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  • Haere ra Afiqah, Haere mai Vikram

    We spoke recently with the former NZISA National President for 2021, Afiqah Ramizi, and with the National President for 2022, Vikram Selvaraj. 

    Afiqah Ramizi, NZISA National President 2021

    Afiqah has been in New Zealand since 2015, when she left Malaysia to undertake tertiary study here.  After completing a foundation course at ACG (now known as UP International College), Afiqah started on a six-year medical degree at the University of Auckland (UoA) and is now in her final year.   

    Afiqah’s advocacy work started during her time at ACG, when she was selected to represent the college under an International Student Ambassador programme, run by the New Zealand Police in Auckland. The main focus was to support engagement with the student community, and lift students’ understanding about how to keep themselves safe in a foreign country and what support is available.  

    At university, Afiqah joined the Malaysian students’ association and became Vice President.  In 2019 and again in 2020, she was elected as the International Students Officer for the UoA Students Association.  During these years, she became involved with NZISA through their multiple lobbying efforts and community engagement. Afiqah was elected NZISA’s Vice President in 2020, before being elected National President in 2021.   

    Looking back on her experience at NZISA, Afiqah says she is proud to have been involved in making sure that the voices of international students were heard as New Zealand responded to COVID-19, amongst many other achievements of NZISA since 2017. 

    “Last year we were successful in lobbying for temporary changes to international students’ maximum working hours, so they could work more during alert levels 3 and 4,” Afiqah says. “This was really important for students at a time when their studies were disrupted, and some students were facing financial hardship. This temporary increase was also appreciated by local employers, as they were needing more people able to work full-time, to keep their businesses running.”  

    In her role as National President, Afiqah was involved in supporting the groups of international students coming back to New Zealand while the border was closed. Her team’s continuous advocacy to government bodies saw more international student cohort border exceptions announced, which meant more international students were able to return and resume life in New Zealand. 

    “Staying in managed isolation and quarantine was a big extra cost for these students, and we know many hesitated to return because of that.  By talking with the institutions involved and advocating for subsidies, we were able to encourage them to cover part of the costs for their returning students. This was a win-win for both the universities and the students.” 

    Supporting students over the holidays was another key focus for NZISA during the past two summers, primarily to help onshore students who couldn’t reconnect with their families while borders were closed.  

    “We worked with ENZ and our regional networks to encourage summer internships, to remain connected in the international community and to indulge in the real Kiwi summer,” Afiqah said. 

    Afiqah herself spent the last summer at the coalface of the COVID-19 response work, drawing on her medical knowledge to support public health. She was initially working to find the source of COVID-19 when contact tracing was a key focus, and through the Omicron surge, she has learned other public health skills as the nature of her work changed from eliminating to managing COVID-19.    

    Now it’s time for her to pass on the baton to the 2022 President, and an opportunity to focus on her final year of medical school! 

     

    Vikram Selvaraj, NZISA National President 2022

    Now in the final semester of a Bachelor of Criminal Justice degree at University of Canterbury, Vikram came to New Zealand in 2018 from Singapore with his partner and began studying here the following year.  

    “The Bachelor of Criminal Justice was a new degree, and I realised it was exactly what I wanted to study,” Vikram says. “It combines law with a range of other subjects, all related to criminal justice.” 

    Vikram is the eldest of three siblings and the sole breadwinner for his family, having lost both parents. His two siblings are still living in Singapore, and Vikram has continued to run a hairdressing salon there during his years in NZ. It’s more than three years since Vikram last saw his family in Singapore, but he isn’t planning a trip home any time soon, because of the risk that border settings might change again.  

    Vikram brings a range of relevant experience to his new role as NZISA National President.  At University of Canterbury (UC), he was a UniLife Leader, the first to be in charge of mature students, both domestic and international.  It was his role to support them, provide pastoral care and a voice on the issues they were facing.  His work was recognised with a Blues Award from UC Students Association in 2021, for Outstanding Achievement in Community Engagement.  

    Vikram is excited about his new role as NZISA National President.  He was elected in December and took up the role in late January, along with an all-new executive team of eight students.   

    “We’re planning a number of projects for the year ahead,” Vikram says. 

    UC joined NZISA last year and continuing to increase membership will be one of the priorities for Vikram and his team this year.   

    “We also have ideas for a range of projects for students that different members of the team will lead during the year.  This includes working with NZ Police to help students understand the risks of scams and online gambling; supporting students with resources to combat racism and discrimination; and empowering women.” 

    Vikram says it’s his belief that he can do something that has brought him to where he is today.  He’s very conscious of the challenges faced by many international students, for example when their financial situation changes, and they find it hard to get the support they need.  

