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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

  • MNZ social 2

  • Hawke’s Bay groups collaborate for growth

    The group of education providers and partner agencies are making sure their “shop front” is as attractive and welcoming as possible. E-News caught up with Education Hawke’s Bay Business Development Manager, Steph Kennard, on the approach.  

    Who makes up Education Hawke’s Bay?

    Education Hawke’s Bay is a voluntary member organisation made up of local government, schools, our ITP and PTEs.  We were formed approximately two years ago with the common goal of doubling the value of international students to the region by 2025.   

    What was the motivation behind the re-brand and new website?

     We wanted to create an identity for Education Hawke’s Bay that served multiple purposes, with a brand that would give our members a sense of belonging. We wanted to showcase Hawke’s Bay as a study destination at the same time as promoting the special characteristics of each education provider. By developing a website, and removing the dependence upon printed brochures, we have reduced our overall costs. 

    Based on this brief, we developed a new brand called ‘Learning Hawke’s Bay’ and new website www.learninghawkesbay.nz. The use of the word ‘Learning’ represents both the study and leisure experience – students come here to study in a classroom, but they will also gain experience – learn – outside of it, through our culture and local tourism. 

    Our logo operates on several levels – acting as a pointer to direct the viewer, resembling an open book and also an open laptop. This works well with our ‘Learning’ brand.

    The website works as a stand-alone site, but can also be incorporated within individual members’ marketing collateral. Our website uses large format imagery to “paint a picture” of Hawke’s Bay as pictures require little, or no, translation! These images have been chosen to appeal to both students and parents alike, and regardless of country of origin. 

    Our website ensures we can respond quickly to queries and can be updated within moments.  

    What part does the rebrand and new website play in your overall strategy?

    The website and brand are an integral component of our strategy and give us the tools to promote Hawke’s Bay to students overseas. Building the website has meant we can work more smartly on our international promotions. The next steps are to incorporate a social media presence and build on our communication plan.  

    Are there any particular successes or learnings you’d like to share from the rebranding exercise?

    It was important to ensure that our design, including colour and brand, represented our members and was functional. We also required the website to be built with an easy content management system so that we could make changes quickly in-house, without incurring extra costs.  The framework also needed to be flexible enough to enable us to develop the website and make additions to pages without the need for a full re-design.  

    You recently took part in a regional cluster pilot with Hastings District Council. How has this gone?

    The Agent tour was our first real taste of regional clustering in practice. It certainly had its challenges as each member had a different view of which country we should be targeting. In the end we settled on Japan, which meant that not all members participated.

    The other project in the pilot, is to develop a revenue monitoring framework. This is still in the planning, as it requires data which the Education Hawke’s Bay team can’t yet access. Our stakeholders are keen to know just what revenue is generated by our international students, so we want to ensure accuracy.  

    What part has ENZ’s Regional Partnership Programme played in the development and operationalisation of your strategy?

    The support and advice from the ENZ Business Development team has been hugely appreciated, as it can be quite isolating being based in a region and trying to please each of the members. Of course, the financial support has enabled us to employ someone to help us deliver on our regional strategic goals for growth.  

    Is there anything else you’d like to add?

    Our region has just taken part in a poll which proposed that all five councils amalgamate. The proposal was turned down by the community. Although this has been challenging for our region in general terms, the regional education cluster we have established is a great example of how collaboration among members from both Hastings and Napier can work!

  • Ministerial visit reinforces higher education and research partnerships with India

    New Zealand has advanced its strategic objectives for international education through a high-level ministerial visit to India, reinforcing higher education, research and innovation partnerships with one of New Zealand’s priority markets.

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) supported Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, Hon Dr Shane Reti’s visit to New Delhi in February.

    The visit had Minister Reti attending the AI Impact Summit and engaging with senior government, academic and innovation leaders, and highlighted education’s role in strengthening bilateral relationships and supporting New Zealand’s long-term economic and research ambitions.

    The programme also included a bilateral meeting with India’s Minister of Education, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, providing an opportunity to share higher education reforms, discuss ambitions under the refreshed New Zealand-India Education Cooperation Arrangement.

    A key focus was Minister Reti’s visit to the New Zealand Centre at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), a flagship joint initiative established in 2020 by all eight New Zealand universities in partnership with IIT Delhi. The Centre provides a platform for joint research, academic exchange and long-term collaboration, particularly in science and technology.

