Search

Showing 10 of 1702 results for the cuzzy rolly, latest

• Ceremony honours Korea-NZ school programme success

  More than 500 guests attended the three-hour ceremony including proud family members.

  The scholarship programme is a result of the Korea New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (KNZFTA) signed in December 2015. The 150 students were selected from a number of Korean rural schools by EPIS (the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service in Food, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) and placed in New Zealand schools by SIEBA (Schools International Education Business Association).

  For eight weeks in July to August, the students studied with their Kiwi counterparts at rural and semi-rural schools throughout the Waikato, Canterbury and Nelson/Marlborough regions.

  

  Richard Kyle presenting in Seoul

  ENZ Business Development Manager Richard Kyle, who worked closely on the programme, travelled to Seoul to present the students with certificates. He did the honours along with Chul-soo Park, the President of EPIS.

  During the trip, Richard met with EPIS officials to conduct an evaluation of the 2016 programme and plan for the 2017 trip.

  EPIS shared a survey that showed a 96 per cent satisfaction rate from the Korean students, validating the strength of New Zealand schools, the warmth of our homestay families, and the welcoming nature of our communities.

  “With such high satisfaction from the Korean students, we’re not likely to make any substantive changes to how the programme is delivered,” said Richard.

  “However, some tweaks can be made to ensure that next year’s satisfaction rate is even higher!”

  A video created by EPIS showing the students’ experiences can be viewed here [Korean-language].

  A booklet of the students' reports on their trip (with English translations) can be downloaded here.

• Earthquake communications - 1

  ENZ Auckland and Christchurch are open for business today. Senior Wellington staff are working remotely as ENZ’s office building undergoes building safety inspection. All Wellington staff have been told the office is closed today. 

  The earthquake was not centred near areas of high population density, and initial reports suggest damage has been superficial rather than serious or widespread.

  We have received no indications of injury to any international student.

  New Zealand’s national senior secondary school NCEA examinations are currently underway. Some schools have cancelled today's examinations because of the requirement for building safety inspections. In these cases, an emergency derived grade process is available to reduce any disadvantage to students. See NZQA’s website for more information.

  We will provide updates as soon as they are available.

• Earthquake update - 2

  ENZ’s Auckland and Christchurch offices were open as usual on Monday. ENZ’s Wellington office has been assessed as structurally sound, and will reopen on Tuesday, 15 November (NZT) from 10am. It will be business as usual on Wednesday.

  While some schools in affected areas were closed today as a safety precaution, we have received no indications of injury (including to any international student).

  Fortunately, the earthquake was not centred near areas of high population density, mainly focused on a small area in the north of the South Island around Kaikoura. Reports confirm that most damage has been relatively isolated rather than widespread.

  All schools and education providers in affected areas have checked or are checking their buildings as a safety precaution. For international students about to travel to New Zealand, we encourage you to make direct contact with your education provider for an update on its circumstances. You might also monitor the Ministry of Education's website for updates.

  The New Zealand Qualifications Authority has confirmed that NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams will proceed tomorrow (Tuesday 15 November 2016) as planned.

  Please note in particular that all functions and services in Christchurch and Canterbury, and Auckland, are unaffected and operating as normal, and overseas visitors shouldn't have to change any plans to travel there.

• Earthquake update - 3

  International gateway cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown are all open and welcoming visitors. Regional airports are also operating meaning visitors can continue to fly between destinations.

  Most services and functions are operating as normal other than in a relatively isolated area around Kaikoura. Kaikoura is a small community approximately 2 ½ hours’ drive north of Christchurch in the South Island. Kaikoura is currently inaccessible by road.

  ENZ is open for business in all offices across New Zealand.

  Wellington’s central business district reopened for business today, with some buildings that sustained damage in the earthquakes remaining closed. Bad weather has also resulted in some road closures and minor disruption to public transport.

  There have been no reports of any injuries to staff or students at schools, private providers or universities.

  It is expected that most schools are now open as normal. NCEA and New Zealand Scholarship exams have resumed in secondary schools.

  ENZ has received reports that the great majority (around 90 per cent) of tertiary campuses around New Zealand are open.

