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  • MIQ costs changing for temporary visa holders

    Our managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) facilities are an essential part of our COVID-19 defence system.  The fees charged to people who stay in MIQ are designed to strike a balance between the benefits to both the New Zealand public of having such a robust system, and those who leave and enter the country.

    Currently, temporary entry visa class holders are liable to pay $3,100 for 14 days in managed isolation. 

    From 12:01am on 25 March 2021, anyone entering New Zealand on a temporary visa is now liable to pay the MIQ fee of: 

    • $5,520 (including GST) for the first or only person in the room;
    • $2,990 for an additional adult in the same room;
    • $1,610 for an additional child (aged 3-17 years) in the same room.

    Charges for some stays in managed isolation were introduced in August 2020, as it was not financially sustainable for the Government to continue to fund all the costs of MIQ. The fees were set at two levels: one for returning New Zealanders and one for some temporary visa holders.

    These new charges will help ensure the ongoing financial sustainability of MIQ, which is now expected to remain in place for at least the rest of 2021. However, as time has passed, Cabinet has decided that more people entering the country should contribute to the costs of their MIQ stay.

    The fee level temporary visa holders pay is closer to the actual cost of MIQ, although the Government is still subsidising some of the cost.

    The new fees are the same as those charged to critical workers entering the country under a border exception. Critical healthcare workers entering under a border exception will continue to be charged the current standard fee of $3,100 to ensure the healthcare workforce can be quickly scaled up in case of a resurgence of COVID-19.

    MBIE can grant a full or partial waiver of managed isolation fees in cases of financial hardship or other special circumstances, or arrange a deferment of payment, for temporary entry visa class holders. 

    See the MIQ website for more details: https://www.miq.govt.nz/being-in-managed-isolation/charges-for-managed-isolation/

  • What do Kiwis think about international education?

    Our sector’s successful future requires the public and other stakeholders to know about, and value, international education.

    ENZ Director Student Experience & Global Citizens, Sahinde Pala, says the research shows us international education is not front of mind for most New Zealanders.

    “However, when the benefits of international education were explained to the research participants, most were really onboard. They were also surprised they hadn’t heard it being talked about publicly and in the media.”

    Participants responded extremely positively to the fact international students spend in their community, including to help create jobs across many sectors.

    Sahinde says the research showed it is vital that communications broaden the conversation. This means sharing stories about the rich full breadth of other international education benefits New Zealanders care about now including, global citizenship, cultural diversity, tourism, and the fact education is a way to share our innovative ways of thinking, learning and living to benefit the world.

    Great fresh insights into how to communicate with Kiwis

    Sahinde notes this research gives us the first understanding of the ‘profiles’ of New Zealanders regarding international education – promoters, passives and detractors – and how to share communications that will increase public support.

    Encouragingly, half of the NZ population are in the promoter group, with a further 47% in the passive group, and only 3% in the detractor group.

    “The greatest social licence gains can be made through the ‘promoter’ group which makes up half of Kiwis. These people either know about international education or they fit a profile of having experiences or attributes that mean they are interested in New Zealand’s place in the world and cultural connectivity. The really great news is promoters will talk to others about international education if they hear it being discussed, and in a way that is meaningful to them.

    “This is the task for all of us across the international education system,” she says.

    The research also shows that two-thirds of New Zealanders are supportive of students coming into the country in 2021. “This is helpful to understand as we want to ensure those who have stayed and those who come this year receive the manaakitanga Think New promises them,” Sahinde says.

    Putting the research findings to work and next steps

    Using the insights from this research, ENZ is developing a communications toolkit, including ‘right fit’ messaging, for those in the international education system to use in their own public and stakeholder communications. This is scheduled for release in May.

    The toolkit will sit alongside this research, and ENZ’s new regular The Insight Story publication, which provides international education data and insight, as social licence tools to help increase awareness and support for international education.

    ENZ is also increasing its own communications to help increase awareness of what international education is, where it is going under the Recovery Plan and NZIES and ultimately, how it benefits students, New Zealand and our global relationships.

    ENZ will continue research to understand perceptions and support for international education, including to look at ways of getting real time insights into public sentiment and support.

    Read all about it! 

    The report is now on IntelliLab​. 

  • From the Chief Executive

    Read the Minister’s letter.

