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IEGF funding broadens markets
Unsure how you can use the International Education Growth Fund (IEGF) to help innovate your offering?
We talked to Mike Walmsley, Chief Executive of Code Avengers, about how he has used the IEGF to grow his business.
ENZ: So Mike, what’s Code Avengers all about?
Mike: We have developed an online learning platform that teaches people how to build their own apps, games and websites in a way that is effective and fun as possible.
We are looking to expand into other related subject areas. Starting with a design focus – so, not only how to code software but also how to make it look nice. And, moving on to things like copy writing – making sure the content on your website or app engages learners – and tips on digital marketing that will get people actually using the product!
What has the International Education Growth Fund enabled you to do?
Our IEGF proposal was for internationalising our website. Our online courses contain a whole series of interactive exercises where people actually write code and build products as they learn. Initially, the instructions in these exercises were only available in English and those who didn’t have a reading age above 12 would struggle to follow them.
The fund enabled us to translate the course material into other languages – Russian, Portuguese, Spanish and Dutch! We’re also working on a Japanese translation. Thankfully, we’d developed the material with this in mind, so the translation process has been relatively straightforward.
Dutch is sort of the odd one out there. How that arose, was that one of our customers in the Netherlands offered to translate the content into Dutch while she was on holiday in Thailand. We jumped at the chance, and used that as a translation test case, which was really helpful.
This young woman is now working with us full time on marketing and promoting Code Avengers, including the code camps and clubs that we run. The IEGF funding has also enabled her to promote our products and engage partner organisations in other parts of Europe.
While we’re here, do you have any advice for others considering launching an EdTech business?
In any start up, passion is the key. You’ve got big competition, there are a lot of challenges and it’s not easy. In my case, I’m also doing a PhD part time and have a couple of kids, so that all adds to the challenge. For at least the first year and a half, I didn’t have anyone working with me full time, so really I think it’s the passion that keeps you going. The passion, combined with the feedback you get from customers, means you end up building a product that they like. Those two things are key.
What’s the most rewarding thing about your work?
One is definitely the feedback you get from customers. One customer emailed us saying that for their whole life – for 45 years – they thought they were really bad at maths and useless at learning anything that was quantitative.
After doing our courses, which have quite a bit of math in them, they’re feeling really good about themselves. They said, “for 45 years, I thought I was dumb and now it’s just I’ve been taught in the wrong way.”
Realising that your work can actually have real impact on someone’s life is probably the most satisfying thing.
Find out more about Code Avengers here.
Facebook Global Pages
Each Global Pages structure has an overarching global page, or ‘default’ page, that acts as the main Uniform Resource Locator (URL) for the market-specific pages which sit under it. The market pages can be set up for a single country or set of countries, and can be customised so that Facebook users are redirected to the relevant market page, according to where they live and which language they speak.
This means users will be served content that is most relevant to them, and create more interest as a result.
Japan Market Page pilot
In February 2016, ENZ launched a ‘Japan Market Page’ pilot, where users based in Japan and/or who have Japanese set as their language will be served content posted on the Japan Market Page, in both Japanese and English.
The content will contain a mix of material from ENZ’s global social media conversation calendar and local New Zealand education news and events.
A Japan-based intern (remember Ayumi the student blogger who visited New Zealand last year at the invitation of English New Zealand?) will manage content posting and will respond to questions and comments posted on the page.
Read more about Facebook Global Pages.
How big are our product and service exports?
As part of the valuation process, a short survey will be sent to relevant members of New Zealand’s international education industry this week.
The survey aims to understand more about the companies and organisations that gain export revenues from providing education products and services offshore, including the type of activities they engage in and the associated revenues. Revenue figures will remain confidential to the researchers and will be aggregated so that it will not be possible to associate any particular entity with the published data.
The survey will enable ENZ to update our 2012 estimate of the value of education exports at $104 million. We encourage industry who receive the survey email to take part in this important data gathering exercise so that the value of your business is accurately reflected.
Exports include the offshore delivery of qualifications, consulting, publishing, education technology and industry training. Exporters of education services comprise education organisations and companies, as well as an increasing number of companies whose primary business is not education, but which undertake training overseas.
