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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.”
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Government delegation from South Korea visits New Zealand to reconnect with several of our education providers
New Zealand and South Korea have strong education links and one unique partnership is the education cooperation under the Korea-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (KNZFTA) which has historically included education programmes for Korean school and tertiary students.
The visiting delegation included representatives from the Korea Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Rural Affairs (MAFRA), the Korea Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries (MOF), the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (EPIS) and Korea Fisheries Resources Agency (FIRA), the implementing agency for the MOF-funded project.
The delegation was welcomed to the ENZ Wellington office with a mihi whakatau on their first day. ENZ, Ministry of Education (MoE) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) colleagues joined together for waiata and kai with our Korean guests.
Following a welcome and mihi whakatau in Wellington, the group travelled on to Nelson where they visited Te Pūkenga Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT) and Nayland College. The visit to Nayland College was an opportunity for the Korean representatives to gain a better understanding of the pastoral care for school students and the unique offerings such as outdoor education and horticulture programmes.
Kay Lee, ENZ Senior Market Development Manager – Korea, said it was important for the Korean delegation to experience firsthand the welcoming and safe environment of New Zealand schools to regain confidence in the Schools Visits Programme.
“After the COVID-19 pandemic, the Korean Government was concerned about sending students, especially younger students, overseas to study particularly on scholarship programmes because parents wanted assurance their children will be well looked after. In the debrief with the Korean representatives, it was clear they gained confidence from speaking to the New Zealand institution representatives around the procedures and systems in place to support students.”
“We hope that this renewed confidence will mean that we start seeing Korean government scholarship school students studying in New Zealand again in the near future”.
High on the agenda during the delegation’s visit were the School Visits and Tertiary Training Programmes, both of which were affected significantly during the pandemic.
From 2016 –2019, the School Visits Programme provided 150 high school scholarships per year for South Korean students from rural areas to attend New Zealand schools for eight weeks. The Korean Government planned to continue the Schools Visits Programme with its own funding in 2020, however, the programme was cancelled due to travel restrictions during the pandemic.
An alternative programme was run by MAFRA and MOF from December 2022 which involved short-term English Language Training for school students in Korea with three New Zealand teachers travelling to Korea to teach English (Read about their experience here).The Korean organisers have decided to run the English language programme in Korea again with six New Zealand teachers traveling to Korea to teach English in January 2024.
Nayland College demonstrated manaakitanga by welcoming the group to rainy Nelson but provided an Asia Kiwi lunch complete with meat pies and sushi!
Like the Schools Visits Programme, the pandemic interrupted tertiary programmes and the revised programme ran in January 2023 with short term group programmes. The site visits in November to Te Pūkenga NMIT and Lincoln University provided an opportunity to discuss the institutions’ proposals to host Korean tertiary students in January 2024.
Also discussed was the importance of reciprocity and it was noted that Korea is a popular destination for New Zealanders under the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA) scheme. Since 2016, the scheme has awarded scholarships to 196 individuals or groups for study, intern or research programmes in Korea. Lincoln University, in particular, has been successful in facilitating group PMSA programmes focused on agriculture to Korea.
Dr Mark Burdass, Aquaculture Programme Coordinator and Tutor, introduces the hands on learning in the aquaculture programme at Te Pūkenga NMIT.
At the conclusion of their visit, the Korean delegation expressed their gratitude to the institution hosts for making their time in New Zealand memorable and valuable through fruitful discussions. The delegation emphasised the importance of conducting these meetings in person and visiting the campuses to meet with institution staff and academics. The ENZ Manapou ki te Ao team is pleased to continue close cooperation with our Korean education partners to facilitate connections with New Zealand education providers for the education programmes.
If you are interested in finding out more about the education initiatives originally outlined in the KNZFTA, you can read about this in a 2016 E-News article here - New opportunities for New Zealand and Korea.
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India to feature as Country of Honour at NZIEC KI TUA
The Country of Honour designation at NZIEC KI TUA celebrates New Zealand’s international education connections with partner countries and reflects one of the conference’s key values – hononga (connections).
ENZ’s Acting Chief Executive, Dr Linda Sissons, said ENZ is delighted to headline India at NZIEC KI TUA and build on the strong foundation of international education connections with partners in the country.
