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• Diversification of International Education sees six innovative projects receive funding

  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) has today announced the recipients of the International Education Product Innovation Fund.

  Just over $1.6 million in funding has been awarded to six organisations, with support ranging from $200,000 to $300,000 for individual projects over the next 12 months.

  The projects that received funding span a wide range of activity. They include a global course for rugby coaches developed in partnership with The Crusaders, an online indigenous eCommerce programme, English language learning based on original, high quality drama content, global enterprise coaching and peer group learning, an evolution of an NZ financial literacy platform for global audiences, and virtual reality online medical training focused on childbirth simulation.

  Initial response to the Product Innovation Fund saw more than 150 organisations express interest. ENZ designed a rigorous process for submitting and assessing applications, working alongside Creative HQ – a specialist innovation agency. The process involved a clear set of criteria that were communicated to all applicants. A shortlist was prepared, and a final assessment was completed by an independent expert panel comprising external innovation and education experts and senior ENZ staff.

  Commenting on the recipients, ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the innovation and scope of the applications had been eye-opening.

  “The quality of the entrants was a clear indication of New Zealand ingenuity, market knowledge and cutting-edge innovation,” said Mr McPherson.

  “The sheer variety of fields and technology being utilised shows how advanced the thinking and capability of New Zealand education providers has become. The potential of each of these projects can now be fully explored, and I am confident the lessons learned can be shared for the benefit of our whole education sector, inspiring others to follow their lead.”

  The Product Innovation Fund was launched by ENZ in April to encourage providers to design and develop new education products and services for international learners. It is part of the broader refreshed international education strategy and is intended to fund programmes that deliver new, meaningful, and unique learning experiences from New Zealand with education products and services that set New Zealand apart from other countries.

  Providers will create new products and services aimed at transforming the way international learning is developed, promoted, and delivered. Funding and support from ENZ will help providers fast-track the exploration and development of new ideas, conduct market research, build prototypes, and advance their global market strategy. Lessons learnt from the programme will assist in developing future education products and services for the benefit of the entire international education sector.

  Details of the successful applicants and their projects can be seen here.

   

  Recipient	Funding Amount
  Banqer	$300,000
  BOMA New Zealand	$300,000
  Chasing Time English	$250,000
  Te Kaihau Education	$200,000
  Te Whare Hukahuka	$255,000
  Virtual Medical Coaching	$300,000

  ENDS

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• Māori cultural experience builds lasting bonds for international students

  Alongside courses in Māori culture, customs and language, some educational providers in New Zealand have offered an immersive noho marae (marae stay) experience. For students a long way from home, the warmth of the welcome and the sharing of knowledge, traditions, and food, gives them a lasting sense of belonging to Aotearoa.  

  One of the first educators to recognise the importance of sharing Māori culture with international students is Taituwha King, Senior Lecturer in Māori and Indigenous Development at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). For almost 20 years he has been running noho marae at the beginning of each semester to give international students a comprehensive cultural introduction to their study experience.

  Such was the success of noho marae that King developed a course around it, called International Noho Marae – Indigenous Encounters of a Māori Kind, in 2010. It covers basic Te Reo Māori, Māori history, waiata (songs), and cultural customs, and is capped off with a weekend marae stay. It quickly became the second most popular class for international students at AUT, after another of King’s classes – Te Ara Pou Leadership. More than 1500 students have enrolled in the courses since 2002.    

  “The courses put indigenous goggles on students and open them up to areas of discussion with their own indigenous people,” King says.

  Immersing in Māori culture is life changing

  This is certainly true for Native American student Hailey Suina, from the Pueblo of Cochiti and Navajo Nation. She travelled to New Zealand on the Education New Zealand Go Overseas scholarship, already curious to explore the cultural connections between the Māori people and the indigenous people of North America.

  

  She describes the time she spent immersed in Māori culture as “life-changing,” and returned home determined to use her experiences to become a leader in her community. 

  Hailey says she was amazed by the similarities between the Cochiti Pueblo and Māori peoples, which include a collectivist rather than an individualistic culture, a sense of guardianship for nature, and strong ties with ancestors. 

  “From the moment I arrived, I felt a deep connection with the Māori culture. It was like stepping from one home to another.”

  So strong was the concept of whānau and whakawhanaungatanga (kinship connections) for a number of King’s students, that they developed Whānau Councils as a way of staying connected and building on the bonds of their shared New Zealand experience once they returned home. With the first one established in 2010, there are now three - two in the US and one in Europe.

  Pre-Covid, students in Europe would meet up annually. King and other AUT staff committed to joining them, cementing the enduring relationship and ongoing commitment of AUT to its alumni.