If you are an active education exporter and have not received an invitation to participate in the survey by 29 February please get in touch with Adele Bryant.
NZ a popular choice for US students
Colin Murchison from the University of Arkansas was awarded a US$15,000 scholarship to study in New Zealand, which he will use to study finance at the University of Auckland in the first semester of 2016. Watch Colin’s reaction to winning the scholarship here, it’ll definitely put a smile on your face!
More than double the number of applications were received this year than last year, with 2,361 US students showing a keen interest in studying in New Zealand.
“The quality of applications was impressive,” says Amy Rutherford, ENZ’s new Senior Market Development Manager – North America. “Go Overseas’ integrated social media marketing and university outreach campaign ensured that the scholarship – and the idea of studying in New Zealand – was widely promoted across the US.”
The Go Overseas scholarship is one of the first full study abroad scholarships offered to US students by a foreign government and will continue in 2016 and 2017.
Scholarship winner Colin Murchison with cheque and kiwifruit.
“The overall impact on New Zealand from this campaign is immense, and the effects on the education and travel sector will be felt for years,” says Mitch Gordon, CEO Go Overseas. “Students will come home and tell their friends about their experience. Parents will visit their sons and daughters. In the future, students will return to New Zealand to relive memories, bringing partners, children and friends. Thousands of students around the US are right now dreaming about New Zealand and talking about it with their friends!”
Amy will be based in the New Zealand Consulate-General in Los Angeles from the beginning of January next year. If you’d like to discuss the Go Overseas campaign, or the North American market with Amy, please email her at amy.rutherford@enz.govt.nz.
Have you used Immigration New Zealand’s ‘Apply on Behalf’ service?
Education agents are legally allowed to provide immigration advice to offshore student visa applicants only. Education providers can help students complete and upload the forms online, but they are not allowed to provide immigration advice.
To use Apply on Behalf, education agents and providers need to create a RealMe login and also create their own Immigration ONLINE account on the Immigration New Zealand website. The account shows a summary list of applications and PDF versions of application forms and supporting documents that third parties submit to Immigration ONLINE on behalf of students.
Immigration New Zealand has produced a set of information flyers to explain how the Apply on Behalf service works. . Different versions of the flyer have been produced for education agents applying offshore, for education providers, and for students. To see a screen-shot video walk-through of Apply on Behalf online, click here.
On another visa-related note, you might like to encourage your contacts to join the one thousand applicants who are applying for visas electronically every week through Immigration ONLINE. From 7 December 2015, expanded eVisa and VisaView services will become available. Follow this link to find out more.
Download the Apply on Behalf flyers here:
School lunch – Japan style
Kiwi EdLink is an organisation of education providers from a range of locations throughout New Zealand including Kiwi English Academy, Glendowie College, Glendowie School, Rosehill College, Onslow College, Nelson College, Mt Albert Grammar School and Wakatipu High School.
The luncheon began with a welcome from Dr Kate Herbert, the principal of Kiwi English Academy, and was followed by introductions from the participating New Zealand schools. After a delicious lunch, participants enjoyed an hour of networking and Kiwi EdLink members switched seats to ensure meeting all of their Japanese guests. Twenty-three people participated in the luncheon, providing an intimate atmosphere and a great occasion for agents and teachers to explore partnerships.
As the event was drawing to a close, Ms Terumi Eto from Kitatoshima Junior and Senior High School commented on what an inspiration it was that the membership of Kiwi EdLink exemplified her picture of New Zealand as country with strong female leadership. Dr Herbert noted that, “The whole event went very smoothly – from the organisation right through to the execution. I thought the selection of agents and schools was very good and created a positive energy. It was a fabulous choice of venue and definitely something we would be keen to repeat.”
ENZ Japan is looking forward to increasing its outreach program to Japanese agents and institutions (with a focus on secondary schools and universities) in the coming year. If you are planning to come to Japan for a market visit, please contact me for assistance. misa.pitt@enz.govt.nz
World-class fusion cuisine and culinary skills at Viet Nam gala dinner
The three teams, each consisting of two Vietnamese and two New Zealand students, showcased their culinary skills on stage in front of 170 guests, including New Zealand Minister of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment, Steven Joyce.
