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Around the world in five
CANADA
Faster student visa processing for four Asian countries
Canada has launched a Student Direct Stream to make visa processing times faster for eligible students from China, India, Vietnam and the Philippines.
GLOBAL
Let them talk: The power of student reviews
Candid student reviews of study destinations and institutions have a profound impact on prospect engagement, search optimisation, and the overall effectiveness of the recruitment marketing effort.
US
Soft power declines as number of international students shrinks
The decline in international students studying in the US may mean a decline in the US’s soft power, according to two researchers at the University of Pittsburgh.
SOUTH EAST ASIA
Ed-tech start-up raises $8.5 million from Malaysian investors
An education technology start-up has raised $8.5 million as it aims to keep building its platform for hosting massive open online courses. The business has seven Australian universities and 30 Malaysian universities as customers.
UK
UK relaxes visa rules for students from 11 ‘low-risk’ countries
The UK Home Office has announced a revised immigration policy, no longer requiring student applicants from 11 countries to show proof for educational, financial and English requirements. The revised list does not include India, which The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK has called unfair.
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Brazil and New Zealand united on sustainability – check out the Kōrerorero: Voice of the Oceans
Science, sustainability, and innovation were the focus of a special edition of Kōrerorero, which presented the Voice of the Oceans initiative. The online event, held in late August, showed the importance of education for building a more sustainable planet and highlighted the potential of cooperation between Brazil and Aotearoa New Zealand on issues related to the future of the planet.
Kōrerorero was produced by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) in Brazil and featured an introduction by Bruna de Natale, ENZ’s market development manager in Brazil. It was the first time that the event was broadcast in Portuguese, with simultaneous translation into English.
New Zealand Ambassador to Brazil, His Excellency Mr Richard Prendergast formally welcomed attendees to the event.
“The ocean and its resources are under pressure due to human activities, such as overfishing and pollution,” said Richard. “New Zealand’s approach to promoting a healthy ocean and ensuring good management of its resources involves education, to reinforce decision-making based on traditional knowledge and support development,” he added.
The kōrerorero featured the CEO of Voice of the Oceans, David Schurmann, who is an alumni from Aotearoa New Zealand – he has a degree in Cinema from Auckland University of Technology and, in addition to his work at Voice of the Oceans, is a filmmaker. His film “Little Secret”, from 2017, was chosen as the Brazilian representative in the competition for one of the places in the best foreign film category at the Academy Awards. He is part of the Schurmann Family, which since 1984 has carried out maritime expeditions around the world to promote sustainability.
Currently, the sailboat Kat, from Voice of the Oceans, is sailing around the world to raise awareness about the importance of combating pollution caused by plastic in the oceans. In November the boat will arrive in Auckland, at the end of its journey around the globe. The boat was named Kat after Kat Schurmann, David's kiwi sister.
“Voice of the Oceans was created because we are eyewitnesses of what has been happening in the oceans, which is plastic pollution,”, warned David Schurmann during the Kōrerorero. “Over the last twenty years, as we've travelled around the world, we've noticed an increase in plastic waste in the seas,” he added.
David also explained the role Aotearoa New Zealand played in creating Voice of the Oceans: “Part of it all has a direct connection to New Zealand – I lived and studied there for six years, where I trained as a filmmaker in the 90s. It was during this period that I realised that the New Zealand population already had a very strong ecological awareness, and that was the seed that helped me create Voice of the Oceans”, said David.
In 2016, upon returning from a trip around the world, David and his family decided it was time to give the oceans a voice, to unite humanity around environmental protection. The objective of the initiative, according to him, is to unite people and countries in favor of practical solutions for the preservation of the seas.
Alexander Turra, professor at the Oceanographic Institute of the University of São Paulo, classified as the best in Latin America in the latest edition of the QS World Rankings, also participated as a panelist in Kōrerorero. “We need to put the sea in people's heads, hearts and souls, so that they realize that we are intrinsically connected to it,”, said Alexander. “The ocean is the foundation of what happens on the planet, so preserving the Earth starts there.”
