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Showing 10 of 1890 results for how to register international groups
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Around the world in five
BRAZIL
Brazil’s study travel market bounces back
A recent survey shows Brazil’s outbound study surged by 14% in 2016, with students’ priorities shifting in terms of preferred programs of study, driven largely by employability factors. As such, language programs remained the most popular option, as speaking an international business language is seen as “essential” for students in the country.
US
Internationalisation and student recruitment increasing among US colleges
A new study of US colleges found nearly 30% of respondents reported high levels of international activity within their institutions, compared to 21% in 2011. When asked why, US colleges cited “improving student preparedness for a global era” as their main motivator, listing key activities such as “increasing study abroad for US students”, “recruiting international students” and “partnerships with institutions.”
CHINA
Hong Kong’s education system needs more heart and ‘soulware’
How can China best equip its next generation with the skills needed for a rapidly changing world? City University (CU) might have the answer. Despite being a young university with many students from lower-income families, it has made its way into the top 50 in the QS World University Rankings. CU President Way Kuo said the key is “soulware”, and has established regular exchange programmes with overseas universities to allow students to study abroad and “open their minds”.
UK
‘Widening gap’ between London and rest of country in language GCSEs
A widening gap is emerging in the take-up of language GCSEs between pupils in London and the rest of the country, a new report has warned. London is the only region in the country where the percentage of pupils taking language GCSES has risen over the past three years, possibly a result of the many multi-lingual pupils there normalising the ability to learn other languages.
INDIA and BRAZIL
Still a long way to go on internationalisation
India and Brazil are the largest higher education systems in the world in terms of numbers of students (alongside China and the United States) and the largest developing economies after China. While both nations have a long way to go, some important developments should be noted, including growth in scientific outputs and funding for public institutions.
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Farewell to Alexandra Grace
ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said Alex’s tremendous contribution has helped ENZ become the organisation it is today, and made an enormous contribution to the China-New Zealand education relationship.
“The importance of government-to-government relationships with China can’t be stressed enough and Alex’s work has been instrumental in elevating how New Zealand education and ENZ are regarded in this key market.
“There are, no doubt, many people across the education, government and trade sectors – both in China and New Zealand – who value the great work that she has done.”
Alex has been with ENZ since its creation and has helped set up and develop its first China team.
She came on board as Counsellor (Education) in February 2011 and since January 2013 has concurrently held the position of Regional Director – Greater China for ENZ.
Alex’s skills as an international lawyer meant she brought a lot to her role. She has done much to strengthen ENZ’s engagement with the Chinese government and education providers over the last six years, achieving key international education milestones for both countries.
Achieved under Alex’s leadership was the signing of an arrangement to affirm and guide the existing Strategic Education Partnership between China and New Zealand, which recognised ENZ’s role in carrying the bilateral education relationship.
Another major milestone was the increased recognition for New Zealand private training establishments (PTEs) in China, which required close coordination between ENZ and NZQA and robust discussions with the Ministry of Education in China. Nine PTEs were added to the Chinese government’s study abroad website in 2014 after four years of negotiation.
The New Zealand – China Sister Schools programme and the New Zealand – China Vocational Education and Training Model Programme were also launched on her watch.
Alex said she felt much pride in the way that New Zealand's multifaceted relationship with China has both expanded and deepened over the last six and a half years.
“I have greatly valued the opportunity to work in support of New Zealand’s vibrant international education industry.
“The opportunity to work in and help shape a new government agency is not one that comes along very often, and provided me with new experiences and the chance to grow.
“I will maintain a keen interest in this sector.
“Kia kaha and Jia You!”
Alex finishes her term with ENZ on 23 June and will move to London with her family.
Adele Bryant, ENZ’s former Business Development Manager, Industry Development, will take on the Regional Director – Greater China and North Asia role, based in Beijing.
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New Zealand and the EU qualifications
To match the levels of the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF) and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF), the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and the European Commission have published the Comparative Analysis of the European Qualifications Framework and the New Zealand Qualifications Framework: Joint Technical Report.