“Students from India are the second-largest group studying with New Zealand. We are enriched by the skills and research know-how that Indian students bring to our country. New Zealand has a number of valuable institutional and government-level partnerships that make for a strong, bilateral education relationship with India.
“We look forward to showcasing and celebrating these connections at NZIEC KI TUA 2024.”
ENZ’s Regional Director Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes, said having India feature as Country of Honour is a valuable opportunity for the international education sector to contribute to the conference programme with sessions that surface insights and learnings focused on India.
“New Zealand and India have such a broad education relationship, from student recruitment and student experience to partnerships on an institutional and governmental level. There’s much to surface and share by way of insights to continue forging our strong education ties.
“We look forward to collaborating with our sector colleagues to deliver a conference programme that showcases these connections and explores new partnerships moving forward.”
NZIEC KI TUA delegates can look forward to programme elements that explore and surface insights from New Zealand’s international education connections with India and also experience a few cultural delights during conference.
ENZ General Manager International, Lisa Futschek, and IIM Ahmedabad Director Prof Bharat Bhaskar sign an education cooperation arrangement during the NZ India Education Connect initiative in February.
Call for speaker proposals
ENZ is accepting speaker proposals for NZIEC KI TUA 2024. We welcome inspiring and engaging presenters on any topic relating to international education, especially our connections and partnerships with India.
Please submit your proposals by 30 April on this link.
Don’t miss earlybird registration pricing
Secure your earlybird registration price for NZIEC KI TUA 2024. There are two-day and one-day registration options available, alongside tickets to a gala dinner.
To find out more information about becoming an NZIEC KI TUA 2024 partner, email us nziec@enz.govt.nz
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BizVenture winners tackle youth mental health with "It's Okay" clothing range
The innovative business entrepreneurship scheme is a pilot initiative led by Education New Zealand, Young Enterprise Scheme (YES), and Japanese partners to give students in both countries real-life experience in developing business solutions that address one of the United Nation’s 17 Sustainable Development Goals.
Forty students collaborated in a three-day virtual exchange, where they chose a challenge tackling some of Japan’s pressing social issues, before designing and presenting a business plan in a “Dragon’s Den” style pitch to judges.
The winning New Zealand team - Hamish Robinson (Taradale High School, Napier), Benjamin Young (Tauranga Boys’ College), Daniel Blight (Waimea College, Napier), Kaiah Sherriff (Southland Girls’ High School), and Abirami Kabilan (Pakuranga College, Auckland) - chose to come up with a strategy which would directly enhance the mental wellbeing of Japanese teenagers.
The UN SDGs are some of the biggest problems facing humanity today, so working on them was a pretty full-on task” – Pakuranga College student Abirami Kabilan
It is a topic which directly impacts young people in both countries, as UNICEF ranks Japan 37th among 41 OECD countries for the state of children’s mental health, and New Zealand one lower, at 38th place.
Insights into business and culture “eye-opening”
To succeed, the students had to gain a thorough insight into Japanese culture, youth behaviour, and business practice. Ahead of their pitches, the teams joined interactive workshops with New Zealand and Japanese guest speakers, cultural mentors, and language coaches.
Abirami Kabilan describes the exposure to Japanese business and societal culture as “eye-opening”.
“The UN SDGs are some of the biggest problems facing humanity today, so working on them was a pretty full-on task.”
“One of the most interesting things about this cross-cultural experience was seeing how the Japanese students approached the same problems. Young people around the world will have such different ways of approaching these problems too. Imagine the ideas we would come up with if we all worked together.”
The winning team successfully pitched a clothing brand called 大丈夫, which translates in English to “It’s Okay”, to get the conversation about mental health out in the open among Japanese youth, and hopefully gain the support of high-reach Japanese influencers to help push their critical wellbeing message.
They decided the best way to break into the Japanese market would be with “in your face” messaging using symbols of strength, such as dragons and samurai, to promote their message.
“This is something that has not been done in Japan before and we’re ecstatic to be winners,” Hamish Robinson says.
BizVenture promotes global competency
The BizVenture programme will allow students to understand the Japanese business context and increase their global competency, says Young Enterprise Scheme lead Elizabeth Pittman.
“New Zealand youth have such a strong interest in sustainability and improving social outcomes within their communities and abroad, and this challenge allows them to explore that interest in a business context.”
