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• Asia comes to Marsden School

  With funding from the Asia New Zealand Foundation, Marsden Head of Humanities, Fiona Crawford, organised a full day of activities for students, with the aim to increase their cultural awareness and educate them on a region with increasing ties to New Zealand.

  "We want our students to thrive and contribute towards putting New Zealand on the map, so it is our responsibility to equip them for their future relationships with Asia," Crawford said.

  

  Marsden students dressed up for Experience Asia Day.

  The day included a range of activities and sessions that represented 11 Asian countries, starting off with a Tai Chi session in the gym, and ending with an inter-house KPop (Korean Pop) dance competition. In between, students broke into groups to take part in Judo, Kung Fu and Bollywood dance classes, sushi, dumpling and curry making, language learning and haiku writing, as well as origami, henna painting, sari dressing, lantern making, calligraphy, kite making – and much more.

  “The students really enjoyed themselves, but also gained valuable insights into the many Asian cultures on show. Many commented on how fun it was, and hope to do it again next year,” Crawford said.

  Amanda Cundy, a former Marsden student who went on the school’s first exchange to China back in 2010, stopped by Asia Day to share her experience with students. She spoke about the impact that Chinese studies had on her life, and the importance of understanding other cultures in an increasingly globalised world.

  

  Marsden students tried their hand at sushi making, Diwali art and calligraphy.

   

• International students are work-ready for the summer

  The seminar was hosted by Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and the Central Economic Development Agency (CEDA), and targeted international students who have completed, or are studying towards, a Level 7 qualification and above. 

  Most of the attendees were Massey University PhD and Masters students from a range of fields, as well as UCOL students of graphic design, cookery, operations and project management, ICT, furniture design and science. 

  Judy Bennett-Smith, CEDA International Education Development Manager said the free seminar was the first in a series to be held locally, with the next one aiming to connect potential employers with skilled international tertiary students. 

  The seminar covered study-to-work visa pathway information and advice, tips on how to navigate the job market, how to present oneself to employers, information about New Zealand employment rights and even invited a former international student to share their experience.

  Philip Hastings, Relationship Manager at MBIE said the seminar was a great opportunity for students to talk directly with INZ representative about their work options.

  “With the increase in international tertiary students in New Zealand, it is important they have an understanding of the pathways to meeting post-study work visa and residency requirements,” Mr Hastings said.

  “Together with CEDA we aim to facilitate a series of study-to-work seminars in the Central North Island that are aligned with regional work shortages.”

• Work begins on plan to grow offshore delivery

  Education New Zealand is developing an international delivery plan to provide a clear and comprehensive rationale for New Zealand's involvement in the international delivery of education and training. Its findings will be integrated with the International Education Strategy, currently underway. 

  ENZ Industry Development Manager Adele Bryant said the plan will be comprehensive. 

  “It will identify and prioritise opportunities, approaches and models that will be competitive and build the best long-term value proposition for New Zealand,” Bryant said. 

  The Observatory on Borderless Higher Education (OBHE), in partnership with the International Graduate Insight Group (i-graduate) have been selected by ENZ to develop the plan. 

  OBHE is a higher education think tank with a unique remit focussed on ‘borderless’ education.  Richard Garrett, Director of OBHE will lead a team of 8-9 based in the USA, UK, Malaysia, Australia and New Zealand. Some of the team members will be well-known to the New Zealand education sector including Stephen Connelly, Director of GlobalEd Services in Australia and Kyla Steenhart, Director of i-Graduate in New Zealand.

  The views of interested education providers will be sought over the next three months. The plan is due to be published in May 2017.

• Massey University promotes ‘borderless' online education

  At the launch, Massey Assistant Vice-Chancellor Operations, International and University Registrar, Stuart Morriss spoke of the growing demand for online education and how Massey is well-placed to take advantage of this. 

  “Many universities provide online programmes to international students, but with Massey’s long history of distance and online learning, we have a strong competitive advantage.” 

  Massey University’s online education currently offers 45 degrees with 115 programmes. With no contact course requirements, students can complete these studies from anywhere in the world. 

  Massey University Worldwide General Manager Rob Stevens said this is a solid foundation, but there is room to grow. 

  “We already have a sizable offshore student body – some 9,000 overseas-based students use our distance programmes, and this number has been reached only through word of mouth! We now want to step things up a notch using a range of offshore promotions,” Stevens said. 

  Over the last few months, Massey has undertaken some preliminary online digital promotions as part of a ‘soft-launch’. In key markets, Massey’s website traffic has increased such as Malaysia (up 184%) and Singapore (up 70%). 

