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• Agent engagement in Thailand

  Delivering his welcome speech, H.E. Mr Reuben Levermore, New Zealand’s Ambassador to Thailand, emphasised the niche strengths of New Zealand education; how we can best stand out from crowd and the importance of agents as key partners in raising awareness.

  The workshop included speakers from New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and Immigration New Zealand, Thai government partners and local New Zealand alumni, to help give agents a good understanding of the value of New Zealand’s education offering and to provide them with a range of tools to sell New Zealand as an education destination.

  Chortip took a new approach to the workshops – presenting on market trends and statistics, while also showcasing niche courses offered in New Zealand such as film, animation and sports management. The workshop topics included: cyber security and health IT in Thailand; labour market information; overseas engineering programme accreditation and approval by the Council of Engineers Thailand; criteria for establishing equivalence for New Zealand education qualifications by the Bureau of Education Testing under the Thai Ministry of Education; and ‘Apply on Behalf’ online visa application training by Immigration New Zealand.

  This was the first full day workshop delivered in this style offered to Thai education agents and was well received by participants. ENZ will continue to support agents in Thailand in promoting New Zealand as a study destination, with further activities planned in the coming year.

• Aotearoa sharpens Sherpa’s ambitions on conservation in Nepal

  The Everest region of Nepal is his home, and he has seen first-hand the impact of climbers and climate change on the world’s most famous mountain environment.  

  The former international student to New Zealand is a columnist in the Kathmandu Post, readily highlighting successes and calling out failures on a range of environmental issues impacting Nepal. He is part of a generation determined to find solutions. 

  Tsewang recently completed his Master’s in Environmental Management at Lincoln University, an international education experience made possible by the Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship. Mingma was an early graduate of Sir Edmund Hillary’s Khumjung School, an alumnus of Lincoln University, and one of the leading voices on conservation in Nepal and Bhutan through his work with World Wildlife Fund (WWF) before his untimely death in 2006. 

  His legacy is a scholarship jointly funded by WWF, Lincoln University, and the Greater Himalayas Foundation which supports students from remote regions of Nepal committed to careers in conservation to study at Lincoln. 

  Tsewang says the links with New Zealand which date back to the work of Sir Edmund Hillary, and his belief in the importance of education for future generations, are a driver for many Nepalese students seeking to improve their opportunities in life.   

  “The connection is very strong,” he says. “Sir Ed Hillary is such an icon and I feel that the students who come to New Zealand to study are continuing to strengthen the relationship established by Sir Ed and Mingma”.  

  Fulfilling the dream of a New Zealand education 

  “The scholarship allows you to fulfil a vision of having a higher education in New Zealand, but more than that, it connects many people already working in the conservation sector in New Zealand, Nepal, and other parts of the world.”  

  Tsewang spent two years in New Zealand, arriving just before the border closed in 2020 and is grateful that his studies were largely unaffected by the pandemic. He says he has learned much about New Zealand’s approach to conservation and gained a better understanding of te ao Māori and the concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship and protection).  

  

  “I am a Sherpa. We are renowned as mountaineers, but we are also an ethnic tribe with a strong connection and respect for nature and a strong desire for environmental stewardship.  

  “Seeing Māori taking ownership of preserving and retaining their culture was an important learning for me. These are taonga (treasures) which we should be taking from one generation to another. 

  “Through my education I want to promote empowerment of local people on conservation issues,” Tsewang says. “Studying in New Zealand made me realise that this is already happening in Nepal, but we just need to find ways to make it more effective.” 

  Tsewang’s Master’s research was into the effectiveness of the Garbage Deposit Scheme (GDS) initiated by the Sherpa people, in which Everest climbers pay a US$4000 deposit that’s returned only if they bring back at least 8kg of rubbish produced during their expeditions. “Working in conjunction with the aims, aspirations, and opportunities of local communities is incredibly empowering.” 

  Making a positive impact in Nepal 

  The students who have come to Aotearoa have made a positive impact in Nepal, Tsewang says. “It’s all about learning from best practice and sharing knowledge.