International education adapts to changing needs of learners
Education New Zealand is keen to build on the success of this year’s pilot BizVenture programme as international education adapts to meet the changing needs of learners. International research shows that students are increasingly seeking programmes and content that is relevant to real world problems and which will allow them to make a real difference.
The programme also builds on New Zealand’s diplomatic relationship with Japan while travel for international students remains limited.
“Over many decades Japan and New Zealand have benefitted from an enduring partnership,” says Hamish Cooper, New Zealand Ambassador to Japan. “Education has played a really important role in fostering people-to-people ties, and supporting the development of what are now, in 2021, very close connections between our two countries.”
“Before the pandemic, more than 10,000 students from Japan studied in New Zealand every year, making an important economic contribution, but also enriching our schools and communities, and helping New Zealand students become more globally connected.”
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Announcing the recipients of the Welcome to New Zealand Scholarships
The initiative was warmly received across Germany, Italy, and France, where it was promoted with the goal of encouraging students to experience the world-class education and unforgettable lifestyle that New Zealand has to offer.
As part of the campaign, we offered four scholarships, each valued at 5,000 EUR to go toward tuition fees at New Zealand secondary schools or tertiary institutions. These scholarships were designed to support talented and passionate students on their journey to study abroad.
A key highlight of the campaign was our collaboration with Air New Zealand, who will generously sponsor return flights for the scholarship recipients. Their support played a pivotal role in making the dream of studying in New Zealand even more accessible for the winners.
The scholarship attracted over 200 applications – with a majority coming from Germany, followed by Italy and France.
During the campaign period, there were 19,965 total views on the Welcome to New Zealand Scholarship page on the Study with New Zealand website.
The campaign generated 172 lead enquiries to New Zealand providers (118 enquiries from Germany, 47 enquiries from France and 7 from Italy). These enquiries are sent straight on to the education providers so they can directly engage with the prospective student on their study interests.
Meet the recipients
Germany
The scholarship winner from Germany is 16-year-old Manuel Fink, from Unterhaching (near Munich).
Manuel will be heading to Te Puke High School, where he’ll immerse himself in both the academic and cultural experience of studying in New Zealand.
A passionate advocate for New Zealand and its education system already, Manuel has his sights set on becoming a pilot — ideally flying for Air New Zealand one day!
Our tertiary scholarship recipient from Germany is currently finalising their enrolment, and we look forward to announcing their name once the process is complete.
Italy
Our Italian scholarship recipient is 16-year-old Lea Sagliaschi from Milan. Lea will be attending Selwyn College and is full of excitement for what she describes as a “once-in-a-lifetime adventure” in Aotearoa New Zealand.
Unfortunately, no recipient could be selected from France this year due to a lack of eligible applications — however, the ENZ Europe team remains committed to engaging with prospective students in the French market and looks forward to stronger participation in future campaigns.
ENZ Associate Director of Engagement Europe, Olga Elli, said the campaign raised great awareness of New Zealand’s education system in European priority markets and opened the door to new experiences and opportunities for winners.
“We look forward to building on this momentum and continuing to share the unique value of a New Zealand education with European students and partners,” she said.
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Around the world in five
Australia
The latest Agent Perception Survey from Navitas has demonstrated the impact of policy changes in Australia and Canada on demand and how the countries are viewed, and also shows that students are casting the net wider for higher education options and that demand for alternative destinations is growing.
India
Future of overseas education is set for major transformative shifts, driven by advancements in AI and immersive technologies. AI-led Virtual Reality tours are just one aspect that is set to revolutionise student exploration of overseas campuses.
South Korea
At the same time as leading Western destinations – e.g., Australia, Canada, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom – are applying brakes to slow or reverse the expansion of their foreign enrolment, several Asian destinations are doing the opposite: pursuing policies to boost international enrolments to record-high levels. Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan, and South Korea have all set ambitious new international enrolment targets.
United Kingdom
The UK government is considering replacing the Secure English Language Test (SELT) with a Home Office-owned testing model as part of an overhaul of the language requirement for student visas.
United States
International applications to US institutions continued to grow in 2024/25, though at a slower pace than in previous years, a new survey published in August 2024 has revealed.
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PIF Recipient: Virtual Medical Coaching
In the United States alone, approximately 800 women die each year during pregnancy and within 42 days after delivery. More than 60% of those deaths are believed to be preventable. In developing countries, the rate of pregnancy-related deaths is up to 300 times higher.
