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• India communications campaign wins top honours at PRWeek Awards Asia 2015

  The awards, in their 14^th year, are among the most prominent and competitive ones in the region. Organised by Haymarket Media Ltd, they celebrate the most inspired and successful campaigns, companies and individuals in the Asia-Pacific communications industry.

  The integrated campaign developed by ENZ’s India team along with support from industry partners created new ways of engaging with Indian students to study in the country’s institutions. ENZ used a combination of public affairs, public relations, advertising, consumer promotions and digital amplification, to highlight its offerings to the Indian student market. Initiatives introduced by ENZ in India were supported by NZ Inc. agencies and ENZ’s India PR agency partner Genesis B-M.

  Speaking about the awards, Ziena Jalil, Regional Director – South and South East Asia, Education New Zealand said, “We are delighted with this recognition. It is a privilege to be considered for these awards with the likes of the UN Foundation and  USAID and emerge winners.”

  The PR Week Awards complete a hat-trick for the India PR campaign, following its win at the Public Affairs Asia Gold Standard Awards in November last year.

  “Industry recognition is a great validation of what we have tried to achieve in terms of raising New Zealand’s profile as a quality student destination and education business partner in India,” says Ziena.

  To learn more about the India PR campaign email: india@enz.govt.nz

• Competition winners announced South and South East Asia

  The first competition was open to SSEA students from selected institutions currently pursuing undergraduate programmes in business, marketing and/or related disciplines. Students were asked to submit a 12 month marketing strategy that would promote New Zealand as an education destination in their own country.

  ENZ is pleased to announce that five entries – two from Viet Nam and one each from India, Indonesia and Malaysia have won all-expenses paid four-week internships in New Zealand. The interns will arrive in New Zealand between July and September.

  The winners and their hosting New Zealand institutions are:

  Viet Nam

  Pham Phuong Lan going to Academic Colleges Group

  Nguyen Hoai Thuong going to Palmerston North Girls High School

  India

  Armeet Narang going to Avondale College

  Indonesia

  Edo Dwi Prayogo going to the University of Auckland

  Malaysia

  Kong Kah Weng going to Choose New Zealand Education Alliance

  The second competition was targeted at secondary school students in South East Asia only, with the aim of prompting them to research what it would be like to live and learn in New Zealand. The students each submitted a 700-word essay demonstrating their take on the theme of ‘Think New: Think New Zealand’. ENZ received some outstanding entries across all four target markets. The winning essays (listed below) were all published in top-tier media publications.

  Malaysia

  Nur Afiqah Azizan - essay published in The New Straits Times (Learning Curve)

  Indonesia

  Siti Hajar Saskia Putri  - essay published in Hai! and CosmoGIRL! magazines

  Thailand

  Sirinut Talpraderm - essay published in The Bangkok Post (Student Weekly)

  Vietnam

  Nguyễn Thúy An - essay published on Kenh14.vn

  We’ll follow up with the students and their host institutions during their time in New Zealand and keep you posted as to their experiences.

• Tauranga-based group visits Korea

  E-News caught up with one of the organisers of the visit, Education Tauranga’s Anne Young.  

  What led to the decision to visit Korea as a group of institutions?

  Education Tauranga’s 2013-2017 strategy focuses strongly on collaboration between member institutions. We find that we can make more of an impact in a market as a group, and, with a diverse range of institutions participating in activities, we can demonstrate the pathways that exist within our region to cater for all levels of education.

  Korean students are enrolled in the full range of education institutions in Tauranga – from primary right through to tertiary. This is one of the reasons Education Tauranga’s Korean student numbers have continued to rise in 2015, while declining in New Zealand overall. We also attribute our success in Korea to the fact that we have committed local agents, strong local government support, highly effective links with the Korean community in the Western Bay of Plenty and institutions that provide excellent education and care to all international students, including those from Korea.

  In choosing Korea as our group visit destination, we were able to further capitalise on our already strong position in that market.  

  What are the advantages of a group visit such as this?

  The main advantage of a group visit is that it’s easier to get noticed and to secure meetings than when you’re an individual institution travelling on your own. Promotional costs can be shared, too. In our case, 21 institutions were pitching in, meaning our advertising dollar went a lot further, resulting greater numbers of prospective students at our fairs and good attendance of officials at other events.

  Having trip organisers taking care of all the planning, organising and bookings meant it was a much more efficient process for everybody. It also alleviated stress for some first time travellers to Korea who didn’t have to face many of the challenging ‘unknown factors’ that can pop up when organising your own recruitment trip.  