  As one person it’s hard to make change, but by sharing information and knowledge we can make incremental change.”  

  “We are seeing that governments globally are starting to overhaul their environmental protection policies. New Zealand has played a key role in the context of Nepal because people before me came to study and returned home to build crucial environmental education and awareness.”  

  Tsewang loved his time in Aotearoa, both inside and outside the classroom, having spent most of his free time hiking iconic tracks. “There’s so much learning that happens out in the field where you hear first-hand of the experiences of those working in conservation. 

  “This was an essential part of my education experience. You have unplanned conversations which are inspiring and hugely valuable,” he says. 

  “The last two years have been monumental in so many ways. It’s not just the academic learning, but also the personal growth. I have gained so much confidence to voice my opinion and share my knowledge. 

  “I will stay in touch with many of the people I have met and hopefully we will have the opportunity to collaborate in the future. Learning never stops. 

  “The international education opportunities with New Zealand only serve to strengthen the long-standing bond with Nepal. There’s a real legacy involved for both countries.”

• Global conference puts spotlight on student employability

  More than 300 delegates from 35-plus countries will attend the conference, which is designed for new and experienced practitioners of academic work placement and experiential education.

  This will be the first time the conference is held in Australia or New Zealand.

  “We see the conference as an important opportunity to broaden our national conversation about employability for both domestic and international students,” said Brett Berquist, University of Auckland Director International.

  “Employability is a key driver for international students choosing New Zealand. It’s also important for the growing number of Kiwis who are starting their ‘OE’ (overseas experience) during their university study. 

  “The GIC is a place for us to think about international mobility and the importance of employability outcomes for all students – as well as to network and learn from each other.”

  A number of New Zealand tertiary providers are participating as well as hosting post-conference partnership visits.

  Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development (ATEED) is the city sponsor for the conference and is moderating a New Zealand employer panel debate “Working with international students”.

  ENZ is the country sponsor and will present new research, “Employer Perceptions of Hiring International Graduates”.

  “We know that students want to have strong employability prospects after they graduate, whether they are back home, staying in New Zealand for some post-study work or in a third country,” said John Goulter, ENZ Acting Chief Executive.

  The conference will cover an introductory track for those new to the field as well as latest research and trends, ideas for scaling up delivery and models for working with internship providers.

  Among the presentations are topics on: “International Exposure at Home and Abroad: Employability gains through internships”; “The Connection Catalyst: Virtual internships for wider access to cultural fluency and employability”; and “Emerging Internship Destinations: Keys for developing employers’ most desired skills in recent graduates”. 

  “The GIC plays an integral part in exploring past, present and future trends,” said Brett. 

  “This year we have an important focus on the employability needs of international students, both in their country of study as well as supporting their return to their home market. This is a particularly important theme for New Zealand and Australian education providers.”

  The conference will be held at the Owen G. Glenn Building, and receptions will be held at the Fale Pasifika, Auckland Town Hall, and the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

  Founded in 1999, previous GIC conferences have been held in the US, Singapore, Ireland, Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Germany, and the Netherlands.

  Registrations are currently open. For the full GIC programme see here: http://globalinternshipconference.org

• PMSLA PUCSP Brazil

• Attendees at the Massey University launch at the NZ Residence in Singapore2

• Minister sings praises of a NZ education in Japan and Korea

  In late August, Minister Steven Joyce visited Japan and Korea to advance New Zealand’s business, innovation and education interests. Most of all, it was a great occasion to celebrate the friendship between our countries.

  The visit kicked-off in Tokyo, where ENZ joined the Minister to meet with Toshiei Mizuochi, Japan’s new State Minister for Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, to discuss opportunities in science and innovation. Minister Joyce highlighted New Zealand’s flexible qualification framework and expertise in vocational education, which Minister Mizuochi welcomed.

  Following this, Minister Joyce went to Busan and Seoul, Korea, where he visited the Centre for Creative Economy and Innovation (CCEI) and talked about opportunities for working on film projects with Auckland. This includes a September workshop organised by Screen Auckland and AUT to teach staff and students from Busan-based Dongseo University more about film.

