Watercare in Auckland she not only gained valuable work experience, but also professional networking opportunities which have resulted in lasting connections with many of her former colleagues. “I had an amazing manager and I reach out to him from time to time. He has really helped me a lot and he’s one of the life-long contacts I’m going to be holding on to.”
Boosting confidence and career
With her Bachelor of Computer and Information Sciences completed last year, Vanessa is now back in Port Moresby working as a Digital Transformation Associate with PwC and loving her new role.
“Studying in New Zealand grew my confidence as a person and has allowed me to progress my professional career,” she says. “It broadened my horizons and gave me a different mindset.”
Deciding to become an international student takes drive and commitment, but the rewards are worth the effort, Vanessa says. “I spent months researching the options and needed to stay motivated during the year it took to secure my scholarship and place at AUT. It took a lot of planning, but it was something I had my heart set on.
“I knew a degree would give me better opportunities and New Zealand was just such an amazing place to study. It has had a very big impact on where I am now.”
If she had another opportunity, Vanessa says she would head offshore again to pursue a Master’s in Data Science, but for now she is busy convincing her peers of the value of a New Zealand education.
“I tell them this is an opportunity you don’t want to miss. Don’t only go to study, go to really experience New Zealand, the culture, and the people.
“They ask me, what if I don’t get the scholarship and I say you’ll never know if you don’t try, so just go for it. Expect to embark on an adventure of a lifetime.”
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Around the world in five
Global
The global rankings season is now in full force, with this being the first time that three major releases have occurred within 24 hours. The results highlight the transformation that is occurring across higher education worldwide.
United States of America
United States President Donald J Trump has asked Congress to cut funding for basic research by more than one-third in the budget year beginning in October, according to an analysis by the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Australia
The latest data on student visa grants and applications from Australia’s Department of Home Affairs shows a decrease overall for the international education sector and ELICOS and vocational visas at record lows, following the implementation of higher visa fees and a new visa priority system.
United Kingdom
In response to the growing concerns around quality assurance, ethical practice, and accountability in recruitment, a number of destination countries are introducing formal frameworks and codes of conduct to govern the activities of education agents.
Canada
Canadian universities have welcomed the government’s planned audit of the international student programme to strengthen processes and integrity, and to reinforce public trust in the system.
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About us
International education delivers social and cultural and economic benefits for New Zealand.
To support the growth of international education, ENZ promotes New Zealand as a study destination for international students and supports the delivery of education services offshore. It also administers scholarships to help New Zealanders study overseas.
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Saying it with socks
Back in May, we reported that Lincoln University had committed to providing international students with a parcel of hand-knitted woolly socks, pineapple lumps and a personal letter ahead of their arrival.
These photos show that those socks have been a big hit!
Lincoln’s International and Student Engagement Director Dee Coleman says that the university receives international students from over 60 countries each year, with some coming unprepared for a New Zealand winter down South. To help them stay warm, Lincoln started the project to provide students with handmade woolly socks.
“When we looked at our source countries, we realised that a lot of our students hail from warm climates and although intrigued by a Kiwi winter, can often come unprepared.”
“Our aim is to keep them warm with some good, old-fashioned Kiwi hospitality, and what better way than with some homespun and hand-knitted South Island woolly socks.”
The socks are hand-knitted by a group of Darfield spinning and knitting enthusiasts, headed up by neighbours Pip Anderson and Ruth Buttle. They have committed to producing up to 40 pairs of hand-knitted socks a year for the university, destined for locations all around the world.Retired from a life of farming in the district, Ruth still spins her own wool despite no longer having a dedicated flock of black sheep for the purpose. She buys wool, cards it and spins it into double ply wool. It takes a minimum of two hours to spin one ball of wool.
Pip says they are aiming to keep the colours neutral, with splashes of colour so that they look natural and hand made.
Ruth says spinning and knitting are still popular pastimes for rural New Zealand women and that projects like this are an excellent opportunity to get together.
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A first for Southland Girls’ High
The national news site Stuff ran a charming story last week about a young Thai student, Kamolsiri (Kate) Damrongmanee, who is the first international prefect to be voted in in the 137-year history of Invercargill’s Southland Girls’ High School.
The story covers her life as a busy Year 13 student and prefect. Kate also talks about her love of the southern city’s cold weather and the community’s warm support.