    During the visit, discussions focused on the next phase of engagement under the New Zealand Centre, with proposed collaboration areas including medical technology, energy, environment and climate.

    The IIT Delhi visit was also an opportunity to demonstrate impact of experiential learning and joint research with students from New Zealand universities (also recipients of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia) presenting innovative projects developed alongside IIT Delhi students.

    Hon. Dr Shane Reti (centre) and New Zealand high Commissioner to India, Patrick Rata (third from right) with the Education New Zealand and IIT Delhi International Office teams during their visit to IIT Delhi

    ENZ Director of Engagement – India, Jugnu Roy said the visit strongly aligned with New Zealand’s international education priorities.

    “India is a critical partner for New Zealand’s future in education, research and innovation,” Jugnu said.

    “This visit showcased the strength of our university-to-university collaboration and reinforced how platforms such as the New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi can deliver meaningful outcomes for both countries.

    “By strengthening institutional partnerships, supporting student pathways and deepening research collaboration, this engagement positions New Zealand as a trusted, long-term education partner for India.”

  • Ask New Anything

    Campaign page: https://www.studyinnewzealand.govt.nz/asknewanything

    nagisa japan school 5

    NZ’s second big global digital campaign of 2019 launched on 7 October with our students at the heart of it.

    The campaign will be promoted digitally in our key markets for 8 weeks. Campaign-related content and messaging will remain relevant and live on our channels for the foreseeable future.

    The campaign will be the first time the refreshed Think New brand has been widely used in digital channels.

     

    Campaign Strategy

    The main objective of the campaign is to challenge perceptions of New Zealand by increasing awareness of the country as a high-quality study destination. The campaign aims to achieve this by inviting our target audiences in 14 international markets to question what they know about New Zealand.

    Key markets that will be reached by the campaign are:

    • Brazil
    • Colombia
    • France
    • Germany
    • India
    • Italy
    • Japan
    • Korea
    • Philippines
    • Thailand
    • UK
    • USA
    • Vietnam
    • Indonesia

    The campaign aims to increase New Zealand’s standing as the preferred study destination amongst our target audiences in these key markets.

    For more information about ENZ’s target markets and the general digital campaign strategy, and New Zealand education providers can access the 2019 ENZ Digital Marketing Calendar on IntelliLab. 

    The creative concept and technical execution of this campaign will push ENZ into new territory for its marketing campaigns and award-winning digital strategy. 

    Utilising 100 short videos, a variety of digital media placements, Tohu the chatbot, a range of social media channels including a peer-to-peer Facebook group and Instagram Live sessions hosted by our Kiwi Ambassadors, the campaign embodies the authenticity and bold NEW thinking of the Think New brand. 

    A bespoke campaign strategy has been developed for China, making use of the same campaign creative concept and content, but delivered through the channels we know our audiences in China use and interact with the most. 

    ENZ invites and encourages our New Zealand education sector partners and education agents to participate in the campaign by sharing content and aligning your own messaging with those of the campaign and the Think New brand. 

    The campaign tool kit below provides more information around how your organisation can leverage the campaign. 

    Creative concept

    Brand research tells us there is generally low awareness of New Zealand internationally, and where there is awareness it’s often based on incorrect perceptions of quality.

    The creative concept of the Ask New Anything campaign seeks to address this by answering prospective students’ burning questions authentically and honestly, using unscripted video responses from current international students.

    We started by researching the most used Google search terms relevant to studying in New Zealand, as well as the most asked questions on our Study in New Zealand chatbot Tohu. We combined this hard data with anecdotal questions from prospective and current students around what they want to know/what they wish they had known, and key brand messages we hoped to get across to our audiences.

    From this we narrowed down to a list of 100 questions and filmed videos with international and New Zealand students, alumni, a teacher, a parent, and a New Zealand employer providing the answers. These videos form the basis of the campaign.

    We also know that word of mouth is a key influence on student decision making. The Ask New Anything campaign not only offers pre-recorded Q&As with current students, but also gives prospective students the opportunity to talk directly to current students through a new Facebook group and scheduled Instagram Live events.