    “Kiwi students aren’t always aware that international students are paying a premium price for their studies,” he says.   

    “Sometimes students feel homesick, or experience racism – whatever the particular challenge, it’s important for them to know that someone is listening to them.” 

    Fun fact about Vikram:  Vikram has a Japanese Spritz dog called Tiger that he brought with him to New Zealand.

    Sahinde Pala, ENZ’s Director Student Experience & Global Citizens, says ENZ sets great store by our relationship with NZISA. 

    “We have really valued the contribution Afiqah has made during her years with NZISA, and we look forward to working closely with Vikram and his team over the coming year,” Sahinde says.

  • Prime Ministers Scholarships for Latin America Awardees PMSLA 2019 20 Round 1 Dec 2023

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  • Discount for AIEC 2024 Melbourne – E-News special!

    AIEC 2024 are offering New Zealand delegates a special rate for their upcoming conference in Melbourne from 22 to 25 October. This year’s theme, ‘the human element’, invites educators, researchers, policymakers and thought leaders to explore the multifaceted dimensions of human interactions across the international education landscape in this rapidly evolving digital era. 

    In amongst an action-packed programme, there are several New Zealand speakers presenting this year on topics relevant to New Zealand delegates that include:  

    Anyone registering by the 30th of September will lock in the early bird rate (a saving of $150 off the standard rate).  

    Use code ENZ150@AIEC24 at the checkout to receive the rate. This is limited to the first 50 registrants and is applicable to Non-Client/Member Standard rate only. 

    Find out more, including the full programme of keynotes, workshops, sessions, plus social events and exhibition activations on AIEC's event website here - Australian International Education Conference | AIEC (idp.com) 

  • ANZA

  • Around the world in five: March 2022

    International 

    Opinion... from the News Editor, 17.03.22 

    India joins hands with Australian government to establish taskforce on qualifications recognition 

     

    New Zealand 

    New Zealand confirms details of 5,000 international student cohort 

    Call to end cap on number of international students allowed in NZ 

     

    Australia

    Once again, international student ‘exports’ are wildly exaggerated 

    Australia's one-off opportunity to change its approach to international students 

    Only Half of International Students May Return to Australia This Year 

    Aus: $10m innovation fund revealed 

     

    India

    Auckland University Offers 10 Virtual Internships for Indian Women Students 

    Everest Twins and Miss Malini share their stories at International Women’s Summit 

    Edtech a big draw among teachers despite covid ease 

     

    United Kingdom

    Record UK University Applications from UAE 

     

    United States

    Biden immigration rule will harm American college graduates, expert warns 

    US: international students say experience doesn’t justify cost 

     

    Vietnam

    Bravery of international students after Covid-19 

    New Zealand offers digital technology training scholarships to teachers 

  • Funding available to reimagine international education

    Registrations of interest are open now for ENZ’s International Education Product Innovation Fund (PIF), closing on Wednesday 4 May 2022. Funding is available to all New Zealand-based organisations and individuals with fresh ideas for international education. 

    The PIF will support providers of education – whether established, new or emerging – to explore, develop and test pilot projects of new products and services that reimagine international education. 

    “New” could mean the mode of delivery, the configuration, the learner experience and learner outcomes, or the type of collaboration. The pilot projects developed through the PIF will help explore what could set New Zealand apart from its competitors, how students want to engage with New Zealand education, and how to increase the sector’s resilience to future shocks. 

    “We are extremely excited to now be receiving registrations of interest for the Product Innovation Fund”, says Euan Howden, ENZ’s Director of Innovation. “By encouraging and enabling the development of new, innovative products and services, we are seeking to position the sector for a more sustainable and resilient future and take advantage of trends such as alternative credentials, life-long learning and flexible learning.” 

    Underlying the PIF is the principle of tukutuku, or partnership. Each pilot project supported through the PIF will be a partnership based on mutual benefit and reciprocity between ENZ and the provider. 

    ENZ will offer funding of up to $300,000 per pilot (but is open to considering proposals that seek greater funding), as well as connections, support and credibility. In turn, ENZ is looking for applicants who can show a commitment of resource, a willingness to share lessons, reporting and insights for broader benefit, an openness to new thinking, and willingness to give best effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. 

    The PIF is one of ENZ’s initiatives underway to build a sustainable and diverse international education sector for New Zealand which is more resilient to future shocks such as COVID-19. The programme is funded by the Covid Response and Recovery Fund and is linked to the Government’s Strategic Recovery Plan for International Education. 

    The results of the pilots supported through the PIF will eventually inform recommendations to the Government in September 2023 on future investment in the development and diversification of international education. 

    To learn more and register your interest, click here. 

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