  ENZ’s Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager – Malaysia, Jane Goh attended the Singapore launch, and said Massey’s announcement reflects a wider shift in international education to go online. 

  “Not all international students are able to go abroad, for a variety of circumstances. Because of this, education providers are starting to ensure that students can study online, allowing them to enjoy the high-quality New Zealand education experience from anywhere in the world,” Goh said.

  

  Attendees at the Massey University launch at the New Zealand High Commissioner's residence in Singapore

• ENZ builds agricultural links in Brazil

  The agencies were the Confederation of Agriculture and Livestock in Brazil (CNA, the Brazilian equivalent of Federated Farmers of New Zealand) and the National Service for Rural Learning (SENAR). Similar to New Zealand institutions, both agencies see innovation and technology as a key part of higher education, and value practical learning.

  The CNA Technical University is focussed entirely on the agriculture sector, and has the highest evaluations from the Ministry of Education. It is now looking to partner with New Zealand education providers to internationalise their programmes. Distance learning also plays an important role at CNA.

  SENAR operates in a slightly different way. Without physical classrooms, SENAR technicians take training and knowledge offsite to farms throughout Brazil, studying problems with clients directly and offering solutions and support. Technicians work with each client for two years, with the goal to make them independent of SENAR’s support. Courses can be from the most basic level such as hygiene, to management issues such as how to manage water and soil resources.

  ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Brazil, Ana Azevedo, says New Zealand’s reputation in the agricultural sector, combined with the practical approach of New Zealand institutions, means providers such as these are eager to build partnerships with us.

  “Because CNA only offers agricultural studies, they are looking to partner with institutions who share their focus. This is where New Zealand has an advantage, as our reputation as leaders in the agricultural industry, combined with our practical hands-on education system makes New Zealand a very attractive study destination for young Brazilians in this field.”

  Following the meeting, CNA has offered to contact ENZ with partnership ideas to present to New Zealand institutions. We will aim to build on these discussions in the coming months for tangible results.

  

  Photo by Tony Oliveira/Trilux

• ENZ promotes education in Thailand

  The counsellors were broken into small groups and rotated between roundtable discussions with Education New Zealand, the US Embassy, British Council, and OCSC.

  ENZ’s Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager – Thailand, Chortip Pramoolpol, said this intimate road show format was helpful in sharing key information with the market without overwhelming them.

  “It was a great way for school counsellors and students to gain insights into New Zealand’s education system and learn the many benefits of studying there.

  “It also means information about New Zealand will be distributed into schools and to students who otherwise wouldn’t have New Zealand on their study abroad radar.”

  

  ENZ and RMUT representatives

  The following day, ENZ met with the chairman and presidents of Rajamangala University of Technology (RMUT), a system of nine universities in Thailand. With RMUT’s link to industry and practical teaching styles, it is most similar to New Zealand ITPs.

  ENZ’s South, Southeast Asia and Middle East Regional Director, John Laxon gave a crash course on the New Zealand ITP system, welcoming the possibility of future collaborations with RMUT in English language training, double-degree programmes and student exchanges.

  To build on this knowledge, ENZ’s Thailand team have begun planning an education road show for all nine RMUT universities starting December.

• New Zealand is safe and open for business

  New Zealand’s international education industry is open for business as usual, says John Goulter, ENZ General Manager Stakeholders and Communications.

  “New Zealand remains a safe and welcoming place for international students to live, study and travel around,” he emphasised.

  “While last Monday’s 7.8 magnitude earthquake gained global media attention, within a day of the quake, daily life in almost all parts of New Zealand had returned to normal.

  “All of New Zealand’s gateway cities of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown were open and all regional airports were operating – meaning people could continue to fly between destinations.

  “New Zealand is remarkably resilient to these kinds of events.”

  He emphasised that the earthquake was not centred near areas of high population density and its damage was not widespread.

  “Two-thirds of international students are in Auckland which was unaffected.

  “Similarly, Christchurch has been largely unaffected and the city is functioning as normal.”

  ENZ had received no reports of any injuries to staff or students at schools, private providers or universities.

  The earthquake had a big impact on Kaikoura, a small settlement several hours’ drive north of Christchurch in the South Island, and recovery work there would be ongoing for some time.

  There had also been aftershocks, which were expected.

  In Wellington, a small number of buildings in the central business district had sustained some structural damage, and these were being managed with minimal impact to normal business and daily life in the city.

  Mr Goulter said that Education New Zealand had been working closely with its international offices to share updates on the earthquake to keep our key markets informed, and to monitor media coverage and perceptions of the quakes.

  “We would like to reassure international agents, media, parents and potential students that New Zealand continues to be a safe, high-quality educational destination.”