  What are the downsides?

  I don’t think there are any particular disadvantages to marketing as a group offshore. However, there are challenges in the logistics of dealing with such a large group, such as transport arrangements and getting everyone to where they need to be on time, as well as ensuring that planned activities are of benefit to all institutions from a range of sectors.  

  What were the highlights?

  We attracted over 400 prospective students through our fairs which was a great success for one small region of New Zealand. The students who came along were already pretty well informed about Education Tauranga’s education offerings, demonstrating that the effort that we put into advertising prior to the events hit the mark!

  Several alumni families also attended the events, and it was wonderful to see them engaging with prospective students and their families and giving their perspective on what studying in our region is like.

  The support of big New Zealand brands such as Zespri was also fantastic; their product promotion at our fair went down really well.

  Being hosted at the New Zealand Residence by the Deputy Head of Mission to Korea and Education New Zealand was also a highlight as we were able to recognise the contribution they had made to ensuring our activities were a success.  

  Are there any outcomes on the horizon or promising connections made?

  We’re hoping our visit will result in an increase in student numbers from Korea in 2016. The signs are promising so far, with many new students expressing an interest in coming here. Time will tell however!

  We have also strengthened relationships with Tauranga’s ‘friendship city’ of Ansan, with a larger study tour group coming in 2016 than came in 2015.  

  What would you do differently next time?

  The visit to Korea was our second regional group visit (we visited China together as a group in March this year) so we already had experience in what did and didn’t work and were able to iron out any issues prior to this trip.  

  Any hints and tips for together groups thinking of undertaking this sort of group visit?

  I think undertaking a visit of this kind is very effective for regions or groups of institutions. My top tips for making your visit a success are as follows:

  • Do your research and have a plan. Know exactly what activities you want to do and why

  • Involve all participating institutions in the planning process

  • Make sure you have support from local councils and your Economic Development Agency

  • Enter the market with a strong brand that all participants believe in

  • Make sure you have translated materials and have translators who know your product/region

  • The work you do prior to arrival is just as important (if not more than) as the work you will do while in country

  • Work with ENZ and local Embassy staff

  • Leverage your alumni

  • Follow up with the people you met with during the visit!

   

• Introducing new GM Marketing and Channel Development, Paul Irwin

  Hannah Lee Darboe, who fulfilled the role of Acting GM for this team, returned to NZTE recently to take up the role of Director, Business Improvements.

  What attracted you to the world of international education?

  The GM Marketing and Channel Development role at Education New Zealand builds on highlights from previous roles in my career. Namely, international marketing in Asia with the Economist Intelligence Unit, advertising and communications consultancy to a range of education sector clients (Open Polytechnic; TeachNZ, Ministry of Education; and Agriculture ITO), and the ever-evolving world of digital marketing. Additionally, I’m really impressed with the contribution that international education makes to both New Zealand’s economy and our cultural ties with other countries.  

  What will you be doing as GM Marketing & Channel Development?

  I'll be helping shape ENZ’s international marketing strategies across brand, digital media, social, agents, events and whatever other opportunities we identify. My goal is to work with the marketing team and the rest of ENZ to build on their great work to date. Particular areas of interest are how we can continue to position the Think New brand against our competitors, increase our use of data for insight and conversion, and how we integrate and optimise all our activity, noting the different challenges of each particular market!  

  What’s on your to-do list for the next three months?

  First, to build my understanding of a very complex industry! ENZ and New Zealand’s education providers operate across a wide range of sectors and countries. From a marketing perspective, we use best practice digital marketing, events and agents, while also equipping the industry with a wide range of tools and marketing material.

  Second, to better understand the needs of the different education sectors (I really look forward to meeting you all in due course!).

  Third, to look to ways to “optimise” our activity, building on past learnings, fine-tuning to the different dynamics of each country and their student populations, and bringing my expertise in integrated marketing to ensure we have the best marketing mix to achieve our collective objectives.  

  What excites you most about your new role?

  I’m excited to be working in a role that delivers economic, social and cultural good. Equally to be working with such a large group of smart, passionate people across ENZ and the entire New Zealand education industry. It’s exciting to be working in an industry that’s part of the “knowledge economy”, which has really strong foundations but equally huge opportunity for innovation and further growth.  

  What challenges do you expect to face?