    This letter summarises the first in-person meeting with the Minister and peak bodies since December last year. At the meeting, the Minister reiterated that the Government is committed to the international education sector, and acknowledged that it has endured many challenges over the past year. The letter also signalled a direction of travel through this period of uncertainty.

    We know that much of the sector’s current uncertainty stems from the question of when New Zealand might open its borders. As the Minister says in his letter, there is likely to be limited re-engagement with countries in which we have high levels of trust and confidence, and those pursuing similar Elimination Strategies to New Zealand through most of 2021.

    The Minister is currently revising the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education. He wants to provide “as much direction and certainty as possible” by drawing up a roadmap for the sector’s rebuild. His office has also proactively released the sector’s feedback on the Strategic Recovery Plan for International Education.

    One thing that remains true is the New Zealand International Education Strategy 2018 (NZIES) continues to be the overarching long-term strategy for New Zealand’s international education. The need for diversification, building a resilient industry and developing global citizenship continues to support the New Zealand Government’s goal for a more inclusive, sustainable and productive future.

    Over the year, many of us have had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. While the short-term outlook around the border remains uncertain, we are committed to ensuring that international students will again be onshore when the time is right.

    At ENZ, we continue to support the NZIES and will incorporate the outcomes of the Government’s Recovery Plan into our plans to ensure that we look to the future to create improvements for the sector.

    International education is based on mutual benefit. It’s good for New Zealand providers, good for New Zealanders and good for our international partners and learners.

    Wherever you are in the world, thank you for your continued commitment to international education and New Zealand. We appreciate all your hard work.

    Ngā mihi,

    Grant McPherson

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao

  • Get involved in upcoming Greater China initiatives

    China Annual Conference for International Education (CACIE)

    The annual CACIE conference will be held as a hybrid in-person/virtual event from 21-23 October in Beijing, directly before the China Education Expo.

    Organised by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), CACIE provides opportunities for international education providers, agents and other professionals to network and explore ideas and issues within the sector. This year’s theme is New Opportunities and Prospects for Building an Open and High-Quality Education System.

    ENZ encourages New Zealand providers to submit proposals. Please visit the CACIE website and consider submitting a proposal.

    Proposals should focus on one of the four forums: Higher Education, Vocational Education, Basic Education, Thematic Education.

    Submissions must include: speaker photo, bio, and abstract (about 200 words). Email your submission to Zhang Zhaotian at zhangzhaotian@ceaie.edu.cn.

    Deadline for submitting proposals is 31 July. Spots are limited.

    China Education Expo (CEE)

    ENZ is currently planning a New Zealand national pavilion at the hybrid event from 23-24 October, which is expecting over 20,000 visitors.

    ENZ will send more information to New Zealand education providers to register to exhibit on the New Zealand national pavilion. 

  • New Pastoral Care Code of Practice for Tertiary and International Learners Released

    Today, the Government released a new Code of practice for the pastoral care of tertiary and international learners, to take effect by 1 January 2022, as required under the Education and Training Act 2020.   

    This revised Code is the product of many conversations, engagements, emails, phone calls, and hui.  We are thankful to everyone that has spent time to help improve the wellbeing and safety of tertiary and international ākonga. 

    The overall purpose of this work is to develop a system of supports for the wellbeing and safety of domestic tertiary and international learners, through one set of clear rules and expectations for providers that can be tailored to their learners’ needs. 

    We have summarised the key changes and provided links to the new code and Ministerial Press release, below  

    What does the new Code mean for tertiary providers?

    Tertiary providers will need to consider how their overall systems and resources support learners’ wellbeing and safety. 

    It will be important for providers to build and maintain strong relationships with learners and other interested stakeholders to identify and define the issues that are important for their communities and develop appropriate strategic goals, plans and practices around them. 

    Providers are expected to:

    • build capacity across their organisation to engage and empower learners to manage their own wellbeing
    • proactively identify and respond to learners who may face additional challenges as early as possible and tailor extra support to meet their needs.
    • respond effectively in an emergency.

    The new Code continues to focus on outcomes and flexible practices that enable providers to support their learners in ways that best meet their needs.

    What does the new Code mean for tertiary and international ākonga?

    The Code will make providers more accountable to learners, their families and community. The new Code expects tertiary providers to consult with learners, and other stakeholders when developing, reviewing, and improving their strategic goals, plans and practices. It also expects providers to be transparent about their wellbeing structures, strategies, practices and performances.

    What’s changed for international ākonga?