An important part of the solution is education. Globally, midwives are in high demand, with the UK’s NHS increasing their places for student midwives by 3000, starting this year. Australia is also planning to increase numbers, while in New Zealand, a funding boost will increase the number of Māori and Pacific students training in midwifery.
While the demand for midwifery training is growing, education offerings haven’t kept up. Childbirth is deeply personal, and feedback from mothers – validated by hospital staff – is that they do not wish to have extra staff or students in the room for training. With no effective opportunities for face-to-face learning, there is a global need for a realistic and scalable childbirth simulation.
That’s where Virtual Medical Coaching’s vision comes in, supported as a recipient of the International Education Product Innovation Fund. Virtual reality (VR) software will provide a safe and controlled environment for students to see and assist in childbirth simulations, both with and without complications and in a range of different scenarios. As the student improves, the simulations they encounter increase in difficulty. A machine-learning algorithm enables fast and accurate feedback to both the learner and any tutors.
The simulation will be interactive and responsive, meaning that any action taken by a student creates a life-like consequence and reaction. The outcome is that learners are taught to effectively make decisions and problem solve.
Existing options for midwifery training include a physical mannequin simulator, but this can be prohibitively expensive, out of reach of many training providers, and doesn’t offer students maximum learning hours. In addition, existing options don’t include the ability to witness mechanisms like rotations/restitutions or the ability to have back and forth conversations. By contrast, the VR simulation will be available to students wherever they are, and whenever they need to practice. The nature of the VR experience means that modern learning styles, such as asynchronous and remote learning, are well catered for.
With support from the International Education Product Innovation Fund, Virtual Medical Coaching’s childbirth simulation is on track to become fully released by the end of 2024. A beta-version is already used by some educators globally. The Product Innovation Fund is a New Zealand Government-funded initiative to reimagine what a New Zealand education can look like and mean for global learners.
Managed by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), New Zealand’s government agency for international education, the fund is supporting a range of pilot projects from existing and emerging New Zealand education providers. Together, the projects rethink how an education experience from New Zealand can be delivered, and create impact, for global learners.
For Virtual Medical Coaching, it’s about finding a better solution to a serious issue. Like many other innovative Kiwi education technology companies, Virtual Medical Coaching is designing technology that will create positive impact around the world. It’s already successfully developed an x-ray simulation for healthcare professionals which has won multiple national and international awards. Now, with the support of ENZ through the International Education Product Innovation Fund, Virtual Medical Coaching is set to respond to a clear need for better midwifery training options and develop another cutting-edge learning product for both New Zealand and offshore markets.
More information:
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Kiwi students attend Tokyo Experience School
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) supports a range of international exchange programmes that, as well as attracting international students to New Zealand, also provide New Zealand students with the opportunity to have their own international education experiences overseas. These offer unique cross-cultural learning opportunities that develop our global citizens, serve to plant the seed for future overseas education experiences in our learners, while also promoting New Zealand’s education system on a global level.
One such programme is that organised by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education (Tokyo MBoE), an Education Cooperation Partner of ENZ since 2017. The programme fosters education exchanges between New Zealand and Tokyo and each year, the Tokyo MBoE invites students to attend the Tokyo Experience School through an application process, promoted to secondary schools by ENZ. In 2023, Rangiora High School was selected by the Tokyo MBoE to send four students and one chaperone to Tokyo, joining other students from around the world for ten days in December.
Lachlan Palmer, SeungWoo Jeong, Ariana Ferguson and Oliver Burns are all studying Japanese at Rangiora High School, and were the fortunate students selected to attend on behalf of their school. The four students were accompanied by their school’s Teacher in Charge of Japanese, Jessica Bradley.
The experience proved to be a true immersion in Japanese culture and student life for the Rangiora High School Year 11-13 students with the students staying with local host families, travelling to school in rush hour, attending class and joining club activities such as chalk art, judo classes, and rugby training. The experience also gave students the opportunity to take part in several traditional experiences such as getting dressed in a kimono and attending Sado (tea ceremony).
All four students said that this Japanese exchange trip was one of the most interesting and valuable experiences they had every done and couldn’t wait to go back.