  There are many challenges in international education, but these are what make the role interesting and rewarding. There’s the complexity of the markets and diversity of sectors. Then there’s being on top of the fast-changing world of marketing today, driven by new digital technologies and channels and access to more and more data. As always, there’s the juggling act between global efficiencies and consistency and in-market tailoring of activity. And last, but not least, being mindful of each education institution’s particular needs, past learnings and future ambitions.

• NZ universities sign collaboration agreement with Malaysia’s KYS International College

  The foundation programme will be jointly developed by KYSIC and the Consortium Universities (the University of Otago, Victoria University of Wellington and University of Waikato) but provides Malaysian students with access to all eight New Zealand universities which ranked in the top three percent in the latest QS World Rankings.

  The foundation programme consists of four streams which will cover all undergraduate courses available at the New Zealand universities - Foundation in Commerce, Foundation in Health Science, Foundation in Humanities and Foundation in Science.

  The collaboration agreement was signed on 2 October between representatives from the Consortium Universities and KYSIC, a school established by successful Malaysian entrepreneur and New Zealand-educated alumni, Tan Sri Halim Saad. The agreement, which builds on the strong and warm relationship which exists between the two countries, was signed by the New Zealand universities in the presence of the New Zealand High Commission and Education New Zealand in Kuala Lumpur.

  Stuart McLauchlan, the University of Otago's Pro-Chancellor, has been personally involved in the initiative along with Roger McElwain, the CEO of the University's Foundation Studies Programme.

  “The University of Otago has contributed to previous successful education initiatives with Malaysia and is excited with the latest collaborative venture offering a Foundation Programme in Malaysia,” says Mr. McLauchlan.

  Otago is the lead New Zealand university for the programme.

  Victoria University of Wellington Pro Vice-Chancellor, Professor Roberto Rabel, says this continued collaboration highlights the institution’s commitment to Malaysian students.

  “Victoria University is delighted to be working on another New Zealand Malaysian education initiative involving our distinguished alumnus Tan Sri Halim Saad. We hope it will be as successful as the accounting degree venture we have in co-operation with KYS in Melaka.”

  Ed Weymes, Waikato University’s Pro Vice Chancellor International, says this signing represents a significant milestone in the ever growing partnership between New Zealand and Malaysia.

  “The University of Waikato is thrilled to be a participant in this collaborative venture, offering a Foundation Programme in Malaysia which will be recognised by all New Zealand universities. This signals a new chapter in New Zealand’s international education strategy.” 

• NZ admissions staff key to sustainable industry

  There are relatively small numbers of people working in the area of international qualifications in New Zealand, so training and the sharing of knowledge is vital.

  To support this need for professional development, AUT and ENZ jointly hosted UK NARIC to run training sessions on 17 and 18 September for New Zealand admissions staff. The workshop also provided a valuable opportunity for admissions staff from around the country to share their knowledge and expertise.   

  UK NARIC is the designated United Kingdom national agency responsible for providing information, advice and expert opinion on vocational, academic and professional skills and qualifications from over 180 countries worldwide.

  The sessions were well attended and well received. Here’s some of the feedback, grouped under each of the four training session topics.  

  Evaluating International Qualifications.

  This session provided some guidance in the all-important area of qualification evaluation.

  • This session helped me to understand different models of education and evaluation process of international qualifications. Among the four traditional education models of: Anglo- Scottish, American, Humboldt and Napoleonic. The first two models are quite straight forward, unlike the last two!

  • Exercises in identifying which model to apply where, gave us better understanding of the entry requirements, duration, progression route and qualification comparison the various qualifications.

  • I now have a greater understanding on what to request and look for while checking and accepting documents.

  Degrees of Deception.

  This session looked at the worldwide problem of applicants presenting fraudulent documents to ensure a place in a learning institute.

  • The overview, general and brief as it was, gave me a starting point as to the kinds of alterations to look for when presented with a document for assessing.

  • A major part of an admissions staffer’s daily workload includes deciphering international documents and recognising the difference between acceptable and fraudulent qualifications. The NARIC training course has made me think twice and question things I may have otherwise not thought about.

  Education in China.

  This session gave an overview of the structure of the education systems in China.

  • As well as gaining a general understanding of the Chinese education system in different provinces, I found the session on numbers and dates in Chinese characters particularly helpful, as it helped me get a precise understanding of the course duration, start date and completion date in order to verify authenticity of the translation. Also, the exercise we did identifying Chinese characters to confirm the school and entry to higher education will help me to understand Chinese certificates more easily.

  • The other interesting exercise was identifying the authenticity of the certificate by looking at its serial number. After this session I am clear about how to read the transcript and the completion certificate.