Kōrerorero also had the contribution of New Zealand based Brazilian researcher João Souza, leader of the Moana Project, which seeks to understand the impact of climate change and extreme events on the main food sources linked to the ocean, in Aotearoa New Zealand. According to João, the project works through partnerships with the fishing industry and communities living in coastal regions, making use of their traditional knowledge.
“We have sensors on fishing nets, so every time fishermen throw that net into the sea, our sensors pick up signals. Thus, we are able to generate information about the ocean, even predicting the occurrence of extreme events. The knowledge acquired is shared with everyone involved”, explained João.
The debate was mediated by Jaqueline Gil, director of international marketing and sustainability at Embratur – Brazilian Tourist Board. There were 185 registrants before the event, which was accompanied live by 69 people, who received a certificate of participation. The Kōrerorero recording is available in Portuguese and English on the ENZ online platform.
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Around the world in five
VIET NAM
Comparison platform Talk Study launched
Talk Study is a new service allowing prospective international students in Viet Nam to compare study abroad options based on over 20,000 student and alumni reviews on institutions across Australia, UK, US, Canada and New Zealand.
US
Ethical agents should support direct student admissions
According to a survey, only 38.5% of US institutions reported using agents in 2017. This means 61.5% – a solid majority – still didn’t. In addition, nearly 70% of institutions said agents were of limited or no importance to their international recruitment strategy.
FRANCE
France will increase university fees for non-EU students
Foreign students that come to study in France will now have to pay higher fees. Fees for non-European university students will be, at least, ten times higher than for their European counterparts.
JAPAN
English level at Japan's secondary schools falls short of government target
The English-language ability of students at public secondary schools fell short of the government’s target in 2018. A survey shows that final-year students of both junior and senior high schools did not reach the 50 percent goal set for them.
INDIA
Higher education system in India needs more investment, reforms: Govt official
The situation of higher education in India is grim and needs to be reformed, an official has said, while emphasising the need to grow Indian expertise in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
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Graduate’s Kiwi know-how helps reduce water use in UAE desert
Rather than travelling to New Zealand and undertaking theoretical research with limited relevance back home, Wafa was able to carry out hands-on work addressing critical water management issues in her arid home country, while being supervised by New Zealand-based experts.
It was a personalised and practical kind of international education experience which Wafa is grateful for. “It allowed me to continue working, while at the same time learning and finding solutions to the water management issues facing the UAE.”
The education partnership grew out of a New Zealand G2G (Government to Government) relationship with the UAE which dates back to 2014. “The aim is to build the capacity of local people and find solutions to real problems through scholarships for study,” she says.
Already qualified with a Bachelor’s degree in ecology and environmental science and Master’s degree in water and environmental engineering, Wafa was working as an environmental scientist for Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) when asked to be involved in the programme.
The region needs to find ways to manage the growing demand for groundwater in a hyper-arid, saline environment. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, has about 19 million planted trees in desert “forests”, a precious legacy of founding father Sheikh Zayed Al Nayhan. They provide a range of ecological benefits but are heavily dependent on groundwater irrigation.
With EAD given a government mandate in 2016 to protect groundwater reserves, water meters were introduced and areas of wastage identified. Wafa’s research was required to determine the exact water needs of the plants through the implementation of New Zealand technology, and experimentation with the use of treated sewage effluent, or “grey water”.
Distance learning partnership with Massey University
She worked with a team at New Zealand’s Plant & Food Research and her project was supervised by Principal Scientist Brent Clothier. The programme was managed by Lesley Kennedy of Wellington-based consultancy firm OnlyFromNZ.
“I travelled to New Zealand once or twice a year to meet Massey University requirements such as attending exams, presentations, or conferences. Likewise, Brent would come to the UAE with his team and help oversee the research.”
“It’s fit-for-purpose academic knowledge with real practical utility,” Dr Clothier says.
Wafa used Plant & Food Research’s heat pulse technology, which has been employed successfully in New Zealand and other parts of the world, but never in a region where temperatures can reach close to 50degC in summer. Once up and running, the technology provided readings every 30 minutes which allowed Wafa to calculate precisely the amount of water being absorbed by the plant.
“The data provided new and exciting information for us. We found that many of the trees had already adapted to the summer heat and did not take up as much water as we were providing through irrigation,” she says.
“By the end of the study we determined that we could save 35 - 70 percent of the water we have been supplying through irrigation.”
