16 September 2026 at 5:23 pm
Building momentum for New Zealand education in Colombia
Increasing student interest, growing confidence in New Zealand's student visa processing and a favourable exchange rate are creating positive momentum in Colombia, one of Latin America's key education markets.
Left to right: Javiera Visedo, Monica Riveros, from LSI and Lorena Mendez from Whitecliffe College at the Bogota fair. Both are based in Colombia.
Left to right: Adriana Peñuela, President of ANEX, Ricardo Medina, ANEX board member, Nicci Stilwell, Ambassador, Alejandra Crespo, Executive Director ANEX and Javiera Visedo. Lunch at the Residence.
Javiera Visedo at the Bucaramanga fair
To build on this momentum, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ's) Director of Engagement Latin America, Javiera Visedo, spent two weeks in Colombia meeting students, education agents and sector partners, while promoting New Zealand as a destination for English language study and further education.
The visit included three major student fairs in Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Medellín, organised by Global Edu Options. Speaking directly with students, parents and education counsellors gave Javiera the opportunity to share the benefits of a New Zealand education and highlight English language study as an important pathway into further study opportunities.
During the trip, Javiera also took part in a flash podcast with GlobalEdu and a live podcast hosted by LAE Colombia, which attracted around 200 viewers. Together, these activities helped showcase New Zealand's education offering to prospective students and their families.
Education agents were another key focus. Around 71 percent of international students in Colombia use an education agent when deciding where to study, making agents a critical channel for New Zealand's education sector. Meetings across Bogotá, Bucaramanga and Medellín helped strengthen relationships and ensure agents have the information and confidence they need to promote New Zealand effectively.
A highlight of the visit was a lunch hosted by New Zealand Ambassador Nicci Stillwell at the Ambassador's Residence in Bogotá, bringing together members of ANEX, Colombia's national association of education service exporters. The event reinforced New Zealand's commitment to the market and strengthened connections with some of Colombia's leading education agencies.
While competition remains strong from other study destinations, feedback from partners suggests growing interest in New Zealand. Although these positive signals may take time to translate into enrolments, they provide encouraging signs for future growth.
"Every visit to Colombia reminds me of the strength of our partnerships and the enthusiasm for New Zealand education," said Javiera. "Combined with the positive market conditions we're seeing, it gives us real confidence in the opportunities ahead."
