9 December 2019 at 9:00 am

From the CE: A uniquely Kiwi education

Grant McPherson4

Tēnā koutou katoa –

I’m extremely proud to have introduced ENZ’s Māori name this yearManapou ki te Ao. It truly sums up our work and values: Manapou means supporting and sustaining life, enabling growth and progression, while ki te Ao means to the world. That’s our role in a nutshell  enabling all students to gain the skills and knowledge to grow and contribute to the world.  

And that’s been our focus this year. Together with the sector and other government agencies, we’re working towards the goals of the International Education Strategy  to ensure studentwho come to New Zealand have a high-quality, uniquely Kiwi educationand that they feel welcome and flourish.  

Here’s a roundup of some of our latest work to help achieve this:   

We’ve been developing tools to support students while they’re studying hereOur new student-focused website NauMai NZ embodies manaakitanga. It offers practical and trusted information for students new to New Zealand, on everything from bank accounts to water safety to mental health. And it decodes the mysteries of Kiwi slang! To date more than 20,000 students have visited the site. 

We’ve been promoting a New Zealand education through our new brand messageAm New, which encourages students to think independently and to ask questions. Ask New Anything, our new marketing campaign, reinforces that. It’s where prospective students can ask real students real questions about what it’s like to study here, and receive an authentic, unscripted answer. Take a look at the videos on YouTube. New Zealand’s education providers and ENZ Recognised Agents are very welcome to use these resources in their own marketing. 

Our new joint work programme with Immigration New Zealand is helping to increase numbers of decision-ready applications from students coming into the immigration system. This will help improve processing times, reduce pressure on the system and attract genuine students.  

In addition, we’re working with stakeholders from across government, the sector and providers to ensure international education is fully considered in the vocational education reformsWe’re also working with the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (NZIST) to develop a strong global marketing platform to promote New Zealand as a destination for quality vocational education.In the interim we’re working closely with ITPs to support the message to students and agents that its “business as usual” for international students. 

Finally, we often talk about the benefits of international education in terms of economic, social and cultural benefits for New Zealand and New Zealanders. But for me, international education is much more than that – it’s personal 

That’s because Ive been an international student and because, together with my family, we have been privileged to host several college-aged international students from Japan and to become their New Zealand familyLikewise, many of my colleagues here at ENZ have been international students or hosted students or had family members studying abroadSo, we understand first-hand manaakitangathe richness that cultural diversity brings, and the strong and enduring bonds that are formed.  

At the end of the day, international education is about nourishing and enriching the young manuhiri in our care as they live and study among us, far from home. 

So in closing, I wish you and your extended families the compliments of the season and a happy New Year. I’m looking forward to working with you next year to provide a uniquely New Zealand education and experience to those choosing to study hereand to ensure more young New Zealanders take up the opportunities to study abroad. 

What's in it for me?