  Education in North America.

  This session gave an overview of the structure of the education systems in North America.

  My top three takeaways from this session were:

  • There is no national qualifications framework in Canada, thus there is a lot of variation in education between the provinces.

  • There is also no national accrediting body in Canada to evaluate the quality of all degree programmes, although a number of regulatory authorities perform this function for programmes in professional subjects at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.

  • Many countries in the Caribbean have very few nationally accredited higher education institutions, so links with international universities to offer recognised qualifications are common

  Ways in which the training will change or improve the way I work:

  • More knowledge of the education systems in North America will make it easier and more efficient to assess applicants from this area, as less time will be spent looking up information.

  A particular challenge in my job that is now made easier since having the training:

  • The training provided specific information on the difference between vocational and academic Associate Degrees from the United States. This was useful as we only accept Academic Associate Degrees for University Entrance and it was previously not always easy to identify if the qualification was academic or vocational.

• Competition winners and interns enjoy trip of a lifetime

  A separate competition was launched in India called ‘Fashion for Fleming’, requiring fashion students to design a t-shirt for ENZ’s Brand Ambassador, Stephen Fleming. The competition encouraged students from India to incorporate creative designs showcasing the unique values of both countries. The winner received a two week internship at AUT’s Fashion School.

  As well, over the past couple of months, two students from Viet Nam and India, and one each from Indonesia and Malaysia undertook all-expenses paid internships at various institutes in New Zealand.

  We’ve received some outstanding feedback from the interns and the respective institutions, both during the internships and after the students returned home. Here’s a taste of what they said:  

  Armeet Narang, a student from Symbiosis Institute, Pune won a four-week internship at Avondale College

  "My experience in New Zealand as an intern is something I will cherish in the future. The people, culture, food, and the work ethic is very much different than in India, something that left me speechless. It was robust and fresh, something I believe every student needs in their college life. Perhaps, what left me astonished was the education system over there, so much more developed. Avondale College and the staff at the International Department were so warm and welcoming I settled right in. It was too good to be true for me. My homestay parents were simply perfect. A month after my return, I still miss that place - the weather, the food and the people. Such an opportunity is sure to open many doors for me, and I cannot be grateful enough.” - Armeet Narang

  “Avondale College welcomed the opportunity to host an intern from India and we were most pleased with the successful candidate when he arrived. Armeet immediately became one of the team at the Avondale College International Department, and set up his work station in the reception office - a signal to us he was here to integrate with the students, learn how a busy office worked, and to offer a new perspective.

  Initial discussions on how Armeet could add value included doing a SWOT analysis, reviewing current strategies of NZ Schools active in the Indian market, and developing a marketing strategy and plan for Avondale College to implement. Having a particular interest in use of media and digital channels, Armeet launched into a review of the current Avondale College website and Facebook usage and developed a best practice model to head towards.

  Armeet took every advantage of getting out and about in Auckland and the North Island. His trip culminated in attending the All Blacks game against Australia. His first rugby match he described it almost as good as an IPL match. From our perspective the internship was a huge success with learnings from both Armeet and institution. Many thanks to ENZ for the opportunity. We are solid advocates for such projects.” - Chris Klaassen, Director of International, Avondale College  

  Nguyen Hoai Thuong, Vietnam won a four-week internship at Palmerston North Girls High School

  “What I love most about New Zealand is that people are very friendly. I didn’t feel like I was in a foreign country, but at home, as a family member. The environment in New Zealand also captured my attention, since people have good awareness of environment protection, and it did have an impact on me after coming back to Vietnam. I also learnt a lot from my colleagues, not only marketing knowledge, but also their passion. They inspired me and made me realise that once you pour all your heart into doing something, anything can be meaningful and memorable. I really hope that one day I can go back to NZ, to learn more and explore more, and most of all, to see again the people giving me the best time of my youth.” - Nguyen Hoai Thuong  

  Pham Phuong Lam, Vietnam won a four-week internship at Academic Colleges Group

  “The one-month internship at ACG was an unforgettable experience. Auckland is a small, multi-cultural city that has made me feel welcome since my very first day. I love the people here, they are friendly, open and very kind. Working in ACG is my first working abroad experience. My colleagues always support and give me good advice to know more about international marketing. ACG has many education institutions that has helped me gain an overall view of New Zealand education, which is famous for critical thinking development and taking good care of international students.” - Pham Phuong Lam

  

  Competition winners: Intern Edo with Vice Chancellor Stuart McChutcheon and Deputy Vice Chancellor Jenny Dixon.

