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• Winds of Change students team up to tackle shared climate challenges

  While world leaders continue to discuss how to best tackle global warming, an inspiring group of students is stepping up collaboration between New Zealand and Chile to better understand the problems both countries face, share knowledge, and identify solutions.

  The Winds of Change programme, funded by the Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (LatAm CAPE) and hosted by Otago University, is taking a broad approach by drawing in post-graduate students from a range of backgrounds including natural, physical or social science, business, finance, science communication, and humanities.

  They are motivated to tackle climate change by developing sustainable strategies in land management, business, and policy-making. Supporting them is a team of talented academics from both countries whose insight and expertise are helping to create impact.

  “The Winds of Change participants are extraordinary leaders from diverse backgrounds with a passion for making a difference,” says lead Otago academic Associate Professor Chris Moy.

  “Their collaborative work will help inspire communities and drive change.”

  Joining forces to reach common goals

  Project manager Hélène Eunson says the multi-disciplinary approach is vital. “It is one of the key features and strengths of the programme. We need people who bring a range of perspectives in addressing climate change issues,” she says.

  “We have come to realise that the scientists want to learn more about business and policy-making, and the policy-makers want to learn more about the science. We are trying to join forces to reach our common goals.”

  Now in its second year, Ms Eunson says there has been huge interest in the six-month programme, which seeks to attract 30 students in each cohort - 10 New Zealanders based in New Zealand, 10 Chilean students based in New Zealand (“Chiwis”), and 10 Chileans based in Chile.

  “These young leaders have a real drive to make a change. They volunteer their time and do not earn credits towards their degrees.”

  The participants work in small groups on projects based on common interest, to investigate an aspect of climate change, its impact on the environment and communities, and to identify solutions. Their findings are presented at an annual symposium attended by key industry players, researchers, embassy representatives, and past participants.

  The Winds of Change programme includes a series of workshops hosted by a range of expert speakers from both countries including business owners, industry experts, and academics studying climate change.

  Pacific partners help shape future solutions

  By studying the common climate change impacts that New Zealand and Chile are facing, the students are not only helping to shape future solutions, but also to build relationships with a key Pacific partner and enhance economic and social wellbeing in both countries.

  Projects undertaken by the participants have tackled wide-ranging issues including wetland restoration, wildfires, water scarcity, rising sea levels, diversity in agriculture, and renewable energies.

  Ms Eunson says the concept of global citizenship is a strong theme which runs through the programme. “The participants share experiences from their own countries and help to create bonds with each other by bringing their different perspectives to the table.”

  Being involved in the programme has been a profound experience for many of the participants.

  “Often, if you think as an individual about environmental issues, you don’t feel as though you can achieve much, but when you see all these people together with the same objective, you feel really powerful to make change,” says Julia Harvey, who grew up in Invercargill.

  “Meeting people from different backgrounds with a common interest has provided a unique opportunity to learn about sustainability in both countries,” says Javiera Otero, originally from Villa Alemana, Chile, but currently living in Napier.

  “This experience has given me hope for the future, as there are people out there who want to make changes to live a more compatible life with the planet.”

  Winds of Change programme builds credibility and impact

  Winds of Change is quickly building its network and outreach. “As we build the credibility of the programme, we will start to see long-term impacts,” Ms Eunson predicts.

  This new generation of leaders is already anticipating a future of global collaboration. In last year’s first post-programme survey, participants identified the most important benefits as “building networks, connections, and relationships”, and “having confidence to work in a transnational team”.

  LatAm CAPE Director Matthew O’Meagher says he looks forward to the ongoing expansion of the programme to include other partners, and ideally other nations in Latin America. “In this way we can continue to provide the best opportunities for our talented young New Zealanders to engage internationally on innovative scientific, sustainable business, and policy-focused, solutions to climate change.”

  Dr Moy agrees. “Our future depends on culturally-aware young leaders that can think globally and work collaboratively to tackle climate change impacts.”

  Learn more about the Winds of Change programme on the LatAm CAPE website.