  Minister Joyce also met with Lee Joon-shik, Korea’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, to explore ways to grow the education relationship between Korea and New Zealand. This included the possibility of more Korean-language teaching and learning in New Zealand schools.

  

  CCEI, from left to right: Cecily Lin, Acting Regional Lead, ENZ; CCEI staff; John Riley, Deputy Head of Mission; Clare Fearnley, NZ Ambassador; Minister Joyce; Cho Hong-geun, Head of CCEI; Ryan Freer, New Zealand Trade Commissioner

  In each country, Minister Joyce hosted a reception for local guests including school teachers, agents and representatives from tertiary institutions. At the Tokyo reception, 13 high school students from Ikubunkan Institute of Education performed a haka and waiata for the Minister they had learned while studying in New Zealand. At the Seoul reception, guests were joined by Korean rappers Microdot and Sanchez who spoke with affection of their time studying in Auckland. Both evenings provided a wonderful opportunity for Minister Joyce to promote New Zealand’s education and lifestyle, the importance of an education relationship between our countries and to introduce the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia.

  “Education cooperation is an important way of developing a closer relationship between our countries, and encourages us to discuss and cooperate on issues of mutual interest and benefit,” said Minister Joyce.

  The ENZ student fair will be held in Japan on 8 October in Fukuoka, and Tokyo on 9 October.

• ENZ Procurement Policy 2026 for publishing

• From the Chief Executive: Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays

  While I am optimistic about the New Year, the impact is real, and as we have seen today, the uncertainty is likely to be ongoing. There is much to do as we rebuild our sector through 2022 and into 2023.

  Over the past 12 months, we have all had to adjust to an ever-changing environment. A good example is the growth of online and offshore-based courses, and programmes that offer pathways to onshore study or blended learning. These options are helping to hold the interest of students who want to study with New Zealand.

  At Education New Zealand, our focus has been on supporting our students and our sector, diversifying products and services and protecting New Zealand’s education brand. In each area, we have made progress.

  Our contribution to the development of border class exceptions has seen the return of some international students to our shores. We have enjoyed welcoming them back and look forward to seeing more students over the coming year.

  In August 2021, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern announced the Reconnecting New Zealanders to the World framework. ENZ has been working with the Ministry of Education, Immigration New Zealand, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to ensure that government agencies are ready to respond to a phased reopening of the border. 

  I would like to acknowledge the efforts being made across government agencies and within the international education sector to engage and respond with fresh ideas and momentum. There will no doubt be further developments in the New Year.

  We have just launched a new website and brand materials in line with our latest campaign – Study with New Zealand. This is the next evolution of New Zealand’s education brand, designed to appeal to students who want to explore our new, flexible study options. 

  The shift from studying in New Zealand to studying with New Zealand is the result of a lot of careful work to protect our brand.  Alongside the efforts of our teams at virtual events and trade fairs, including the upcoming Expo 2020 Dubai, this work is helping to keep our brand alive as we move towards reconnecting with the world.

  A pilot project with global learning platform FutureLearn is a good example of our work to diversify our products and services. The initial results have demonstrated the potential for marketing online courses from New Zealand to new audiences around the globe.

  With more to do as we move into 2022, I hope there is an opportunity for all of us to rest and recharge with family and friends over the summer break.

  I would like to wish everyone involved in international education across the world a Meri Kirihimete and Happy Holidays. 

  On behalf of all at ENZ, thank you for your open and honest support. I look forward to working with you all in 2022.

  He waka eke noa
  We’re all in this together.

  Grant McPherson
  Chief Executive, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao

• New postgraduate course in international education launched

  The first course starts on 16 November 2015, and finishes on 12 February 2016.

  E-News caught up with course co-lecturer, Chris Beard, on the development of the course.

  What students did you have in mind when developing the course?

