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Teaching English in Korea
The temperature drop of over 30 degrees, didn’t deter Christine Black, teacher from James Hargest School in Invercargill from enjoying a unique opportunity to teach a week-long English programme sponsored by the South Korean government.
Black and two other teachers from New Zealand, Elizabeth Henry from Kowhai Intermediate School, in Auckland and Patsy Richardson, from Te Puke School, in the Bay of Plenty were selected to teach the English programme in South Korea.
The teachers were selected through an application process facilitated by ENZ to teach 15 students from throughout South Korea about New Zealand culture and history at the JEI education centre in Cheonan from 19-23 December 2022.
Through the English Language programme funded by the Korean government, New Zealand teachers were invited to Korea to support Korean school students from rural agricultural backgrounds to extend their conversational and speaking skills. The students also engaged in hands-on classroom activities that included mini science experiments.
The one-off 2022 Korea-New Zealand English Language Training Program was sponsored by EPIS, an agency tasked by the Korean government to support English language training for Korean students and facilitated by Korea FAO Association.

Teacher Christine Black leads the students in an experiment making slime. Photo credit: Korea FAO Association

Yoon Cho, Senior Manager of Korea FAO Association, said it was an experience the students will never forget.
“Well before the teachers arrived, they could feel their passion and enthusiasm for meeting students from rural areas in Korea. I would like to thank the New Zealand teachers who took time to visit Korea at the end of December, especially Christmas week, and made meaningful memories for middle and high school students in Korean rural areas,” Cho said.
School teacher Christine Black was excited for how her first visit to South Korea broadened her understanding of Korean culture.
“It was exciting to travel there to broaden my understanding of this culture as my high school has international students from South Korea. This definitely was a win-win situation to be able to travel somewhere new to me and also share our New Zealand culture.”
As part of the programme, each teacher was responsible for a couple of aspects of New Zealand. Black was responsible for sharing the life of a New Zealand high school student and introduce the different regions of New Zealand and their unique characteristics.
For Patsy Richardson, a teacher at Te Puke School, it was her first time in South Korea, and she introduced waiata to her homeroom group.
“I chose to teach the waiata ‘Tutira mai ngā iwi,’ with actions. We had three 30-minute slots in which to learn it and they had it perfected. Now whether that is because they are willing and diligent students, or I am such a fantastic teacher, is to be debated. The students also performed the waiata at the closing ceremony [for the programme] and it was a great display of cross-cultural connections,” Richardson said.
Despite the short time spent together, it was a great opportunity for the students and teachers to build relationships and cultural understanding between the two countries. The students in Korea were enthusiastic about speaking in English and enjoyed learning some Kiwi slang.
An intermediate school student, Kyungdon Joo, said he studied English and made new friends during the training which gave him a new perspective. “Now I have another goal: To go to New Zealand and learn more about New Zealand.”
For Elizabeth Henry, a teacher from the Auckland region, the English teaching programme was more than the opportunity to enhance language skills. Henry recognised the importance of being a cultural ambassador as she was one of the first New Zealanders the students had ever met.
“I was prepared to bring my best teaching practice to this opportunity prior to the trip not realising that once in Korea, the picture of my purpose there was so much bigger than I had anticipated. Not only did I bring my very best teaching practice to all the students I taught, my mindset changed, thinking one day these children will share this experience with their family and friends.”
Final reflections
Black reflected on the opportunity it provided for the New Zealand teachers as well as students.
“I think it is really important for teachers to grab opportunities like this, especially as there is more and more diversity in our classrooms, and it is important to get first-hand experience of other cultures.”
Henry summed up the English language teaching experience well. She hopes that whenever the students think of New Zealand “a happy memory pops into their mind from this experience.”

Students present their destination marketing posters Photo credit: Patsy Richardson

Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao would like to thank North Asia CAPE and regional education bodies for sharing the opportunity with contacts. This was a one-off overseas short-term teaching programme organised by the South Korean government. ENZ will continue to share these opportunities as they arise with education cooperation partners through the CAPE and regional education channels.
Education delegation to Asia
One of the real highlights of the trip for the Minister was meeting New Zealand alumni, compelling ambassadors for a New Zealand education. Vikra Ijas is a former University of Auckland student and co-founder of Kitabisa, a crowd-funding platform in Indonesia. His story of schooling and tertiary study in New Zealand leading to the establishment of his fundraising platform for social good in Indonesia was truly inspiring.
South Korea
The programme in South Korea included the Minister’s speech to the Korean International Education and Career Fair. This is the largest international education fair in South Korea, with an estimated 25,000 attendees. More than 40 New Zealand providers were present, many exhibiting on the Education New Zealand country pavilion.