The report raises the profile of NZQF qualifications in Europe and makes it easier to compare them to EU qualifications. This will support transparent and consistent recognition decisions by education providers and employers in New Zealand and amongst EU Member States. It will also make it easier for people to have their qualifications recognised for working and studying in each other’s countries.
Through the EQF, the comparability of levels and qualifications can be better understood. While the outcomes of the comparability process do not entitle any holder of a European or New Zealand qualification to claim automatic recognition, the report provides clear information to support qualifications recognition decisions.
This summary diagram shows how the levels of the NZQF and EQF compare to each other.
For more information, visit the NZQA website.
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Around the world in five
CHINA
A model for teaching innovation in higher education worldwide?
China is stepping up its drive to lure overseas talent to become an innovation economy. An example of this is Shanghai-based DeTao Masters Academy (DTMA), which recruits 500 experts (‘Masters’) from universities and industry around the globe to regularly visit China and share their knowledge and skills with Chinese students and professionals.
SINGAPORE
Children must be ready for jobs ‘that do not yet exist’
Many children will end up working in jobs that do not yet exist, said Minister-in-charge of Singapore's Smart Nation initiative Vivian Balakrishnan. “We need to go beyond just the formal school curriculum”, he said, adding that the ABCs needed in school must be advanced: A for aesthetics (technology), B for building (applying) technology, and C for communication, to bridge the gap between user and technologist.
JAPAN
Junior high students rip elementary English as ‘useless’
In a new survey, 82.6 percent of sixth-grade students believe an English education is useful, but that figure plunged to 53.9 percent after they entered junior high. Researcher Yumiko Fukumoto said the loss of interest is lack of confidence in ability: “In junior high schools, children don’t spend much time on speaking or writing and the program is mostly based on translating and memorizing.”
INDIA
Why it is important for India’s education system to embrace disruption
Business, economy, politics and society are part of the same ecosystem. Educators therefore, have a duty to offer knowledge for enhancing skillsets and expertise that will help students face up to the challenges of the coming years. In this context, the higher education segment has a crucial role to play, but lack of qualified faculty, discipline, experiential learning and industry relevance is hindering students.
UNITED KINGDOM
Scrap fees for international students and use foreign aid budget to bring them to UK
The number of EU students applying to UK universities has fallen by 7 per cent since the Brexit vote. A professor of Economics at the University of Buckingham said the higher tuition fees is “extortionate” and should be scrapped altogether to encourage applicants. Instead, he said the Government should take money from the Department for International Development to recruit candidates and enable student mobility. Any leftover funding should be available to promote research collaborations anywhere in the world, he added.
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Government's response to Productivity Commission report
The Commission’s report highlighted a number of constraints and challenges across the tertiary education system. The response outlines the Government’s consideration of the report and the opportunities for improvement that have arisen from it. It lays out the Government’s plan for a world-class higher education system that promotes greater innovation, flexibility and responsiveness, while safeguarding our strong international reputation.
In its response, Government has set out its plan for action through four inter-related areas of focus that span the tertiary education system:
- Creating a more student-centred system
- Meeting the needs of industry through relevant, responsive, and supportive teaching
- Improving performance across the system
- Enabling and encouraging innovative new models and providers.
The work-plan signals potential opportunity for the international education sector. It sets out a plan for work to ensure the tertiary education system is open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. This will include consideration of potential changes to funding, regulatory and quality assurance arrangements, where this will lead to benefits for learners and for New Zealand.
ENZ has contributed to the development of the Government’s response on behalf of the sector, and continues to work with other government agencies to ensure international education remains a key part of the resulting work plan.
This will be a significant undertaking. The Government will work with providers, employers, students and other stakeholders as it progresses the work. Engagement will begin soon, including through the development of a new Tertiary Education Strategy in 2018.