The technology was extended to other crops, and farmers are now provided with crop calculator software which provides guidance on the specific water needs of a tree, according to the month of the year, location, and soil type. “It’s a very important tool for growers in the UAE.”
“It’s good for countries to work together and find solutions to our challenges.”
Enduring relationship with New Zealand
Wafa is proud of the fact that her research is helping to solve a critical environmental issue in her country and knows that the collaboration with Massey through the NZ G2G partnership has been an integral part of her success. It has also paved the way for two other Emirati students to follow in her footsteps.
“I met other international students from the Middle East while at Massey and they were envious of me. They said I was very lucky because I was doing something for my country.”
She believes international education plays a key role in the exchange of information with other countries. “It’s good for countries to work together and find solutions to our challenges. If we are talking about the environment, we are all living in one world so it’s important that we work together to solve issues.”
But this academic partnership has not just produced practical results. It’s also seen a special bond develop between the New Zealand scientists and their Emirati students.
“I have built a long-lasting relationship with New Zealand,” Wafa says. “I know that I can always call my contacts in New Zealand to discuss an issue and they will be there for me.
“The relationship is much bigger than the life of the project and this is very important for me as a scientist and a researcher.”
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NZIEC 2018 nearing capacity
New Zealand International Education Conference and Expo (NZIEC) are selling like hotcakes and a sell-out crowd is expected.
We also have a broad array of partners joining us for this year’s event.
ENZ is pleased to announce that Southern Cross Travel Insurance and Vodafone New Zealand / OKNZ will be joining NZIEC as our Premium Partners.
Vodafone is offering connectivity packages for international students that includes bonus data and calling offers as well as a greeting and translation service.
Meanwhile, Southern Cross Travel Insurance will showcase its affordable travel insurance options for international students and their families, including for students moving into the local workforce.
Other partners joining us at conference are:
- IDP IELTS Australia offers IELTS testing in New Zealand and around the world. IDP has more than 80 offices in over 25 countries to assist the placement of international students in education institutions.
- QS Intelligence Unit appears at NZIEC to showcase its expertise as a trusted source of global higher education intelligence to inform institutional decision-making. QS provides high-quality intelligence, distinctive evaluation tools and transformational insight.
“We thank our Premium Partners and Partners for their support of our industry’s annual hui,” says Grant McPherson, ENZ Chief Executive.
“We encourage conference delegates to connect with them in the Expo Hall during conference.”
Be sure to book your accommodation and confirm your registration today at www.nziec.co.nz
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March update from Immigration New Zealand
Update on Student visa processing*
Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 29,228 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 24,549 of these applications.
Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated each month: Visa processing times for international students | Immigration New Zealand
*Figures current as at 10pm on 6 March 2023.
Impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on international students
We are aware that some education providers' campuses have been damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and have been forced to close temporarily.
This affects students’ immigration status because their current student visa requires them to attend the place of study specified on the visa which may not be currently possible. We understand that this is a difficult time, and we would like to help. An information sheet has been developed for affected international students and can be found here.
Approval in Principle timeframe
We have shortened the standard length of time we allow most offshore students to provide a tuition fee receipt (or other financial evidence) from ten to five working days to encourage students to complete the final steps of their student visa application quickly. We understand that some students may not be able to provide evidence in the timeframe they are given due to their individual circumstances. Extensions to this timeframe are available – the student or agent just needs to upload a brief letter explaining how much longer they will require and why.
Tuition fees
We would like to remind you that changes to the requirements for tuition fee payment evidence for students were introduced last year as part of the Immigration Rebalance.
Students need to pay tuition fees for the first year, or first programme of study (whichever is the shorter), and they will have to prove personal/maintenance funds for the same period. We do not accept payment of tuition fees by instalment; the only exception is for some aviation students.
Agent declaration
If you are providing advice or assistance with a student visa application - DECLARE yourself in the application. Education agents outside New Zealand are permitted to give immigration advice on student visas but must declare themselves in the application. We are seeing increasing numbers of agents not declaring themselves and these applications may take longer to process as a result.