The Minister also witnessed the signing of the Education New Zealand-Incheon Education Cooperation Arrangement (ECA). The formal partnership, based on the ECA, has been designed to establish and strengthen communication ties between ENZ and the Incheon East Asia Global Education Institute, to identify creative areas of potential collaboration and to open up more learning possibilities for our institutions and students.
Minister Hipkins also attended an event with New Zealand education agents, alumni and institutions to celebrate the 60th diplomatic anniversary between South Korea and New Zealand.

One of the highlights of the Minister’s visit to South Korea was on 24 October 2022, when the education delegation visited Kyodong Elementary School, the oldest school in South Korea (established in 1894). The delegation toured the school and interacted with the students who are participating with Raumati Beach School in the New Zealand - Korea digital cultural exchange programme supported by Education New Zealand and facilitated by Learn English Live.
Indonesia
The programme in Indonesia included bilateral meetings with the Secretary General of the Ministry of Education and Culture, the Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, the Minister for National Development Planning and the ASEAN Secretary-General. The Minister also met with the President Director of Lembaga Pengelola Dana Pendidikan (LPDP), the key Indonesian government scholarship agency, to discuss opportunities to promote New Zealand as a destination for the awardees while further expanding the number of New Zealand institutions eligible to receive the scholarship students.
As well as the visit to Kitabisa, the Minister also had the opportunity to meet a group of Kiwi students interning at WIR Group (Metaverse) in Jakarta under the Prime Ministers Scholarship for Asia. The students were thriving on the unique opportunity and wringing every bit of experience from their internship at WIR. He also launched KIWI Challenge 2022, the annual entrepreneurship competition for Indonesian high school students organised by Education New Zealand.
As with South Korea there was a reception in Jakarta with agents, alumni, PMSA students and key stakeholders.

Singapore Visit   
The focus of the Singapore leg of the visit was signing the refreshed Education Cooperation Arrangement with the Minister of Education from Singapore. The arrangement, first signed in 2018, confirms New Zealand’s commitment to engaging with Singapore on education cooperation initiatives in key policy areas including early childhood education, digital classrooms/blended learning, vocational and lifelong learning, sports and physical education, STEM uptake, and the development of mental health support programmes for the sector.
The Minister also made several institutional visits. The first was to the Institute of Technical Education Central College to understand where Institutes of Technical Education fit within Singapore’s education ecosystem; and the second was the Public Service Sector and Civil Service College. The purpose of this visit was to understand the role that the Civil Service plays in designing, developing and delivering programmes for the Public Service.
The final visit of the trip was to the Centre for Strategic Focus. The Centre is part of the Strategy Group in the Prime Minister’s Office which was set up to focus on whole of government strategic planning and prioritisation. 
“The messages around the strong commitment of the New Zealand government to international education were very well received by our partners,” says ENZ Regional Director Ben Burrowes. “Whether via student mobility, international education partnerships or systems level dialogue, it’s exciting to see the interest generated through New Zealand stepping up its international engagement once again.”
Hands-on environmental studies for US students
EcoQuest Education Foundation is a charitable trust and PTE based in Whakatīwai, with strong connections to Ngāti Paoa and Ngāti Whanaunga.
“We had a wonderful day on the Wharekawa Coast,” says Ria Brejaart, EcoQuest’s Academic Director.
“Led by mana whenua, our students welcomed special guests US Consul General Sarah Nelson, Director of USA Study Abroad Heidi Manley, and Senior Education Advisor US Consulate General, Katie Sleeman. EcoQuest’s Board of Trustees and academic associates also attended the event, along with other key supporters.

EcoQuest team and manuhiri at the bird hide.

“It was a great way to celebrate both the return of our US students after a long Covid-19 hiatus, and our enduring relationships with our collaborators and supporters. It felt particularly apt to be on the shores of Tikapa Moana, where the kuaka (bar-tailed godwits) return each year from Alaska.
“The morning of observing birds on the shell-banks was followed by a visit to Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, for a talk by Keith Woodley, Centre Manager. We then returned to EcoQuest where we marked the occasion by presenting Tū Ngātahi pins to all our students, on behalf of Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao.”

A presentation from Keith Woodley (Pūkorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre Manager). Front row left, Beth Coleman (EcoQuest Board Chair) and Sarah Nelson (US Consul General).