  “Events like noho marae and the Whānau Council meet-ups also provide an opportunity for prospective international students to learn about and consider AUT as a destination to study abroad and build relationships with key employers linked to our alumni,” says King.

  Europe council co-founder Anne Heimbeig says being part of the Whānau Council is “a very emotional thing”.

  “I’ve met great people from different countries. Together, we’ve overcome lots of stereotypes and wrong assumptions, and brought Māori culture out into the world.”

  There was a sense of home, belonging, warmth, and love on the marae, says East Coast USA council co-founder Jessica Cohen.

  “Being in the Whānau Council allows us to keep that spirit alive and remember the value of our whānau even when we are far away from our beloved Aotearoa.”

• Japan and New Zealand celebrate long education partnership

  To acknowledge the 25th anniversary of the first school visits by four Japanese schools, ENZ partnered with Air New Zealand and Tourism New Zealand to host a reception in January, thanking the schools for their continued support of New Zealand. The event received positive media interest in Japan and resulted in almost 30 articles.

  The event was opened by a powerful kapa haka performance by local group Nga Hau E Wha to showcase Māori language and culture.

  

  Nga Hau E Wha performing a kapa haka

  Misa Pitt, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager – Japan, said Māori language and culture has been a popular subject for school trips to New Zealand.The event was opened by a powerful kapa haka performance by local group Nga Hau E Wha to showcase Māori language and culture.

  “I learned that Yokohama Senior High School has its own kapa haka group,” she said.

  After the performance, Misa officially welcomed the guests before Stephen Payton, New Zealand Ambassador to Japan, and awarded the school representatives a certificate of appreciation, signed by ENZ CE Grant McPherson. They also received plaques and airline tickets from Clovis Peryer, General Manager of Air New Zealand Japan.

  Both Ambassador Payton and Clovis emphasised that New Zealand is a safe and welcoming environment for international students, with Misa adding that support starts from a government level.

  “I explained our code of practice for the care of international students, assuring them that New Zealand has a robust support system for the well-being of students,” said Misa.

  Ambassador Payton also noted that both the upcoming Rugby World Cup and 2020 Tokyo Olympics are opportunities to further promote an education exchange between the two countries.

  “We look forward to continue working closely with the awarded schools to promote New Zealand as a study destination,” said Misa.

  

  Ambassador Payton awarding representatives of the Japanese schools.

  The Japanese schools awarded were:

  Osaka Kunei Senior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 3,800 students on an academic study programme

  Tama University Hijirigaoka High school and Junior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 2,770 students on an academic study programme

  Urawa Reimei Senior High School – 20th anniversary
  Have sent 5,000 students on a school excursion

  Yokohama Senior High School – 25th anniversary
  Have sent 690 students on an academic study programme

• Student visa approval rates for 2016 and Rule 18

  The student visa approval rates are used to determine what evidence of English language ability an education provider can accept when enrolling a first-time international student. Students from a country with a student visa approval rate of less than 80 per cent have fewer options for evidencing their English language ability.

  The 2016 approval rates show that some countries’ rates have shifted. Where a country has changed to above or below 80 per cent, the evidence of English language ability that an education provider can accept will change from 24 February 2017 (one month after the approval rates were published by Immigration New Zealand). Education providers have until this date to adjust their enrolment policies. This requirement is set out in Rule 18 of the New Zealand Qualification Authority’s New Zealand Qualifications Framework Programme Approval and Accreditation Rules.

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• Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia help students from New Zealand and India to showcase a unique cross-cultural collaboration

  The students travelled to India and for five weeks, worked with local students from Indian fashion powerhouse Pearl Academy and artisans from Kala Raksha, an NGO in Kutch, Western India. Collectively they produced a collection of garments, which reflected a philosophy from the past to everyday life. The work helped students and artisans to develop an understanding of different cultural values and ability to think creatively and collaboratively. 

   “We are thrilled to have 15 Prime Minister’s Scholarship recipients from Whitecliffe College visit India and take this opportunity to collaborate with Pearl Academy students in fashion and sustainability.” said David Pine, New Zealand High Commissioner to India. 

  “New Zealand and India hold strong education ties and the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia symbolises the New Zealand government’s commitment to further strengthen bilateral ties between both countries.” 

   Administered by Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao, the Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia is a unique scholarship programme that enables the rich exchange of language, culture, skills and opportunities. It not only highlights New Zealand government’s commitment to help grow strong connections between young New Zealanders and Indians but fosters global citizens by inspiring students to take action on pressing issues affecting the world.  

   Since 2013, the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia and Latin America have enabled more than 2,400 New Zealanders to broaden their horizons through life-changing learning experiences in Asia and Latin America. Applications are open until 23 April for the 2023 group scholarship round. To find out more about the Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America, visit our website here. 

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