    All of this results in a much more interactive campaign than anything ENZ has previously done. We’re not broadcasting a message to students; we’re asking them to start a conversation, putting prospective students themselves at the centre of the campaign.

    Technical execution

     A typical digital media campaign uses creative digital ad placements on social media, relevant websites and search engines to drive traffic through to a campaign landing page on a website.

    Ask New Anything goes well beyond this, using new technology and a broad range of social media tools to be a true omni-channel campaign. The resulting immersive and pleasantly unexpected experience will help the Think New brand stand out.

    The marketing activity and technology being used in this campaign includes:

    • Tohu the chatbot – Tohu was launched on the Study in New Zealand website in 2018, on Facebook Messenger in early 2019, and on the NauMai NZ website in July 2019. Tohu is the centrepiece of the Ask New Anything campaign as it represents the technology through which prospective students can really ask any question they want. From the launch of the Ask New Anything campaign, Tohu will be able to respond to 100 of the most frequently asked questions with one of the short videos created for the campaign
    • Facebook group - Should a question be asked that Tohu cannot answer, prospective students will be invited to join a Facebook group where they can ask real students their questions in real time. The Facebook group will be managed and moderated by our Kiwi Ambassadors.
    • Instagram Live – Throughout the campaign, a select group of Kiwi Ambassadors will host a series of Instagram Live events. These events will be designed and scheduled to suit the key international regions we are targeting in the campaign.
    • Campaign landing page – There will be a campaign landing page on the Study in New Zealand website. Tohu the chatbot will be the main focus of this page.
    • Social media – Beyond the Facebook group, Instagram Live sessions and use of Tohu on Facebook Messenger, all of ENZ’s student-facing social media channels will be driving the campaign messages. Campaign content will be shared on Facebook, and YouTube and Instagram will feature strongly for both organic and paid media content.
    • Database marketing – The database marketing strategy for the campaign ensures we are reaching all our currently engaged audiences, and nurturing new leads throughout their decision-making journey. Personalised email campaigns will be sent to members of the Study in New Zealand, My StudyNZ and NauMai NZ communities, and to anyone who signs up throughout the campaign period.

    The campaign in China

    Because our audiences in China use different digital platforms to our other markets, the Ask New Anything campaign will follow a different strategy in China. 

    Separate research has been undertaken to identify the most-asked questions for prospective international students in China. Based on this, the most relevant videos will be translated into Chinese and integrated into a campaign rollout on our China platforms:

    Paid media:

    • WeChat
    • Zhihu (Zhihu is China’s version of Quora. In classical Chinese, "Zhīhū" means "Know?". Chinese-language internet users nowadays increasingly resort to Zhihu for expert knowledge and insights into various topics.

    Owned media:

    Tohu the chatbot does not exist on our Chinese platforms, so the China Ask New Anything campaign makes use of the question/answer format in a different way, posing questions to our audience and then supplying key information based on their response.

    On the Zhihu platform we will post questions for both Kiwi Ambassadors and users to answer. Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs) will also be recruited to support the campaign and both ask and answer questions about studying in New Zealand.

    Messaging and Brand

    The campaign concept and the technical execution of the campaign both contribute to the overall brand message of ‘I am New’. It showcases our innovative new thinking and captures New Zealand’s values of societal openness, transparency and manaakitanga.

    Through this campaign, we want to show that New Zealand is an inclusive, collaborative and progressive environment where students are challenged and supported to reach their full potential.

    Our new Think New brand strategy and creative approach position our international education brand for success and redefine what a quality education looks like and means.

    Sector representation and localisation

    The 100 question and answer videos have been carefully planned to ensure a good global representation of our markets. Care has been taken to match the talent to questions based region. So where a question is most important to a certain region, the talent has been matched to that region to ensure the most relevant response.

    The videos feature 18 different individuals representing a spread of sectors and markets. We have included students from all the key markets we are targeting in the campaign. A teacher, employer, Kiwi student and parent are also included.

    In the Facebook group and Instagram Live sessions, prospective students will be able to converse with Kiwi Ambassadors in local language – either directly or with the help of Facebook’s automatic translation technology.

    Toolkit

    Throughout the campaign duration New Zealand education will have an increased digital presence in the 13 target markets listed above.