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International students affected by bank changes
As a result of the Global Tax Information Reporting and Anti Money Laundering campaign, all banks in New Zealand, as well as other financial institutions, are required by law to collect additional information from a foreign tax resident before they can open an account in New Zealand. As part of these changes, banks also require a certified copy of (or, in some cases, the original) the student’s passport (bio-page) and proof of current residential address. Those who apply to open a bank account while outside New Zealand will be required to provide proof of their current overseas residential address, and to present themselves at the bank to activate the account when they arrive in New Zealand.
The same changes are being implemented in other countries that are part of this global initiative.
These changes also apply to international students who intend to use INZ’s Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) to transfer their funds to New Zealand. Note the FTS is only available to international students from certain countries.
FTS information
If applying for an account under the FTS in the near future, ANZ, the New Zealand bank that operates the FTS, may contact the student to complete additional forms to ensure they capture the additional information they require. These forms include questions around the student's tax information, and the student themselves will need to complete and sign these forms (not their agent).
For FTS accounts only, acceptable proof of residential address includes:
- utility bill (e.g. landline telephone and power only)
- rates bill (e.g. property tax document)
- tax certificate
- insurance policy document
The document(s) listed above must be less than three months old and must state the student's name and their residential address. Where the student is living with their parents and the document states their parents' name(s), a parent whose name appears on the document must provide a letter stating that the student lives with them.
Note there may be some delays visa application processing while Immigration New Zealand and ANZ work through these changes.
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AUT Whānau Council meet up in Berlin
The group came together on 8-10 September to celebrate their strong New Zealand connection and shared AUT experience.
The international alumni came from Denmark, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, The Netherlands, Argentina, the US and Germany.
Olga Elli, ENZ's Education Marketing Manager - Europe, said the meeting was a wonderful way of uniting AUT whānau – friends and international students who share a strong New Zealand connection.
“The alumni shared some happy memories of being students at AUT and relived their passion for Māori culture and traditions, which they had experienced at AUT’s unique Noho Marae, with a programme (about Maori culture and traditions) specifically designed for international students.”
Among the highlights of the alumni meet were a special evening of cultural celebration and exchange with the New Zealand Ambassador to Germany, His Excellency Rodney Harris and his wife Catherine, which included an energising kapa haka performance.
“We had the alumni, the Ambassador, and AUT staff all join in to perform the haka. It was really exciting!”
Jason King, AUT’s Senior Lecturer, Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Development, said it was great to have the Ambassador and his wife join the group as whānau to celebrate the occasion.
“It really resonated with the AUT European Whānau Council’s motto of ‘whānau4life’.
“Our alumni enjoyed meeting the Ambassador, who was not only impressed with the group’s outstanding kapa haka performance and Poi dance but also with their strong New Zealand connection, which makes every student an ambassador for New Zealand’s high-quality education and diverse culture.”
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Letter from the CE: We are keen to engage with new government
We learned today that Chris Hipkins will be the new Minister of Education, with responsibility for tertiary education and skills including international education. In addition, the appointments of Kelvin Davis, Tracey Martin and Jenny Salesa as Associate Ministers of Education were announced.
Our immediate priority at Education New Zealand is to ensure we are well positioned to advise our new Minister, and to ensure a smooth transition of administration.
We are well advanced in this work. We are finalising a Briefing to the Incoming Minister (BIM) and working with other government agencies on other advice to safeguard New Zealand’s reputation as a high quality and desirable place to study.
In particular, we are keen to engage with incoming Ministers on the long-term picture for international education and the broader benefits it delivers to New Zealand, in particular on delivering an education to be proud of and driving sustainable growth especially in the regions.
2017 has already been a year of significant adjustment for the industry, particularly in the India market. There has also been considerable work around provider quality, student wellbeing and shifting the dial in student attraction from volume to higher value, particularly at university level.
We will have a busy few months ahead. New Zealand must work hard to be a place that welcomes high quality international students and offers them a world-class education and a great experience.