Lachlan said “The real highlight of this trip was with my host family and my time at school there. Seeing the differences and similarities between Japan and New Zealand in person allowed me to enjoy and learn about Japan in a way like no other and gave me the chance to share my own culture from New Zealand. It is safe to say I will be returning as soon as I can”.
One of Ariana’s favourite moments of the whole experience was trying on the kimono. She said "it was amazing to experience what it was like to wear, walk and feel in a Kimono and it is something I will never forget. I also loved meeting students in my class and not only learning about their likes/dislikes but sharing mine too and a New Zealand culture with them. They were so kind and welcoming, and I honestly can't wait to go back!”
Ariana Ferguson with her travel companions; Lachlan Palmer, SeungWoo Jeong, and Oliver Burns, trying on traditional Japanese dress.
Lachlan Palmer and SeungWoo Jeong, tried Judo with their host brothers.
SeungWoo enjoyed experiencing in person the culture that he has been learning so much about at school. He said “my host brother and I went to several famous places in Japan such as Tokyo Tower, Skytree, Akihabara, Shinjuku, and Shibuya. However, I believe that the highlight of the trip was being able to experience the Japanese food my host family made for us, and the amazing experiences my host brother and I have experienced such as karaoke.’
Lastly, Oliver noted how interesting it was attending a Japanese school and some of the differences. He said “there was a lot of school spirit, much more so than my home high school, and I loved how much the student body supported each other. My favourite parts of school were the friends I made in class (and the bento lunches!).”
ENZ will continue working with Tokyo MBoE on cross cultural education opportunities. If Tokyo MBoE continue the Tokyo Experience School, ENZ will share the EOI with New Zealand schools when it is available, usually around September.
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Education New Zealand targets $4.4 billion by 2027
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) today announced its plan to grow the international education sector over the next three years. The strategy, which aims to build the economic contribution of international education to $4.4 billion by 2027, focuses on growing and diversifying the number of international students studying in New Zealand.
“International education has made a good start to its recovery with more than 69,000 enrolments in the first full academic year since borders reopened and universities returning to 86% of pre-pandemic numbers,” said ENZ Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons today.
“The government has a goal of doubling the value of export earnings in ten years and international education has its part to play.”
“In the first year of the strategy the focus is putting additional investment into markets we have identified with growth potential. These include India, Viet Nam, and the Philippines, and some specific sectors within markets like Japan and Thailand. We need to start now to grow awareness of New Zealand in these markets if we are to achieve our growth targets. Moving forward, we will continue to seek growth through diversifying markets while maintaining our strength in traditional markets such as China and India.”
“As a small agency with a finite budget, ENZ needs to be very smart and maximise every opportunity for New Zealand,” said Dr Sissons. “We look to use the potential of Scale, Impact, and Leverage as the measuring rods for everything we do, as we commit to the Government’s Export Double goal”.
The strategy is the result of extensive consultation with the international education sectors, partner Government agencies and comes on the back of a productive 12 months for Education New Zealand.
In the past 12 months Education New Zealand student attraction activities have delivered:
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More than two million visits to the Study with New Zealand website
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Added more than 69,000 prospective students to its database
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More than 22,000 individuals have made enquiries to providers regarding study
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Our business-to-business activities targeting education agents delivered 33 webinars to over 1,800 participants
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18 in-country events delivered in five countries (Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China)
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The New Zealand International Education Conference KI TUA 2023 to 599 delegates
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50 new indigenous to indigenous networks and partnerships
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Sector satisfaction with ENZ topped 77%
ENZ’s offshore team provides significant support to overseas visits by representatives of the international education sector and the New Zealand government, building and deepening relationships said Dr Sissons. In 2024 this included a visit by representatives of all New Zealand Universities to India in February, and ENZ supporting the education component of the Prime Ministerial Trade Missions to Southeast Asia and Japan.
The agency also supports education visits to New Zealand. Very recently this included the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which included China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng.
It was the second visit by Minister Huai to New Zealand in ten months, and highlighted the strong momentum our bilateral education relationship. In 2023 ENZ also delivered the Prime Minister’s Scholarships to Asia and Latin America (PMSA/LA) which sees New Zealanders travel internationally for learning experiences and administers the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship programme for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Manaaki Scholarships offers scholarships to eligible citizens from developing countries to study at a New Zealand education institution or university or at a Pacific university.
