24 March 2026 at 4:40 pm
First Study with New Zealand Roadshow boosts New Zealand education’s presence in Sri Lanka
ENZ has lifted New Zealand’s international education profile in Sri Lanka with its first ever Study with New Zealand Roadshow
Held from 5-8 March across Colombo and Kandy, the roadshow marked a significant milestone for New Zealand’s engagement in Sri Lanka, now among New Zealand’s top five source countries for international students. The programme built on more than 70 years of people-to-people connections and responded to growing demand for high quality, globally recognised education pathways.
The four-day programme brought together 19 New Zealand education providers, including seven universities, seven institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), and five private training establishments (PTEs) for activities such as high school counsellor briefings, partner and education agent meetings, and large-scale student fairs.
Nineteen New Zealand education providers who participated in the first Study with New Zealand roadshow in Sri Lanka with the New Zealand High Commission and Education New Zealand team in Colombo.
The activities established direct connections between education providers, prospective students, families and key education influencers in Colombo and Kandy.
Delivered in collaboration with Thames International and supported by the New Zealand High Commission, the roadshow showcased a coordinated, whole of New Zealand approach to market engagement.
New Zealand High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Maldives, David Pine, highlighted the depth of the bilateral relationship and New Zealand’s long-term commitment to education cooperation.
The programme delivered tangible outcomes, including the announcement of a new articulation agreement between the University of Otago and Sri Lanka Technology Campus, supporting clearer study pathways and enhanced visibility of New Zealand qualifications within Sri Lanka’s higher education ecosystem.
To maximise national reach, ENZ supported the roadshow with an integrated, multichannel promotional campaign. The New Zealand Taught Me social media campaign achieved strong engagement, reaching over 908,000 users and directing more than 22,000 people to roadshow information.
This was complemented by long-term billboard campaign in Colombo, LED displays in both cities, a 45-day radio campaign on a local radio station, Gold FM, and extensive earned media coverage across television and print media.
ENZ’s Regional Director – Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes said the roadshow played a critical role in raising awareness of New Zealand as a study destination.
“Sri Lanka is a strategically important market for New Zealand,” Ben said.
“This roadshow significantly lifted the visibility of New Zealand’s education offering and demonstrated our long-term commitment to engaging directly with students, families and partners.”
ENZ’s Market Manager – Sri Lanka, Monika Chaudhary, said the roadshow was an important step in responding directly to growing student demand.
“By bringing New Zealand education providers together in Colombo and Kandy, we enabled students and families to engage directly with institutions and gain a clearer understanding of the quality, range and long-term value of studying in New Zealand,” Monika said.
The success of the inaugural roadshow has positioned New Zealand strongly in the market, supporting future student mobility, deeper institutional engagement and sustained visibility for New Zealand education in Sri Lanka.