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive, Education New Zealand
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Christchurch takes education to China
Karen Haigh, ChristchurchNZ Market Project Manager, said the event series was possible due to the highly collaborative way that Canterbury education providers work together.
“Collaborating offshore enables us to present the pathway opportunities for students, and highlight the lifestyle opportunities that make the study experience in Canterbury unique,” she said.
The collaboration continued within ChristchurchNZ, the new city promotion agency that brings together economic development, tourism, major events and international education. For the first time since coming together, the ChristchurchNZ International Education and Tourism teams decided to work together offshore, promoting Christchurch tourism alongside study opportunities.
ChristchurchNZ’s tourism goal for 2025 is to prioritise stronger relationships with export education to better leverage the reciprocal benefits, and increase value for both sectors.
Alistair Crozier, New Zealand Consul-General in Chengdu, said the collaboration between the tourism and education sectors was a no-brainer.
“The inclusion of a tourism element shows that education promotion can be more effective with cross-sectoral synergies, and that raising visitor profile is a key part of student attraction.”
The delegation took part in the ‘Experience Christchurch: New Zealand Education Expo’ in Chengdu, which was part of the New Zealand Consulate’s first ever ‘New Zealand month’ in Sichuan. The event was supported by the Sichuan provincial government education department, which Christchurch Educated has had a growing relationship with since signing a memorandum of understanding in 2014.
Christchurch delegates with invite agents at the ‘New Agent seminar’ at the New Zealand Consulate in Guangzhou.
More than 250 Chinese junior high school students and parents attended, along with the University of Canterbury, Ara Institute of Canterbury and a number of schools.
Karen said the event included interactive introductions to New Zealand and the New Zealand education system, as well as a workshop on ‘Maximising opportunities through international study’ and demonstrations of New Zealand classes.
“The focus was on getting the students to really experience New Zealand education through lots of interaction and participation,” she said.
Alistair said the event, which finished with a fair-style session where students could meet providers and find out more about their institutions, was an excellent showcase of New Zealand education.
“The format, delivery and experience was highly innovative and engaging. The interactive activities, including the classroom sessions, gave students great exposure to New Zealand culture and learning.”
The delegation also held a ‘new agent’ seminar and speed-dating event in Guangzhou, as well as Canterbury Agent Awards luncheons and dinners for the region’s priority agents in Chengdu, Shanghai and Guangzhou.
These events were supported by ENZ representatives Adele Bryant and Felix Ye, and Consulate-General representatives Alistair Crozier, Michael Zhang, Megan Birnie and Rachael Maidment.
Christchurch delegates with invited agents at the ‘New Agent seminar’ at the New Zealand Consulate in Guangzhou.
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Government starts its business
Today marked the official opening of the new Parliament, when the Government laid out its priorities in the Speech from the Throne (available in full here).
The speech noted that in order to help ease pressure on infrastructure, the Government would make sure the immigration settings are right.
Specifically, it said it would “cut down on low quality international education courses and will ensure work visas issued reflect genuine skill shortages”.
These areas were flagged in the run-up to the election and in the subsequent coalition agreement.
ENZ Acting Chief Executive John Goulter noted that in a media interview on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the possible reduction in overall immigration numbers as an estimate of 30,000 rather than a target.
“Ms Ardern said the Minister of Immigration would be working through various proposals but she did not expect an announcement soon. Instead, the priorities for the Government’s first 100-day plan would be on areas such as housing and health.”
Meanwhile, ENZ has worked with fellow agencies including Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Education on a response to queries. This message is now posted on INZ’s website here, and we encourage you to read and share this widely. It is reproduced below:
As we work with our ministers in the new Government, agencies will continue to provide information and services to the international education sector.
We will advise students, education providers and agents of any developments in the sector that may impact them as soon as any decisions are made.
In the meantime, there have been no changes made to immigration settings. Immigration NZ continues to process student visas and post-study work visas as usual.