  This course will assist international programme managers, principals, directors of study, ministry officials, teachers and lecturers who deal with significant numbers of international students and student support professionals. It provides an introduction to international developments in international education, key concepts with application to local contexts, fundamentals of intercultural communication and critical reflection on practice.

  How is the course the structured?

  International Education is an online 15 point course that can be taken as part of VUW’s Masters in Education (180 points) with options to complete a Postgraduate Certificate (60 points) and Postgraduate Diploma (120 points).

  VUW’s School of Education has excellent online courses which can be taken alongside International Education to complete these qualifications. Such courses include: Educational Leadership, Research Methods, Teaching Linguistically Diverse Students and Effective Mentoring and Coaching. More information can be found on our website here.

  Is the course delivered solely online?

  The course is delivered online and it is possible to complete a postgraduate qualification online. Other blended, on-campus courses are also available to those who prefer a face-to-face style of learning.

  What are your expectations for enrolments this year?

  Our surveying suggests there’s good demand for a course of this kind, and we’re hoping for around a dozen enrolments in the first cohort. A component of the course includes discussion on an online blog, which enables participants to draw on their professional experience and explore theory-to-practice.

  When do you expect your first graduate?

  The first graduates (postgraduate diploma and certificate) will potentially finish at the end of 2016 depending on whether students are full time or part time.

  Are there similar courses in other parts of the world that have been useful models for the development of this course?

  Points of reference have included Lesley University’s Master of International Higher Education and Intercultural Relations (US), University of Sydney’s MEd (International Education) and SIT Graduate Institute’s (US) MA (International Education).

  What are this course’s points of difference to others around the world?

  The uniqueness of this course is that it is tailored for educators, officials and professionals whose work depends on or is shaped by international education. It is designed to aid critical enquiry and evidence-based practice in an emerging field that is of increasing relevance to schools and tertiary education providers.

  A copy of the flyer for the International Education course can be found here.

  More information on the course can be found on the VUW website here.

  If you have any enquiries about the course please contact:

  Chris Beard Chris.Beard@vuw.ac.nz

  or

  Dr Stephanie Doyle Stephanie.Doyle@vuw.ac.nz

• March update from Immigration New Zealand 

  Update on Student visa processing*   

  Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 29,228 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 24,549 of these applications.  

  Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated each month: Visa processing times for international students | Immigration New Zealand 

  *Figures current as at 10pm on 6 March 2023.   

  Impact of Cyclone Gabrielle on international students 

  We are aware that some education providers' campuses have been damaged by Cyclone Gabrielle and have been forced to close temporarily. 

  This affects students’ immigration status because their current student visa requires them to attend the place of study specified on the visa which may not be currently possible. We understand that this is a difficult time, and we would like to help. An information sheet has been developed for affected international students and can be found here. 

  Approval in Principle timeframe 

  We have shortened the standard length of time we allow most offshore students to provide a tuition fee receipt (or other financial evidence) from ten to five working days to encourage students to complete the final steps of their student visa application quickly. We understand that some students may not be able to provide evidence in the timeframe they are given due to their individual circumstances. Extensions to this timeframe are available – the student or agent just needs to upload a brief letter explaining how much longer they will require and why. 

  Tuition fees 

  We would like to remind you that changes to the requirements for tuition fee payment evidence for students were introduced last year as part of the Immigration Rebalance.  

  Students need to pay tuition fees for the first year, or first programme of study (whichever is the shorter), and they will have to prove personal/maintenance funds for the same period. We do not accept payment of tuition fees by instalment; the only exception is for some aviation students. 

  Agent declaration 

  If you are providing advice or assistance with a student visa application - DECLARE yourself in the application. Education agents outside New Zealand are permitted to give immigration advice on student visas but must declare themselves in the application. We are seeing increasing numbers of agents not declaring themselves and these applications may take longer to process as a result.  

  INZ is intending to resume reporting on agent visa approval rates later this year, probably in September/October. If you are not declaring your involvement in an application, this will have an impact on your publicly available performance information. Education providers in New Zealand will be encouraged to check the agent performance report.