    New Zealand education providers and education agents are encouraged to leverage this campaign activity for your own marketing strategies.

    Here is a toolkit of resources and suggested actions to help you get started:

    • Ensure your institution profile on the Study in New Zealand website is up to date. Follow these step-by-step instructions to find out how. Please note you will be required a login to access this link.
    • Register for the ENZ Brand Lab. There are over 1,000 images, videos and more available on the Brand Lab for you to download and use in your marketing.
    • Read this article about how to leverage ENZ digital campaigns. You will need to be registered and signed in to the Brand Lab to access it. 
    • Share the Q&A videos from the campaign on your social media channels. ENZ will be creating a spreadsheet with all the YouTube links to make this easy for you navigate and choose the most relevant videos for your audiences. Watch this space or sign up to the Brand Lab to get a notification when this becomes available.
    • Download ENZ’s 2019 Digital Marketing Calendar from IntelliLab. The calendar explains our key dates and strategies for each of our target markets. You will need to be registered and signed in to IntelliLab to access this.
    • If you are an education agent, join ENZ’s AgentLab. This new platform was launched this year. Gain access to online training courses, news, webinars and ENZ updates.

     

  • University of Otago International Food Festival 1

  • Trans-Tasman showdown comes to NZIEC

    In this inaugural NZIEC debate, a team of three plucky Aussies will argue that New Zealand should look to Australia's lead when it comes to international education.

    Already they’re laying down the challenge: “There’s no need for New Zealand to look to Australia,” says Aussie team member Stephen Connelly. “Just become a part of Australia – you know you want to!"

    The Australian team will be represented by:

    • Amanda Pickrell, director of international education from the Victorian Government’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources
    • Darragh Murray, international development manager at Queensland University of Technology, and
    • Stephen Connelly, director at Global Ed Services.

    And the home team will comprise:

    • Katy Mandeno, international director at Whangarei Girls’ High School
    • Roger McElwain, chief executive of the University of Otago’s Language Centre and Foundation Year, and
    • Tony O’Brien, programme director at Waikato Institute of Technology.

    Will the Australians crumble like the Wallabies at Eden Park? Or will the Kiwis collapse like the Black Caps batting line-up in the 2015 Cricket World Cup final?

    Either way, it'll be a debate of two halves and you'll be sure to pick up some interesting insights into the competitive advantages of both countries and areas for improvement. 

    Come along and cheer for your team!

    With half of the available places already snapped up, confirm your spot at NZIEC today at www.nziec.co.nz

  • From the CE: Our focus for the next 12 months

    Kia ora tātou, 

    "To help providers of international education to build back onshore offerings" is Focus Area One of the New Zealand International Education Strategy. There are nine key short-term actions in Focus Area One. Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao is the lead Government agency in four actions and has an important role to play in eight of the nine. It can be no surprise then that for the next 12 months, and our next financial year starting in June, that the majority of ENZ's energy, time and resources will be focused on attracting learners to study with New Zealand. 

    This is no small challenge. Our borders have been open now for just eight months. And while students are returning, the latest visa application numbers I've seen report in the order of 43,000 applications (offshore and onshore), the recovery is variable at best. Even within the university sector, that on the face of it looks to have recovered better than others, the experience is mixed. Within the PTEs and English Language schools we have a long way to go to reach the levels of 2019 and early 2020. In such a highly competitive market, it is going to take some time to regain awareness with learners and overcome the head start other countries gained. 

    All our budgets are tight. At the very time we need to be investing and getting offshore to renew partnerships and networks, we are all resource-constrained and having to watch every cent. ENZ is no exception. 

    This means that for the next 12 months, more than ever, we need to focus. We need to focus our limited resources to where they have the greatest impact, and we need to be aligned as one with the sector. 

    India is an excellent example of a partner market that is worthy of focus. I have just returned from leading an ENZ delegation to India. India is forecasting economic growth of 6-7% every year for the next three to five years. They know, and their national education strategy makes it clear, they need educated, skilled and talented people to realise this opportunity. I repeatedly heard, "They want their people back".

    That five Deputy Vice Chancellors joined the 23 sector representatives tells you how important India is. As one of the five said to me, "India today is what China was 15 years ago".