The event was the outcome of two months’ hard work for the three teams, who initially worked together online to develop their menus under the guidance of culinary mentor and 2013 MasterChef New Zealand finalist, Vanessa Baxter. The teams met face-to-face in Ho Chi Minh City on 3 June, and then spent the following three days visiting Vietnamese markets to collect their fresh local produce before finalising their menus at the Caravalle Hotel kitchen.
At the gala dinner, the guests were treated to a selection of dishes from the students’ three-course fusion menus. Meanwhile, the three official judges – Haike Manning, New Zealand Ambassador to Viet Nam; Le Xuan Tam, Executive Chef, Caravelle Hotel and Brendon Partridge, Executive Chef, JW Marriott Hanoi – sampled all of the student’s dishes throughout the evening.
Decision making was tough and competition was high. Team 1 narrowly missed coming first, and Team 2 won the guest vote.
Minister Joyce announced Team 3 as the overall winner. Their braised lamb shanks with pickled cabbage, potato rosti and reduced jus proved most popular. This team included Jamin Gibson (Auckland University of Technology), Emma Waser (Otago Polytechnic), Phan Văn Lâm (Viet Giao Tourism School), and Nguyễn Ngọc Quân (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).
“It is so amazing that we won the competition,” said Emma Waser. “We gelled so well as a team throughout the whole competition but we worked especially well together on the night.
“We had to delve into each other’s cultures and traditions to come up with our fusion menu. I have learned how important it is to mix it up – to use different flavours and borrow from other traditions and cuisines.
“It has been amazing to come to Viet Nam and see what else is out there in the world – to find out more about different cultures, different people and different food.”
Said Jamin: “I have really enjoyed the food, the friendliness of the people and their hospitality. I definitely want to return to Viet Nam with my wife.”
Nguyễn Ngọc Quân enjoyed learning how to cook lamb the Kiwi way. “I learned to cook lamb the way that is more traditional in New Zealand. Typically the Vietnamese dislike the smell of lamb but our slow cook method and flavours in the lamb shank proved really popular.
“I admired my New Zealand team mates’ techniques and knowledge as well as their ability to think innovatively and creatively,” he said.
The gala dinner was the result of the New Zealand – Viet Nam Culinary Collaboration, an initiative that came out of the New Zealand – Viet Nam Strategic Plan on Education signed in November 2015. The plan is designed to deepen the level of engagement between the two countries and enrich students’ learning.
“The New Zealand – Viet Nam Culinary Collaboration is yet another example of the growing education relationship between our two countries,” said ENZ Chief Executive, Grant McPherson.
“While it has been fantastic to see the outstanding teamwork between the students, the gala dinner was also an opportunity to showcase New Zealand institutions’ vocational expertise and our education system’s world-renowned practical application of skills which prepare students for the working world.”
Grant emphasised that everyone involved in the collaboration was a winner.
Team 1 included Ryan Prouting (Ara, Institute of Canterbury), Tuainekore Taringa (NZMA), Trịnh Xuân Hoàng (Viet Giao Tourism School), and Nguyen Thuy Tra Giang (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).
Team 2 included Ella Ritson-Jones (Southern Institute of Technology), Jamie Bell (Wellington Institute of Technology), Dương Nhật Huy (Viet Giao Tourism School) and Phan Trong Bao Chau (VATEL International Business School Hotel & Tourism Management).
Study Auckland local agent forum
Connections were made via a series of 15-minute meetings plus networking over lunch at the Hilton Auckland.
“It was a great day and well organised,” said Lesley King, Director of International Students at Glen Eden Intermediate School.
“Meeting local agents is always worthwhile and hopefully we will gain some worthwhile partnerships.”
After lunch, the agents received an update from Immigration New Zealand’s Education Sector Relationship Manager, Katy Aldcroft.
The update covered Immigration Online and the Pathway Student Visa option.