  Edo Dwi Prayogo, Indonesia won a four-week internship at The University of Auckland

  “I was surprised how easy the Vice Chancellor was to talk to. I feel so lucky to have this whole opportunity. This is my first internship, and I’m having so many new experiences. I’m really enjoying the work environment – it’s so interesting to learn how an organisation reaches international markets, and to be involved in that.” - Edo Dwi Prayogo

  “Having Edo with us for a month has been fantastic. He has made an excellent contribution to the team and we have benefitted from the insights he has provided into the Indonesian market and Indonesian culture.” - University of Auckland International Marketing Manager Shane Ball  

  Kong Kah Weng (Eric), Malaysia won a four-week internship at Choose New Zealand Education Alliance

  Life here is completely different compared to Malaysia. What I have noticed so far, New Zealand is much more structured, less polluted, westernised, the standard of living is higher, buildings are flat, less traffic congestion, convenient public transportation and the city is filled with outrageously beautiful natural scenes.

  My first day working with Novo Education was remarkable, work culture here is very different. Working hours can be flexible; capability, trust and responsibility are amongst the key qualities of being a good staff. I have been catching up and learning many different tasks as an intern. In fact the work environment moulds you towards a positive working culture.

  I have got to know some friends here doing their undergraduate program at a polytechnic institution. In Malaysian’s mind, polytechnics are lousy. This perception does not apply to New Zealand surprisingly. Instead, they offer various types of programmes, well recognised locally and internationally up to postgraduate level. On top of it, they cost less than university.

  Lamb and beef taste like heaven! Many other local productions like diary, chocolate, chips and wine are a must try.  My honest opinion, I think I feel in love with this country and things around.” - Eric Kong

  “Novo Education has been delighted to host the ENZ prize winning student from Malaysia, Eric Kong, as an intern for 4 weeks. Eric visited the campuses of Choose New Zealand members in Auckland, New Plymouth, Whitianga, Greymouth and Christchurch, and is even more enthusiastic about New Zealand education than before he arrived, and was very active in posting positive comments on social media. In turn he has provided us with some insights and research into potential niche markets in Malaysia, and we feel quite excited about future opportunities there.

  We wish him very well in his continuing studies. Thank you to Education New Zealand for the opportunity to participate in this internship programme, and we can certainly recommend it to any other institution in the future. ” - Bruce Cleland, Chairman, Choose New Zealand Education Alliance  

  Somsurvo Chatterjee, a student from NIFT, Kolkata won a two-week internship at the AUT University’s Fashion School

  “I am learning new, innovative ways of garment designing at AUT, which will help me incorporate new design elements when I go back to Kolkata. I am enjoying the student life and culture in Auckland, people on campus have been very friendly and the students from the fashion department organised a surprise picnic for me at the studio which means a lot considering I am in a new country. I will cherish my time and learnings at AUT for life. - Somsurvo Chatterjee

  

  Winner of the ‘Fashion for Fleming’ design competition Somsuvro Chatterjee with his winning design for Stephen Fleming inspired by the Christchurch Cardboard Cathedral.

• Enhancements to Study In New Zealand website

  As the audience has been steadily building, we’ve also been working to enhance the student experience, by adding more relevant content and improving the navigability of the site.

  Expanded translations

  

  One of the exciting recent developments has been content translation, with students from China, Viet Nam and Thailand now able to access translated versions of most of the site in their native language. The global home page and ‘Get Started’ sections will be updated and translated soon.

  The translated content is accessed by selecting the drop down menu under the ‘International’ tab at the top right of the website, as per the screen grab below.  

  We’re sharing the good news via our hugely popular agent and social media channels, so how about doing the same and giving your Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese students the opportunity to get the lowdown on studying in New Zealand in their own language?

  We’ll keep you updated when further translations are rolled out.

  New content

  

  Another enhancement to studyinnewzealand.com is our recently-established blog.

  Having a modern audience-driven blog is a highly-effective way of connecting with our audiences in an authentic and trustworthy way, and will be one of the cornerstones of our content marketing strategy.

  The blog gives prospective international students the chance to explore what it’s like to study and live in New Zealand, through the eyes of current and former students.

  To make it as easy as possible for students to identify and access the content that’s of most interest to them, the experiences are arranged in the following sections: ‘Student Life’, ‘Travel and Adventure’, ‘Working while Studying’, and ‘How-tos and tips’ .