  We encourage international students about to travel to New Zealand to make direct contact with your education provider for an update on its circumstances. You might also monitor the Ministry of Education's website for updates.

• Asia comes to Marsden School

  With funding from the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Marsden Head of Humanities, Fiona Crawford, organised a full day of activities for students, with the aim to increase their cultural awareness and educate them on a region with increasing ties to New Zealand.

  "We want our students to thrive and contribute towards putting New Zealand on the map, so it is our responsibility to equip them for their future relationships with Asia," Crawford said.

  

  Marsden students dressed up for Experience Asia Day.

  The day included a range of activities and sessions that represented 11 Asian countries, starting off with a Tai Chi session in the gym, and ending with an inter-house KPop (Korean Pop) dance competition. In between, students broke into groups to take part in Judo, Kung Fu and Bollywood dance classes, sushi, dumpling and curry making, language learning and haiku writing, as well as origami, henna painting, sari dressing, lantern making, calligraphy, kite making – and much more.

  “The students really enjoyed themselves, but also gained valuable insights into the many Asian cultures on show. Many commented on how fun it was, and hope to do it again next year,” Crawford said.

  Amanda Cundy, a former Marsden student who went on the school’s first exchange to China back in 2010, stopped by Asia Day to share her experience with students. She spoke about the impact that Chinese studies had on her life, and the importance of understanding other cultures in an increasingly globalised world.

  

  Marsden students tried their hand at sushi making, Diwali art and calligraphy.

   

• International students are work-ready for the summer

  The seminar was hosted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), and targeted international students who have completed, or are studying towards, a Level 7 qualification and above. 

  Most of the attendees were Massey University PhD and Masters students from a range of fields, as well as UCOL students of graphic design, cookery, operations and project management, ICT, furniture design and science. 

  Judy Bennett-Smith, CEDA International Education Development Manager said the free seminar was the first in a series to be held locally, with the next one aiming to connect potential employers with skilled international tertiary students. 

  The seminar covered study-to-work visa pathway information and advice, tips on how to navigate the job market, how to present oneself to employers, information about New Zealand employment rights and even invited a former international student to share their experience.

  Philip Hastings, Relationship Manager at MBIE said the seminar was a great opportunity for students to talk directly with INZ representative about their work options.

  “With the increase in international tertiary students in New Zealand, it is important they have an understanding of the pathways to meeting post-study work visa and residency requirements,” Mr Hastings said.

  “Together with CEDA we aim to facilitate a series of study-to-work seminars in the Central North Island that are aligned with regional work shortages.”

• Massey University promotes ‘borderless' online education

  At the launch, Massey Assistant Vice-Chancellor Operations, International and University Registrar, Stuart Morriss spoke of the growing demand for online education and how Massey is well-placed to take advantage of this. 

  “Many universities provide online programmes to international students, but with Massey’s long history of distance and online learning, we have a strong competitive advantage.” 

  Massey University’s online education currently offers 45 degrees with 115 programmes. With no contact course requirements, students can complete these studies from anywhere in the world. 

  Massey University Worldwide General Manager Rob Stevens said this is a solid foundation, but there is room to grow. 

  “We already have a sizable offshore student body – some 9,000 overseas-based students use our distance programmes, and this number has been reached only through word of mouth! We now want to step things up a notch using a range of offshore promotions,” Stevens said. 

  Over the last few months, Massey has undertaken some preliminary online digital promotions as part of a ‘soft-launch’. In key markets, Massey’s website traffic has increased such as Malaysia (up 184%) and Singapore (up 70%). 

  ENZ’s Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager – Malaysia, Jane Goh attended the Singapore launch, and said Massey’s announcement reflects a wider shift in international education to go online. 

  “Not all international students are able to go abroad, for a variety of circumstances. Because of this, education providers are starting to ensure that students can study online, allowing them to enjoy the high-quality New Zealand education experience from anywhere in the world,” Goh said.

  

  Attendees at the Massey University launch at the New Zealand High Commissioner's residence in Singapore

• ENZ builds agricultural links in Brazil

  The agencies were the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock in Brazil (CNA, the Brazilian equivalent of Federated Farmers of New Zealand) and the National Service for Rural Learning (SENAR). Similar to New Zealand institutions, both agencies see innovation and technology as a key part of higher education, and value practical learning.

