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ENZ discontinues recognised agency programme
The decision followed a global review that included input from NZ education providers, education agents globally and NZ government agencies. It also considered practice across other jurisdictions and the global education agent landscape in a post-pandemic environment. The decision becomes effective immediately. The review was foreshadowed in the refresh of the New Zealand International Education Strategy in 2022.
“There are many positive aspects of our engagement with agents,” said General Manager of Sector Services, Sahinde Pala.
“Our global staff network and trusted relationships with agents are important factors in assisting students who wish to further their studies in New Zealand. ENZ’s AgentLab platform has also been a rich resource and information hub for education agents, particularly during the pandemic. We will continue to offer these services going forward.”
“But there were also issues. Our review showed that many successful agents did not see the value in joining the programme. The programme was also not accessible to emerging education consultants and organisations, and it did not meet the needs of New Zealand education providers.”
“After careful consideration of the feedback from many agencies and New Zealand education providers, it became clear that the existing programme was not fit for the emerging environment and the decision was taken to discontinue.”
“Looking forward, we want to ensure a more even-handed and efficient approach and feel the best way of achieving this is to open up the power of our international network, along with our information and training capability to all agents, regardless of their size, expertise or capability.”
While the ENZRA programme will cease, the new AgentLab platform will be launched in August and will include a wide range of updates relevant to education agents, including a calendar of events, details of upcoming webinars, resources, and latest news and updates from across the New Zealand education landscape.
Education 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.
Any agent seeking more information or support should email: agent.help@enz.govt.nz
For further information:
Sai Raje | Senior Advisor Communications, Education New Zealand
+64 21 479 649
Notes to Editors:
About Education New Zealand (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency responsible for taking New Zealand’s education experiences to the world. ENZ promotes a New Zealand education as one that teaches students to be critical thinkers, problem solvers and lifelong learners, which will help them succeed in their future careers and create a positive impact on the world.
With approximately 100 staff in 18 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector including schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Te Pūkenga (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics), universities; and internationally with NZ Inc agencies, Government agencies and education providers to encourage sustainable growth and identify opportunities.
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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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Around the world in five
Asia
India’s path to internationalised higher education
India's higher education system is expanding internationalisation efforts to retain students and enhance global competitiveness. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 focuses on cross-cultural understanding and fostering global perspectives. The government encourages collaborations with foreign universities and has established foreign campuses in India to offer world-class education opportunities at home.
North America
US sector applauds gov’t export strategy
The US government's National Export Strategy includes international education for the first time, recognising its importance for the country's global competitiveness. While stakeholders celebrate this move, they urge the government to take further action to protect and strengthen the US's position as the leading destination for international students.
South America
In 2022, Brazilian agencies experienced significant growth in business volumes, with language plus work programmes being highly requested by students. The total number of students placed by surveyed agencies was 7,802, and overall business growth reached 57%. The preferred destinations remained the UK, United States, Canada, South Africa, and Australia, with more students planning to study abroad for higher education.
Europe
Record number of international students for Spain's universities
Spain's international student population surged by 13.6% in the 2021/22 academic year, reaching a record 170,222 students, led by significant growth from Latin American countries like Colombia and Ecuador. The top ten markets all exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with efforts underway to improve work opportunities for non-EU international students.
Africa
Nigerian students rush to secure UK places before dependants ban
International students are applying to UK universities for September 2023 to avoid a forthcoming ban on bringing family members from 2024. Nigerian applications have surged, while some Indian students explore alternative study destinations like such as Canada and Australia.
- International photo round-up
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