  We’re aiming for 90 percent of the blog content to be student-generated, with additional content coming from key influencers, such as guest lecturers, our NZ Inc partners where appropriate and ourselves. We’ve seeded the blog with a range of articles to kick off with, and will expand the content as more student experiences are captured.

  Our Marketing and Channels team is currently working on a content marketing strategy, which will include a blog content calendar. If you have access to great student-generated content you think might interest our target audiences please feel free to send it through to: blog@studyinnewzealand.com.

• Announcements to support industry growth

  Here’s a round-up of recent news:  

  $2.7 million for international education in regions and new markets

  An additional $2.76 million of funding is being invested through ENZ to strengthen key market relationships, support diversification into new markets and build on our Regional Partnership Programme.

  The Regional Partnership Programme will receive $2 million to help grow international education. The investment is focused on growth in the regions, and will enable more regions to join the Programme and further regional development initiatives to be supported. For more information on the Regional Partnership Programme, contact Greg Scott, Business Development Manager.

  Efforts to diversify growth across more markets continue, with an additional $700,000 invested in stepping up marketing and promotional activity in Colombia, the USA and Viet Nam, the Philippines and Indonesia.

  Here’s a link to the press release.  

  School ties with China

  Twenty-five schools across New Zealand received funding to build their sister school relationships with China. Recipients include Marlborough Girls’ College and Marlborough Boys’ College, which received funding of $5,000 to develop a sister school partnership in Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, one of China’s leading wine-producing regions. The colleges are also working with the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology to encourage Chinese student enrolments into courses relevant to New Zealand’s wine industry.

  Here’s a link to the press release.

  Read the article in the Marlborough Express here.  

  Study Abroad growth

  A new scholarship for European Union students will target Study Abroad growth at New Zealand universities.

  Total funding of NZ$100,000 for scholarships, co-funded between ENZ and universities, will be offered as part of a marketing campaign being prepared to grow the number of Study Abroad student arrivals from Europe to New Zealand. The announcement came during Prime Minister John Key’s visit to Europe to advance the bilateral and trade relationship between EU and New Zealand.

  Here’s a link to the press release.  

  Scholarships bring Korean students to New Zealand

  New Zealand’s profile as a study destination was further raised in Korea during Minister Joyce’s recent visit. In Seoul on 19 October the Minister awarded four aspiring Korean golfers scholarships to spend a month in New Zealand receiving intensive English language teaching and top quality golf coaching, under the Game On English - Golf edu-sport programme.

  Here’s a link to the press release.

  And, for those of you who read Korean, here’s some of the coverage the event received in Korea:

  Ilgan Sports ‘Education New Zealand provides golf training opportunity in New Zealand to four aspiring Korean golfers’

  Business Korea ‘New Zealand Educates Korean Golfers’

  Segye Ilbo ‘New Zealand ‘Game On English-Golf’ providing opportunity to four recipients’

• Game On, in Japan

  Among the over 60 guests who attended the event, were New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Mark Sinclair; Senior Adviser to the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Shinichi Yamanaka; Vice President of the Japan Rugby Football Union, Masayuki Takashima; and Fonterra Japan President, Yasuhiro Saito.

  Those GOE student participants who were present spoke, in English, of how fulfilling an experience it was, and of their desire to come back to New Zealand for further study.

  

  Twelve male high school students from institutions that belong to Kanto Super League spent time in Hamilton from mid-July to early August this year, receiving high level rugby coaching care of the Waikato Rugby Union as well as undergoing an intensive English language programme at the University of Waikato Pathways College.

  Ten female rugby players selected by the Japan Rugby Football Union spent time in Auckland in August, participating in a similar programme run by the Auckland Rugby Union and the New Zealand Language Centres.

  Fonterra Japan sponsored the Hamilton programme while Japan's Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology provided financial support for the Auckland programme.

  Both groups of students stayed with local families while in New Zealand.

  

  GOE Rugby was launched by Prime Ministers Shinzō Abe and John Key in July 2014 in response to the Japanese government’s goal to improve the English language skills and increase the sporting capacity of Japan’s young people in the lead up to Japan’s hosting of the 2019 Rugby World Cup and 2020 Olympics.

  Led by English New Zealand in partnership with the Essentially Group, GOE Rugby includes five top provincial rugby unions and selected premium English language providers based in locations throughout New Zealand.

  From November, the GOR Rugby will be available to high school groups from across Japan.

  For more information on the details of the programme, please contact Misa Pitt, ENZ Japan.