    The new Code covers domestic and international tertiary students and international students in schools. The goal is to ensure consistency within tertiary providers rather than having separate Codes for international and domestic learners in the same provider. The new Code continues to spell out the expectations that apply now for providers regarding the specific needs of international learners. There are no changes to requirements for schools, in New Zealand, who host international students.

  • First-ever New Zealand Global Competence Certificate with teachers from across Asia wraps up

    Over five weeks, the group completed 10 virtual sessions and 20 self-directed online modules. They learnt skills crucial to cultural competence, like how to build bridges in multicultural situations and how to break down stereotypes.

    This cohort received very positive feedback from those involved in the course, from learners to facilitators. Tran Nguyen Trinh Nguyen, a teacher from Gia Dinh High School, said:

    “After the course, I am more confident in embracing the differences that other people around me have. I am more eager to challenge myself to become a better listener, a better conflict solver and a more dynamic global citizen.”

    Videos on this cohort’s NZGCC journey and appreciation messages from learners and facilitators can be viewed here.

    This teacher cohort, alongside a recent students’ cohort, has also worked to lift the profile of New Zealand education in the Asia region – particularly in Vietnam. The team has received an overwhelming number of applications for the next NZGCC teachers’ course: 171 applications for the 25 available places.

    “By organising these special NZGCC cohorts, we hope to equip both teachers and students with additional knowledge and skills that supports their daily work and study, and enables them to thrive in what is an increasingly globally connected world,” ENZ Regional Director – Asia, Ben Burrowes, said.

    “We believe that the training programmes will open up more education linkages between all participating schools and when travel resumes, we look forward to seeing more Vietnamese teachers and students in New Zealand for in-person exchange programmes.

    Educators interested in participating in future cohorts can contact marina.wilmerstadt@enz.govt.nz to find out more.

  • New Zealand team connects with European educators

    Representatives from all eight New Zealand universities and Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology joined the European Association for International Education (EAIE) community exchange, run virtually this year from 28 September to 1 October.

    At the New Zealand Pavilion, ENZ’s Europe team led a “What’s new in New Zealand” session on the global and local initiatives ENZ has launched to keep our sector engaged with international stakeholders. Participants showed particular interest in the new Studying Sustainability in Aotearoa New Zealand guide on Study with New Zealand.

    Ahead of the event, ENZ briefed representatives from our tertiary institutions on developments in Europe over the past year and the next steps we are planning.

    Four key education agents from Germany, France, Denmark and the United Kingdom joined a frank panel discussion on the current perceptions of New Zealand in their countries.  The agents from our ENZ Recognised Agency programme (ENZRA) discussed the ways we can work together to make sure our international education sector is ready to go once border restrictions are lifted.

    ENZ’s Europe Team also joined with the European Commission to co-host an online workshop on the European Union’s Erasmus+ education cooperation and exchange programmes. Representatives from New Zealand and Australian higher education institutions were invited.

    The workshop, timed for the start of a new seven-year funding cycle, dealt with the basics of three key Erasmus+ projects – international credit mobility, Erasmus Mundus international study programmes and Jean Monnet Actions on teaching and research. 

    Another workshop, hosted by the European Commission in November 2021, will go into more detail. If you’d like to know more, get in touch with ENZ’s Market Development Manager Europe, Olga Elli at Olga.Elli@enz.govt.nz

  • Border exception: 1,000 more international students

    A further border class exception for 1,000 international students has been approved by the New Zealand Government.

    For details please click on this link: Border class exception for 1,000 international students – Ministry of Education

     

  • International education during the pandemic – what we’ve learned

    Education New Zealand held a webinar in its Kōrerorero: Conversations that Matter series at the Conference of the Americas on International Education – drawing academics and decision-makers from around the world.

    Leading academics from Victoria University of Wellington, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University and Lincoln University explained the New Zealand approach to the challenges of distance learning and the innovations they discovered during the toughest moments.

    Associate Professor Arun Elias, Associate Dean of International and Accreditation at Victoria University’s Wellington School of Business and Government, said while student-to-student interactions had fallen, digital platforms were opening up new ways of doing things.

    “We had two PhD examinations which were completely online. We had one PhD student from Victoria being examined in an oral examination by an examiner in Colombia. Also, I was an examiner for a PhD student in the University of Sao Paulo, so that was something which we usually don't do which was a very unique experience.”

    Dr Elias quoted a famous Māori proverb: “What is the most important thing in the world? It’s the people, it's the people, it's the people.”