  The CNA Technical University is focussed entirely on the agriculture sector, and has the highest evaluations from the Ministry of Education. It is now looking to partner with New Zealand education providers to internationalise their programmes. Distance learning also plays an important role at CNA.

  SENAR operates in a slightly different way. Without physical classrooms, SENAR technicians take training and knowledge offsite to farms throughout Brazil, studying problems with clients directly and offering solutions and support. Technicians work with each client for two years, with the goal to make them independent of SENAR’s support. Courses can be from the most basic level such as hygiene, to management issues such as how to manage water and soil resources.

  ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Brazil, Ana Azevedo, says New Zealand’s reputation in the agricultural sector, combined with the practical approach of New Zealand institutions, means providers such as these are eager to build partnerships with us.

  “Because CNA only offers agricultural studies, they are looking to partner with institutions who share their focus. This is where New Zealand has an advantage, as our reputation as leaders in the agricultural industry, combined with our practical hands-on education system makes New Zealand a very attractive study destination for young Brazilians in this field.”

  Following the meeting, CNA has offered to contact ENZ with partnership ideas to present to New Zealand institutions. We will aim to build on these discussions in the coming months for tangible results.

  

  Photo by Tony Oliveira/Trilux

• ENZ promotes education in Thailand

  The counsellors were broken into small groups and rotated between roundtable discussions with Education New Zealand, the US Embassy, British Council, and OCSC.

  ENZ’s Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager – Thailand, Chortip Pramoolpol, said this intimate road show format was helpful in sharing key information with the market without overwhelming them.

  “It was a great way for school counsellors and students to gain insights into New Zealand’s education system and learn the many benefits of studying there.

  “It also means information about New Zealand will be distributed into schools and to students who otherwise wouldn’t have New Zealand on their study abroad radar.”

  

  ENZ and RMUT representatives

  The following day, ENZ met with the chairman and presidents of Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUT), a system of nine universities in Thailand. With RMUT’s link to industry and practical teaching styles, it is most similar to New Zealand ITPs.

  ENZ’s South, Southeast Asia and Middle East Regional Director, John Laxon gave a crash course on the New Zealand ITP system, welcoming the possibility of future collaborations with RMUT in English language training, double-degree programmes and student exchanges.

  To build on this knowledge, ENZ’s Thailand team have begun planning an education road show for all nine RMUT universities starting December.

• New Zealand is safe and open for business

  New Zealand’s international education industry is open for business as usual, says John Goulter, ENZ General Manager Stakeholders and Communications.

  “New Zealand remains a safe and welcoming place for international students to live, study and travel around,” he emphasised.

  “While last Monday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake gained global media attention, within a day of the quake, daily life in almost all parts of New Zealand had returned to normal.

  “All of New Zealand’s gateway cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown were open and all regional airports were operating – meaning people could continue to fly between destinations.

  “New Zealand is remarkably resilient to these kinds of events.”

  He emphasised that the earthquake was not centred near areas of high population density and its damage was not widespread.

  “Two-thirds of international students are in Auckland which was unaffected.

  “Similarly, Christchurch has been largely unaffected and the city is functioning as normal.”

  ENZ had received no reports of any injuries to staff or students at schools, private providers or universities.

  The earthquake had a big impact on Kaikoura, a small settlement several hours’ drive north of Christchurch in the South Island, and recovery work there would be ongoing for some time.

  There had also been aftershocks, which were expected.

  In Wellington, a small number of buildings in the central business district had sustained some structural damage, and these were being managed with minimal impact to normal business and daily life in the city.

  Mr Goulter said that Education New Zealand had been working closely with its international offices to share updates on the earthquake to keep our key markets informed, and to monitor media coverage and perceptions of the quakes.

  “We would like to reassure international agents, media, parents and potential students that New Zealand continues to be a safe, high-quality educational destination.”

  He suggested that international students due to travel to New Zealand to make direct contact with their education provider for further information, or to monitor the Ministry of Education's website for updates.

  Mr Goulter said he was confident that the recent earthquake activity would have minimal if any long term impact on New Zealand’s international student market.