    To be successful we need to agree that India is important. It is. We need to go there together. We will. We also need to work with our colleagues in other Government agencies to ensure they are aligned. This is what success looks like for me. And this is the level of focus on building back, and the level of partnership with the sector, that I expect from my ENZ teams over the next 12 months.

    I will also work with them to secure the many gains we have made in government-to-government relationships, scholarships, diversity, equity, and inclusion, social licence, and in building a sustainable future. All the good work of the past two years remains important for the long-term future, set out in Focus Area Two: Building a new future for international education. 

    We are all very passionate about international education and its ability to transform lives. In 2023/24 when the sector is stronger than today, all of us will be better placed to address the short term and the medium to long term. Today our focus must be the immediate needs.

    He moana pukepuke e ekengia e te waka

    A choppy sea can be navigated

    This proverb acknowledges the changing and challenging environment that we currently find ourselves in and how it can be navigated by collaboration and innovation.

    Ngā mihi nui,

    Grant McPherson

  • BPO Intelligence joins NZIEC 2017 as lead partner

    “We are delighted to be a part of NZIEC for a fourth consecutive year, and excited to be doing so as lead partner,” says BPO Intelligence CEO, Naresh Gulati.

    “NZIEC is quickly growing into one of the most popular conferences on the global international education circuit, and we look forward to sharing our expertise in leadership and innovation, and helping to explore strategies for growth and development in international education,” says Naresh.

    The innovative marketing and communications company works closely with many providers across the country, and 85 percent of universities in Australia and New Zealand, to aid them in their international marketing endeavours.

    “We appreciate BPO’s commitment to supporting the development of New Zealand’s international education industry through its backing of NZIEC,” says ENZ chief executive Grant McPherson.

    “BPO has been a strong supporter of NZIEC for the past three years, so we’re thrilled to have them involved for the next phase of the conference’s development.”

    “I encourage all conference delegates to head along and touch base with Paree Brar and the BPO team at the Expo Hall,” says Grant.

    NZIEC 2016 attracted a record 682 delegates over two days. NZIEC 2017 will be held at SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland on 22 and 23 August, with pre-conference workshops held on the afternoon of Monday 21 August.

    Registrations will open on Wednesday 17 May and places are expected to fill quickly. Find out more at www.nziec.co.nz

  • Smart cities and AI technology key focus for KIWI Challenge 2023

    The competition is designed to inspire youth across Indonesia to be engaged in entrepreneurial activities that address societal issues.

    The 2023 theme is “Reforming Indonesia’s mobility and smart cities using AI technology”.

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) organises the competition in collaboration with a New Zealand university and Kopi Tuli (Deaf Cafe), a deaf community in Jakarta. This year, ENZ is partnering up with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to co-host the initiative.

    School groups are required to submit video entries to a judging panel made up of AUT academics and ENZ representatives. Submissions are reviewed by the panel and finalists selected. The students will then be supported through a number of workshops and mentoring by the AUT academics.  

    The participating academic from AUT is Senior Lecturer International Business, Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Dr Taghreed Hikmet, who has expertise in smart cities and is passionate about mentoring and inspiring young future leaders. She has had close involvement in multiple programmes like YES, where she mentored young entrepreneurs pitching their business ideas. 

    Dr Hikmet says she is honoured to be involved this year.   

    “It is a delight to have the opportunity to inspire Indonesian students to think creatively about what the future can look like. The development of smart cities is about improving sustainability, creating opportunities for economic development and enhancing the quality of life for people, I’m looking forward to seeing the ideas students put forward,” she says. 

    ENZ Director Asia Ben Burrowes says that this initiative showcases New Zealand’s world-class education and academics in a meaningful way. 

    “Now entering its fourth year, KIWI Challenge has grown into a unique platform for New Zealand and our top academics to remain connected to Indonesian students in a way that is in touch with what matters to them. We continue to work with partners in Indonesia to identify the themes that resonate with students” he says.

    The winners of the competition will be announced on Saturday 25 November, the top three groups will be awarded vouchers worth IDR 2,000,000 – 10,000,000. 

    To date, the competition has attracted more than 1,000 Indonesian students through the programme and each year has showcased a New Zealand university and a particular theme. Previous university partners were Massey University (Tourism), Lincoln University (Agribusiness) and the University of Canterbury (Education Technology).  

What's in it for me?