    Professor Guy Littlefair, Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Dean of Faculty at Auckland University of Technology, said lockdowns demanded change on many fronts.

    “We've all had to learn how to be much more innovative around how we deliver programmes, but also how we conduct research and particularly how we engage with our partners right across the world.

    “So, coming out of the pandemic I actually think we have more things in common than we've ever done before.”

    Associate Professor Kerry Taylor, Head of School of Humanities, Media and Creative Communication at Massey University, said the difficulties had the potential to deepen relationships.

    “There are a lot of lessons that we can share, but also learn from our partners, in terms of the importance of agreements and things like that.

    “But I think one of the important things we need to make sure (of) is that we don't treat the relationship simply as an economic one. It's got to be about cultural understanding; it's got to be about shared values and sharing values and aspirations to bring people into the conversation.”

    Professor Hugh Bigsby, Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce at Lincoln University, said the pandemic was a chance to find new ways to make human connections.

    “One of the wonderful things about international connections and the importance of it is that you learn other institutions’ cultures.

    People use the same fundamental skills and ideas a little bit differently and by mixing with other people’s understanding – why they're doing what they're doing – it actually helps inform things that you do back home.”

    Watch the full webinar – Kōrerorero: Internationalisation for growing partnerships, a New Zealand perspective.

    Education New Zealand was a platinum sponsor at the Conference of the Americas on International Education (CAEI). This continental forum brings together the main actors and decision-makers on the internationalisation of higher education in the Americas to chart the future of academic cooperation in the region.

  • New Zealand to begin opening up to vaccinated foreign nationals from 30 April 2022

    COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins says New Zealand will be removing the requirement to go into managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) for most travellers in stages, but they will have to self-isolate for seven days, with pre-departure and post-arrival testing.

    Travellers will be able to enter New Zealand without going into MIQ in three steps:

    • Step 1 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from Australia, from 11.59 pm on Sunday 16 January 2022, provided they have been in Australia or New Zealand for the past 14 days.
    • Step 2 – opening to fully vaccinated New Zealand citizens and those residence-class visa holders and other travellers eligible under our current border settings, from all but Very High-Risk countries, from 11.59 pm on Sunday 13 February 2022.

    • Step 3 – opening to fully vaccinated foreign nationals, possibly staged by visa category, from Saturday 30 April 2022 onwards.

    The Very High-Risk classification for Indonesia, Fiji, India, Pakistan and Brazil will be removed in early December 2021 and travellers from these countries will be able to enter New Zealand on the same basis as travellers from most other countries. Papua New Guinea will continue to be classified as Very High-Risk. 

    The three steps are a medium risk pathway. Those who do not meet the requirements for a medium risk pathway, but are still permitted to enter New Zealand under current border settings, will continue to enter MIQ upon arrival under the new regime of seven days in managed isolation, followed by three days of home isolation. This will include those who do not meet vaccination requirements, including unvaccinated New Zealand citizens and those from Very High-Risk countries.

    All travellers not required to go into MIQ will still require:

    • a negative pre-departure test
    • proof of being fully vaccinated
    • a passenger declaration about travel history
    • a day 0/1 test on arrival
    • a requirement to self-isolate for seven days, and
    • a final negative test before entering the community.

    “It’s very encouraging that as a country we are now in a position to move towards greater normality,” Minister Chris Hipkins said.

    “We always said we’d open in a controlled way, and this started with halving the time spent in MIQ to seven days. Retaining a seven-day isolate at home period for fully vaccinated travellers is an important phase in the reconnecting strategy to provide continued safety assurance.

    “These settings will continue to be reviewed against the risk posed by travellers entering New Zealand,” he said.

    “There continues to be a global pandemic with cases surging in Europe and other parts of the world, so we do need to be very careful when reopening the border.”

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao Chief Executive Grant McPherson has welcomed the New Zealand Government’s move towards opening the borders to international students.

    “This news is a great boost for the international education sector. We will keep education providers and international students up to date as we learn more on the detail of how the changes will work,” he said.

    The New Zealand Government will release further details on how self-isolation will be implemented in December 2021. There will be guidance on how people can travel from their arrival airport to their location of self-isolation and requirements for the places where they can self-isolate.

    For more information, read the media release from COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins – Reconnecting New Zealand – the next steps.

    For the latest official New Zealand Government information and advice, go to covid19.govt.nz

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