“Local agent forums have been part of Study Auckland’s work for many years, and highlight the important role onshore agents play in driving international education growth in the Auckland region,” said Study Auckland Manager, Nick Arnott.
“The agents also really appreciated the Immigration New Zealand update and the lively Q&A session that followed.”
ENZ Emirates Airline promotion launches in Saudi Arabia
This promotion builds on a successful #YourSummerinNZ competition, which concluded on 5 June with the award of six prizes to study in New Zealand. The winners receive full scholarships to study English language at one of the six sponsoring New Zealand English language schools for up to six weeks, including return flights to New Zealand and accommodation.
The Emirates Airline promotional discount offer is on flights to New Zealand, booked from 1 June until 31 August, departing from Riyadh, Jeddah, Medinah, and Dammam. To redeem the offer, students need to use an infographic posted on ENZ’s Arabic Twitter page – @nzeducationsa.
“We are delighted to partner with Emirates Airline in promoting New Zealand as the premium destination for English-language students,” says John Laxon, ENZ’s Middle East Regional Director.
“Saudi students can now fly direct from Dubai to New Zealand via Emirates, and enter New Zealand visa-free when studying for up to 12 weeks.”
The flight promotion, and competition, are targeted to students looking at summer abroad study, given the longer summer holiday period in 2016.
New Zealand Ambassador, Hamish MacMaster, announced the Saudi #YourSummerinNZ scholarship winners: Abdullah Al Fifi (New Zealand Language Centres), Thamer Albugmi (Worldwide School of English), Ali Al Shahrani (Academic Colleges Group), Mohammed AlQabbaa (Southern Lakes English Language College), Majed Alzahrani (Languages International), and Fahad Alfifi (The Campbell Institute).
“The #YourSummerinNZ competition was a great success,” says Ambassador MacMaster.
“More than 3,000 entrants promoted New Zealand on ENZ’s dedicated Arabic-language Twitter channel – @nzeducationsa. ENZ now has more than 38,000 followers on its Twitter page, where students can find out how great it is to study in New Zealand.”
ENZ will continue a series of promotional and marketing initiatives during the summer period, and any providers looking to partner on further promotions can contact: rachel.simpson@enz.govt.nz
A new group of US Kiwi Ambassadors
Welcome Kiwi Ambassadors!
It was so difficult that ENZ decided the group of runners-up would be offered the chance to be ‘Honorary’ Kiwi Ambassadors. This meant they could still share their semester experience in New Zealand through the Study in New Zealand Instagram.
The #StudyinNZ page will therefore shortly welcome the next round of Kiwi Ambassadors, the 13 award recipients, and a further group of 29 Honorary Kiwi Ambassadors when they arrive in New Zealand in July.
The Instagram page has quickly become a hit with the US students and has already attracted almost 15,000 followers. Certainly, as you can see if you view the page, the current Kiwi Ambassadors have had no trouble finding picturesque opportunities during their semester in New Zealand! Images of nature, food, sunsets and wildlife predominate.
ENZ’s staff in the US, Amy Rutherford and Alanna Dick, have found the #StudyinNZ Instagram page a powerful tool in promoting New Zealand as an education destination.
“When I suggest students and study abroad advisors follow Study In New Zealand on Instagram, the conversation about studying abroad in New Zealand continues long after the study fair or campus visit is over,” says Alanna.
“It’s one thing me telling students what it’s like studying in New Zealand, it’s another when the students can see it in real time for themselves!”
More about the Awards
Education New Zealand partnered with the eight New Zealand universities and six institutes of technology and polytechnics to offer these awards as part of their support of the Institute of International Education’s Generation Study Abroad initiative, and its aim of doubling the number of US students who study abroad.
For Semester Two this year, ENZ awarded four US students the $2,000 Generation Study Abroad Travel Award to cover their airfare. The students are attending the University of Auckland, the University of Otago, and EcoQuest, a Private Training Establishment.
The universities awarded nine US students New Zealand Universities Excellence Awards (NZUEAs) which cover $500 of tuition fees and other associated costs. The students come from universities all over the US, from University of Florida to California Polytechnic State University.