In 2023 these important programmes have awarded:
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118 individual PMSA/LA scholarships
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20 group PMSA/LA scholarships
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NZIEC KI TUA 2023 delivered with 599 delegates
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861 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships awarded
“I am very pleased and proud of the results the team at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao has delivered alongside the sector. We have more to do,” said Dr Sissons.
For further information:Justin Barnett | Director of Communications, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
+64 21 875 132
About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/
ENZ is the government agency dedicated to helping Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and student experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas.
With approximately 105 staff in 16 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Te Pūkenga), and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.
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Hong Kong student wins Wellington award for unstinting community service
The Year 12 student from Wellington Girls’ College has been named a winner at the annual Wellington International Student Excellence Awards for her contribution to the city’s international student community and her tireless community service.
She was among a group of 24 high-achieving secondary and tertiary international students recognised at the event for excelling academically, in the arts, sport, community, or online.
As the only child of a teacher and a primary school assistant, Jasmine came to New Zealand in November 2019 to complete her education. Leaving behind a competitive school environment, and a tense and complex political environment, she arrived in Wellington ready to embrace the open and culturally diverse environment she found herself in.
Jasmine says that she had always wanted to get involved in community activities, but until arriving in New Zealand she lacked both the confidence and the opportunities.
“As an international student here, I have been given so many opportunities. I want to treasure all of them and get involved.”
Jasmine quickly understood the value of participation and leadership.
“Arriving in a new country where you don’t know anyone can be a lonely experience, and it’s easy to just hang out with people from your own country, but I have made great friends, both from New Zealand and around the world, and gained support through the organisations I’m involved with.”
From helping to reinvigorate the International Club at school, Jasmine went on to be a key player in the establishment of the Wellington International Students’ Association, which not only connects international students across city schools, but also seeks to build relationships between domestic and international students.
Domestic and international students learn from each other
She believes there is much that domestic students stand to learn from international students.
“They get to see a perspective from another part of the world. Coming here to study has allowed me to immerse myself in New Zealand's culture and learn far more about the country than I would if I was a tourist.
“I’m sure the same applies to New Zealand students who haven’t had the opportunity for exchanges or travel. Through encouraging domestic students to get involved in our events we have built stronger connections.”
But Jasmine hasn’t stopped there. From Mary Potter Hospice to Conservation Volunteers New Zealand to the Student Volunteer Army (SVA), she has put in the mahi. She recently earned her SVA Silver Service Award pin for clocking up more than 250 volunteer hours working to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Taking her community service to the next level, Jasmine has been selected to represent Wellington Girls’ College in the National Ambassador programme. She will join other like-minded students from around the country working to connect, support, and empower international students.
All of this while juggling studies, sport, mentoring, and music. However, she insists that she has gained more from her community service than she has given.
Volunteering builds skills and network
“Volunteering gave me the opportunity to get out there and build a strong network with experienced people. I’ve gained important inter-personal skills like customer service and communications, and I’ve also learned a lot about New Zealand culture.”
Jasmine says being an international student in New Zealand has also allowed her to appreciate some of the important issues which other communities, such as the LGBTQIA, face.
“I appreciate the inclusiveness towards gender minorities here. In Asia, people are much more reserved about their beliefs and opinions but here we can have open discussions and everyone can be passionate about sharing their thoughts. It has had a powerful influence on me.”
Global citizen skills important
The global citizen skills acquired through international education are so important for the current generation of students heading off to Uni or into the workforce, Jasmine says.
“It’s important to know people from other parts of the world, understand some of the issues they face, and appreciate their culture and beliefs. Building relationships in-person is so much more valuable than learning from the internet.”
“The diversity of ethnicity and cultures, religious and political opinions here in New Zealand has really enhanced my worldview.”
Jasmine is delighted to have been recognised for her contribution to the community, and says her parents were thrilled when her name was announced at the awards ceremony. “Not only are they proud of my own achievements, but they feel that I am representing Hong Kong well in New Zealand.”
Jasmine’s parents were among 214 friends and family of recipients who joined the livestream of the awards ceremony from around the world.
As for the future, Jasmine is looking forward to completing Year 13 and being a member of the student executive next year, striving for the SVA Gold Award for volunteering, being a National Student Ambassador, and ultimately heading to the US to study Computer Science.