INZ is intending to resume reporting on agent visa approval rates later this year, probably in September/October. If you are not declaring your involvement in an application, this will have an impact on your publicly available performance information. Education providers in New Zealand will be encouraged to check the agent performance report.
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Around the world in five
US
More international college graduates staying to work in US
The number of international student graduates staying on to work in the US has risen since 2008, with no signs of stopping.
GLOBAL
Bank of Mum & Dad: Global international student funding gap revealed
A new survey shows international students are turning to part-time work and their parents rely on borrowed funds to contribute to their education.
SOUTH AFRICA
English language schools officially recognised by government
English language schools that are members of Education South Africa will be formally recognised by the government, opening the door for students to study English in South Africa with greater regulatory stability and visa certainty.
GERMANY
Germany leads Europe in student social engagement
Germany leads the way in helping students thrive outside class, followed by the UK, Austria and Ireland, according to the European Student Survey by Times Higher Education.
CANADA
Montreal wants its international students to stay
Montreal International has launched a ‘Je Choisis Montreal’ or ‘I choose Montreal’ campaign to help more international students live, work and immigrate to the city.
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From the CE: SWNZ: The new platform for new ways of study
In June, ENZ launched our new initiative with FutureLearn, which offers online courses from a range of New Zealand education providers on a shared platform to more than 15 million learners worldwide. We also hosted the highly successful New Zealand Partners’ Workshop Week which brought together more than 2,700 stakeholders from across the Asian region to collaborate on building the future of the international education sector – to benefit New Zealand and our global partners.
I am more than happy to keep the good news momentum rolling into July with the launch of our Study with New Zealand learner platform - the official government site for advice on studying with New Zealand.
Study With New Zealand (SWNZ) is the evolution of the ENZ learner eco-system, transforming student experience to one that is intuitive and scalable.
Formerly Study in New Zealand, SWNZ merges our learner platforms to deliver a more personalised experience and to demonstrate that today there are more ways to access a New Zealand education. The new platform showcases our portfolio of study options including global pathways and online learning.
While we continue to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, it’s clear the world has changed, and so has the future of international education. Inviting students to study with New Zealand is more than just a subtle shift in language. SWNZ responds to the sector’s immediate needs in the current, rapidly changing landscape, and positions it for long-term success. It introduces our new ways of learning and encourages students to begin studying toward a New Zealand education, from just about anywhere in the world.
The industry’s ‘Think New’ brand has evolved and stretched to fulfil this promise in a way that makes sense and fits well with the challenges of right now.
The first release went live on 1 July, showcasing our new brand experience as well as introducing these new study modes. The team are working towards a full migration with the next milestone in September, where SWNZ will be ready to support the new brand campaign as well as the new student member centre.
Moving forward, SWNZ will empower ENZ to work with the sector to continue to deliver economic, social and cultural value to New Zealand and New Zealanders.
This initiative supports the Government's Recovery Plan for the international education sector. Part three of the Plan led by Education New Zealand, Transforming to a more sustainable future state, has accelerated the diversification of products and services - one of three goals set out in the New Zealand International Education Strategy.
Take a look at the new platform by visiting the following link: https://www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz/
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou, ka ora ai te iwi
With your food-basket, and my food-basket, the people will be well.
Ngā mihi,
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
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Around the world in five
US
The fast-moving world of alternative credentials and pathways
A new Inside Higher Ed report explores the array of certificates, apprenticeships and microcredentials that institutions and companies are creating to improve the link between education and work.
MIDDLE EAST
Middle Eastern youth pursue education in China to boost job prospects
Spurred on by China's growing investment in the Middle East, an increasing number of the region’s youth are choosing to study in China to gain an edge in a competitive job market at home.
SWEDEN
International students are key to plugging STEM gap
A new report is encouraging more grants for international students in Sweden to help plug a shortfall of STEM graduates. A high proportion of international students in Sweden study STEM, so grants to retain them could be key strategy.
GLOBAL
The lure of work rights for international students
With the ability to work and gain employability skills being major reasons why students opt for an international education, how do work rights impact student experience?
JAPAN
Japan relaxes employment rules for international graduates
Japan has announced a significant relaxing of residency rules for international students for 2019, allowing graduates to work in any role as long as they earn over an annual salary threshold of 3 million yen, or about 40,000 NZD.