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• Spotlight on Japan

  When young Japanese student and talented rugby player Megumi came to New Zealand for six weeks to learn English in 2018, she loved it so much she decided to stay.

  Her welcoming host family and peers were a large part of why she chose to make the move – on top of the chance to play rugby four times a week and learn at a high-quality secondary school.

  Megumi is just one of the over 9,000 Japanese who come to New Zealand annually to study.

  In fact, Japan is the third largest source country for New Zealand’s international education sector.

  “New Zealand really values its education relationship with Japan, which stretches back over 60 years,” ENZ General Manager International, Lisa Futschek, says. “It’s economically important, but it also helps to enrich our young people’s lives and maintain strong cultural and people-to-people ties.”

  The number of Japanese students coming here to study has grown steadily since 2013, and looks likely to increase as a number of Japanese government policies centred on internationalisation take effect.

  ENZ Senior Market Development Manager for Japan, Misa Kitaoka, says 688 people visited the 2019 ENZ Fair, held in September; an all-time high and up from 500 visitors in 2018.

  “I noticed significantly more parents with young children were present at the fair and this is likely driven by the fact that English will become a compulsory subject for primary-schoolers in Japan next year from 2020,” she says.

  

  While the market demand has traditionally been focused on short-term programmes (less than three months), Misa also saw increasing interest in the long-term studies among the visitors. Given the Japanese government’s internationalisation agenda, Japanese universities are increasingly adopting the Admission Office (AO) method of assessing applicants. This means there is less emphasis on Japan’s university entrance exam held once a year, allowing those students who return from New Zealand with NCEA certification to more easily apply to Japanese universities.

  Scholarships are also playing a part in generating interest in New Zealand. The Japanese government also support a series of scholarships. The Japan Student Services Organisation (JASSO), for example, offers monetary awards for both inbound and outbound students studying at tertiary level. The TOBITATE (“leap for tomorrow” in Japanese) Study Abroad initiative administered by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) also provides scholarships for both school and tertiary students to study overseas.  

  What do Japanese students love about New Zealand?

  Most Japanese students travel to New Zealand to study at secondary school level.

  The opportunity to learn English in a safe and supportive environment is attractive to many Japanese learners, as is the chance to visit a country that is almost as rugby-mad as Japan. Programmes such as Game On English leverage both interests, bringing students here to both learn English and play sport at the same time.

  New Zealand’s unique style of teaching is also a major attraction for prospective Japanese students and their parents. From primary school on, Kiwi students are encouraged to work collaboratively with digital devices, which develops the “21st century skills” promoted by the Japanese government and outlined in a report published by the World Economic Forum. Additionally, Japanese students coming to New Zealand will experience this learning environment in an inclusive and diverse environment with many different cultures.

  Many Japanese alumni report that the Māori culture made a big impact on their time in New Zealand. Research released by the Asia New Zealand Foundation in September this year, New Zealand and Japan: To Our Future, identified Japan as the Asian country that held the most culturally similar views and values to Māori culture.

  “The importance Japanese people place on reciprocity and hospitality resonates with values like manaakitanga and kaitiakitanga. Both cultures emphasise respect for elders, take a long-term perspective and stress personal relationships underpinning business dealings.”

  2019 Rugby World Cup

  Education New Zealand, alongside other NZ Inc agencies, have concentrated efforts on raising New Zealand’s profile in Japan during the Rugby World Cup 2019.

  New Zealand and Japan: To Our Future found that many Japanese have a limited view of New Zealand. New Zealand was seen as being safe, clean and green, but also a little unsophisticated and not as technologically advanced as Japan.

  Tourism New Zealand led the hosting of a pop-up event with support from ENZ last month. 

  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern attended and posed for pictures with former All Blacks captain Richie McCaw and international alumni.

  ENZ’s Misa Kitaoka says cross-agency collaboration like this is one of the most effective ways to increase awareness of New Zealand among the Japanese public.

  “As destination marketing plays a key role for us, I hope to leverage high-profile NZ Inc activities and ministerial visits.”

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