Beth Coleman (EcoQuest Board Chair) and Jono Clark (Director) presented Tū Ngātahi pins to the students.

The eighteen students are from the University of New Hampshire (UNH), Cornell University, University of Michigan, and Colorado State University. They are participating in a fifteen-week residential semester programme with EcoQuest, which offers undergraduate programmes in partnership with UNH. Students gain credits for their undergraduate degrees back home.
“Within the international education sector, EcoQuest contributes high-quality, niche programmes,” says Alana Pellow, Business Development Manager at ENZ.
“These international student programmes align well with New Zealand’s areas of excellence in ecology, restoration ecology, environmental policy, and sustainability. EcoQuest students undertake real-time research for many different collaborators including iwi, NGOs and trusts, councils, private land owners and the Department of Conservation. Academic and scientific rigour are the basis for these unique hands-on learning opportunities.”
“EcoQuest also contributes to international thinking around indigenous approaches to sustainability, through inclusion of elements of Te Ao Māori and mātauranga in its education and research activities.”
The current students are part of Cohort 4, the final cohort of international students to be given entry to New Zealand through a border exception earlier this year. Cohort 4, which was jointly led by ENZ and the Ministry of Education, saw 5,000 international students from 109 different countries nominated for student visas, before New Zealand’s borders fully reopened in August.
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UC Event International Welcome Day 20
Special offer on ICEF Academy NZ Education Agent Course

ICEF Academy, the professional training arm of ICEF, has launched a new online course that is designed to equip education agents with the resources they need to provide the highest quality of guidance to students wishing to study in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The New Zealand Education Agent Course (NZEAC) has been developed in collaboration with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) and adds to the ICEF Academy’s portfolio of destination training.

ICEF is now offering a promotional rate for readers of E-News. Education agents can use the code NZEAC30 during checkout to purchase the exam with a 30% discount. This offer is available until 31 December 2024.

Since its 27 June launch date, the course is already proving popular. As of 14 August, 618 education agents have enrolled in the course, 532 have started, 127 have completed the course, and 16 have graduated.

Commenting on the course’s uptake, Sahinde Pala, General Manager Sector Services at ENZ said it was encouraging to see that the course was proving popular amongst education agents.

About the course itself, she said “The course offers comprehensive insights for education agents to help them advise students on study in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will help them become better informed about the country’s policies, culture and education system so that their advice to students is current, accurate and helpful.”

In undertaking this course, education agents will have the opportunity to study modules which will encompass New Zealand’s culture and history, education system, work policies and legislation, as well as effective student recruitment and support. The course is self-paced and free, however those seeking to highlight their knowledge as a destination New Zealand specialist have the option to undertake a paid certification exam, for which the 30% discount applies.

Education Agents interested in learning more about the New Zealand Education Agent Course can learn more at: New Zealand Education Agent Course (NZEAC) | ICEF Academy. Education agents are also reminded to register with AgentLab to keep up-to-date with all agent-related news and information.
Save the date for NZIEC KI TUA 2023! 
This will be our industry’s first in-person conference since 2019 and the first time NZIEC KI TUA has been in Ōtautahi Christchurch in 10 years.
Our conference theme will be Te Ara Ki Tua, which means ‘the pathway forward’ or ‘the road to success’.  
This theme acknowledges the journey that’s ahead of our international education sector to rebuild. It recognises that 2023 marks the 30th time NZIEC KI TUA has been held and is a direct reference to our new NZIEC KI TUA brand.
We look forward to working with the teams at ChristchurchNZ and Christchurch Educated to roll out the welcome mat.
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We will keep you updated through E-News and www.nziec.co.nz as more details become available. A call for speakers will be issued early in 2023.
NZ education publishers at Frankfurt book fair
New Zealand education publishers were represented virtually and in person at the event, which hosted 4,000 exhibits, attracting around 93,000 trade visitors and 87,000 members of the public.
Catriona Ferguson, Association Director at Publishers Association New Zealand (PANZ), organised the New Zealand stand, with support from Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao. The New Zealand stand attracted a lot of interest from attendees at the fair and provided a great opportunity to meet with book trade representatives from around the world.
Six of New Zealand’s education publishers were represented by PANZ and had a virtual presence at the fair: BIOZONE International, EduMaxi, Essential Resources, Global Education Systems, Huia Publishers, and Sunshine Books. Dame Wendy Pye from Sunshine Books attended the fair in person, together with several other New Zealand publishers.

Dame Wendy Pye of Sunshine Books with Marina Wilmerstadt from ENZ