  He suggested that international students due to travel to New Zealand to make direct contact with their education provider for further information, or to monitor the Ministry of Education's website for updates.

  Mr Goulter said he was confident that the recent earthquake activity would have minimal if any long term impact on New Zealand’s international student market.

• New Zealand’s expertise shapes Guangdong’s new framework

  As China does not currently have a National Qualifications Framework, the delegation’s first task was to research and make recommendations on the development and implementation of a model for the Guangdong province.

  The delegation included six experts from the Open University of Guangdong, which has contracted by the Provincial Government to undertake the project. Vice President Li Jian, head of the delegation, described their work as “pioneering” within the Chinese system.

  ENZ’s International Market Manager (China, Korea, Japan) Tania Woodcock says the visit provided a great opportunity to showcase New Zealand’s education system, as well as the people behind it.

  “While the delegation gained insights into our qualification framework, they also went away with a broader understanding of how our organisations in the education sector work together.”

  The two-day visit was hosted by ENZ in close partnership with NZQA, Weltec, Universities New Zealand, the Academic Quality Agency and Victoria University of Wellington. 

  

  Vice President Li Jian with Emeritus Prof. Sheelagh Matear (Director, Academic Quality Agency for UNZ) and Wendy Robinson (Academic Programmes Manager, UNZ)

  The programme focused on the design and administration of the National Qualifications Framework, discussing it from each host organisation’s perspective.

  Tania says the delegation found the visit invaluable in shaping its thinking, and will shortly submit its report to the Provincial Government.

  “The success of the visit couldn’t have been achieved without the warm hospitality of all those involved, especially in light of the recent earthquakes which provided a few logistical challenges.

  “Thankfully, both the hosts and the delegation had a good sense of humour about it, and at one point agreed to continue meetings under the table in the event of another quake!”

  An additional objective for the delegation was to build relationships with government officials and providers, making this visit an important first step in that process. 

  The ENZ China team will be following up with the Guangdong team in China on engaging further on this project.

  

  At Weltec, Petone Campus. Vice President Li Jian is fifth from right, flanked by Weltec staff, Moira Hagenson on the left (Director, International) and Graham Carson on right (Head of School of Engineering Technology). To Graham’s right is Mr Brian Cao (Senior Market Manager, Weltec).

• Iran trade visit seals breakthrough deal for New Zealand universities

  The visit secured several major education outcomes, including a ministerial announcement that the University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington and Massey University would be reclassified as ‘excellent’ by the Iranian Ministry of Science, Research and Technology. These universities will join the University of Auckland and University of Otago, who have already been given the top ranking. These classifications play a significant role in guiding Iranian students in choosing where to study abroad. All of New Zealand’s universities are now classified in the top two categories. 

  

  Above: signing the Education Cooperation Agreement

  A higher education co-operation agreement was also signed between Ministers, which provides a platform for increased academic and research co-operation between the two countries.

  ENZ arranged several university recruitment events as part of the visit programme. Some 80 per cent of Iranian students in New Zealand are studying at PhD level. ENZ Chair Charles Finny, who led the education delegates on the visit, said this is a key area to build on.

  “These initiatives will significantly boost our universities’ recruitment of Iranian students, particularly at the PhD level,” said Mr Finny.

  “I look forward to New Zealand universities making the most of this opportunity in the coming years, and commend the University of Auckland, University of Canterbury and Auckland University of Technology for participating in this ground-breaking visit.”

• Impact of demonetisation on Indian student recruitment

  The government has implemented a deadline of 30 December for people to exchange the old currency notes at banks.

  In the student recruitment market, key impacts have already been felt:

  • There are maximum daily limits for banks to exchange money, which is creating delays in student loan processing for international students, and in Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) ability to verify financial documents and process visas.
  • Study abroad has become more expensive but conversely, New Zealand has become relatively more cost effective as the Indian rupee has dropped more against the Euro and USD than the NZD and AUD.

  Longer term, the supply of ‘grey money’ to finance significant purchases will be reduced, including for education. This may impact study abroad numbers. However, student loan costs may fall as a reduction in overall money supply (some grey money will not be exchanged) will reduce loan interest rates and inflation. It’s too soon to tell the significance of these impacts, but it’s more likely that rural and agricultural cash-based regions such as the Punjab will be affected.

  ENZ’s Regional Director South, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, John Laxon, said the repercussions of this change are still playing out.

  “The changes are likely to result in some delays in Indian student applications over the next few months for all countries, while any significant longer-term impacts are still to be worked through,” said Mr Laxon.

  “We have provided an update to education agents to keep them informed of New Zealand’s student visa approach. We will monitor visa numbers with INZ and keep education providers updated,” added Laxon.