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More than 1,000 delegates attend NZIEC KI TUA 2022
NZIEC at a glance
- 1,065: Registered delegates, making this the biggest NZIEC ever
- 105: Sessions delivered across the week
- 101: Speakers
- 11: MCs and facilitators
- 8: Time zones that ENZ’s international team members joined sessions from
- 3: Studios in operation, in Pōneke Wellington, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch
- 88%: Delegate satisfaction for keynote and plenary sessions (rated good or very good).
“This was the largest NZIEC ever held, which shows the high level of interest in rebuilding the international education sector within Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Grant McPherson.
“I’d like to thank our line-up of keynote, plenary and breakout speakers, as well as everyone who took the time to attend. I hope all of our delegates were encouraged and inspired and gained a gem or two for the rebuild journey ahead.”
Prime Minister and Minister address conference delegates
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recorded a special message for our sector. If you missed it during the conference closing session, take a moment to view it now.
YouTubeEducation Minister Chris Hipkins also addressed conference delegates and answered questions. Conference delegates can view this session on the event portal.
New ingoa Māori
This year, to celebrate its 29th birthday, NZIEC was gifted a new ingoa Māori (te reo Māori name): NZIEC KI TUA. The name was inspired by the following whakataukī:
He rā ki tua.
Look positively toward the future, Better times are coming.
Ki Tua is not about returning to the ‘status quo’. It’s about reconnecting to the world, finding a fresh perspective, and taking a new approach.
“The adoption of NZIEC KI TUA reflects our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Maihi Karauna, the Crown’s Strategy for Māori Language Revitalisation,” Mr McPherson says.
“NZIEC’s new name also reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinct cultural identity and the importance of continuing to develop our sector’s annual conference.”
Sessions are still available
Registered delegates can watch or re-watch conference sessions from the event portal until Friday 16 September.
Conference highlights
Recognising the challenge facing the international education sector, the conference explored the theme of Towards Recovery: Reflect, Reconnect and Renew.
The programme started by reflecting on the sector’s pandemic experience, including moving reflections from international students and international education practitioners. Delegates explored student experience through the pandemic.
The programme then shifted to reconnecting with the world. Delegates heard from Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins, and New Zealand’s leading trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis.
Mid-week we turned our attention to renewal, and how our industry can seize the big opportunities and overcome the big challenges it faces. We explored the intersection of te ao Māori and international education, how we can develop global citizenship, approaches to innovation and diversification, and tackling the climate challenge.
Quotes that struck a chord
- “I learned a lot about love, I think. Love and care during this pandemic”
- Veena TK, Masters student from Malaysia, reflects on an unexpected aspect of her pandemic experience in Aotearoa.
- “I love my school canteen. You know especially butter chicken pie, they’re $4 each. Pretty good.”
– Year 13 student Chad (Min-Hyeok) Kang’s favourite go-to food spot in New Zealand is close to home.
- "I do want to thank everybody for their ongoing feedback and support and for the huge amount of resilience and persistence that we have seen across the international education sector. I do think there are some very, very exciting things ahead for us."
– Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, in his remarks to the international education sector.
- “Let me start first with the international context… we have war, we have plague, we have the famine and of course we have climate change as well”
– Vangelis Vitalis discusses contemporary challenges in the international arena.
- “Knowledge wasn’t retained for status, it wasn’t a choice. Often it was associated to the wellbeing and betterment of our people”
– Sharlene Maoate-Davis talks about how education is conceived and valued from a te ao Māori perspective.
- “Six months in a leaky boat has a whole new meaning to me”
– Abbas Nazari on his experience prior to being rescued by the MV Tampa. More seriously, he offered these remarks: “The essence of my talk is very simple… in life there are obstacles and challenges that fall across your path. Despite all these challenges, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”
- “The weight of the past is constantly fighting with the pull of the future and the push of the present to try and kill innovation”
– Melissa Clarke-Reynolds on organisational immune systems’ reactions to innovation.
- “Changing your world is your critical contribution to changing the world”
– Dr Kennedy Graham on how you can contribute to the climate challenge.
Stay tuned to next month’s E-News for more details on NZIEC KI TUA 2023.
