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New Zealand ready to lead students to a more sustainable future
Research commissioned by Education New Zealand in May found that 79 percent of participants were interested in studying sustainability and climate change. And the 2019 QS Environmental Concerns Survey of 3700 prospective international students from around the world found that more than 75 percent would be more likely to choose a degree if the content helped them learn about reducing their environmental impact.
New Zealand is often viewed as a progressive nation delivering new solutions to problems while at the same time valuing people, place, and planet. Our world-class education system prides itself on preparing graduates with the practical skills and innovative thinking sought by future employers. Those skills must also now empower them to address issues of global consequence.
Tertiary education providers boost sustainability education options
New Zealand tertiary education providers are playing an increasingly important role in shaping this enthusiastic generation of learners, with many institutions incorporating a sustainability focus into their research and in many of the courses they offer.
Waikato University has gone one step further, announcing it will offer the world’s first Bachelor of Climate Change degree from next year. The three-year course will take a multi-disciplinary approach combining science, economic, social, and political systems, plus mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge and wisdom).
“We all agreed that science alone can’t come up with all the solutions,” says Dean of Science Professor Margaret Barbour, one of the key players in the development of the programme. “We need people who can think across knowledge systems.” She is enthusiastic about the contribution international students will make, working alongside domestic students.
“International students will broaden our perspectives. They will bring new ideas from their home country and that can only be positive because climate change is a global issue,” she says. “The whole world needs to work together on this. We can’t be constrained by national boundaries.”
“Very soon New Zealand, and the world, will have these graduates who will have a thorough understanding of climate change and the impacts on environment and people, and they’ll be able to think critically and holistically,” says Prof Barbour. “They will have expertise in a particular area related to climate change, but they’ll also have the ability to engage with cultural competency outside their area of expertise.” Whether it’s about protecting our land or our oceans, Aotearoa New Zealand is making its mark. While there is still much work to be done, learners are looking our way for both leadership and collaboration.
Students choose New Zealand for sustainability studies
German PhD student Alexandra Lischka has travelled the world for her research in marine biology but says she chose New Zealand for her doctorate studies because it offered her the opportunity to work with internationally respected marine scientists across three universities.
“There are so many problems facing our marine environment, and I want to help solve them. The old ways of thinking aren’t working when it comes to solving some of the biggest problems facing our oceans. I know I need to forge another path if I want to make a difference.”
Heinrich Blass came to New Zealand from Germany to learn more about sustainable and ecological building practices. He chose to spend two semesters last year taking Building Science courses at Victoria University. “I was able to learn a broad approach to sustainable concepts from design to building technology and engineering systems to green building certification,” he says. “This gave me a deep insight as well as extensive expertise in sustainable building.”
International education experience takes New Zealand thinking to the world
In 2019 and 2020, Auckland University topped 850 institutions from 89 countries in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings which assessed universities against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals across research, outreach, and stewardship.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Dawn Freshwater says the ease of access to oceans and land provides a “natural emphasis” for environmental research. This, combined with the value placed on kaitiakitanga (guardianship) and mātauranga Māori helps to shape “a unique and distinctive approach to sustainability in this country”.
For students who seek a brighter future with a lighter footprint, an international education experience in New Zealand will take our thinking to the world, open pathways to collaborate on global causes, and help make the world a better place.
Mō tātou te taiao ko te atawhai, mō tātou te taiao ko te oranga.
It is for us to care for and look after the environment to ensure its wellbeing; in doing so we ensure our own wellbeing and that of future generations.
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Thirty groups awarded PM's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America
The successful groups were announced by Education Minister Chris Hipkins today, and mark the outcome of the first round of the scholarships since they were paused due to COVID-19.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) congratulates all the successful recipients, who include a marae, non-profit organisation TupuToa, six of New Zealand's eight universities, Te Pūkenga, and a number of private training establishments.
A full list of recipients is available here.
Chris Hipkins also announced that the scholarships will open for individual applications this month. Applications will be open from 18 July - 31 August 2022. More information, including how to apply, is available here.
About the scholarships
The Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America are funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao.
Since 2013, the scholarships have supported more than 2,400 New Zealanders on learning experiences in Asia and Latin America.
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Brazilian university professors visit
Last month Education New Zealand and MFAT joined forces with Latino New Zealand to host representatives from top Brazilian universities on a visit to New Zealand. The visit aimed to establish institution to institution links between universities of the two countries, to increase the Brazilian institutions’ understanding of our universities and to raise our profile in the Science Without Borders programme.
Eight Brazilian universities participated in the visit, including State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and Paulista State University (UNESP), all ranked in the top 500 in world.
The visiting professors met with representatives from all eight of our universities as well as with ENZ, UNZ and the Brazilian Ambassador in New Zealand.
This is the first significant contact between the universities of the two countries and all of the participating universities were very keen to establish long-term research linkages with New Zealand institutions. Most of the Brazilian universities represented are well resourced in various areas of research, particularly in areas such as agriculture and plant and animal sciences.
As a result of the visit, ENZ has received invitations to present to some of the universities and one of the professors also offered to join the New Zealand SWB presentation at his university to share his positive experience in New Zealand. Most of the visiting professors have also uploaded photos of their trip on Facebook and their university pages where they will be widely viewed by their contacts and university communities.
Brazil is New Zealand’s largest source country for international students in Latin America. Traditionally Brazilian students come to New Zealand for short-term language courses, but in recent years we have seen an increase in the number of students from the school sector, mainly due to the Pernambuco state’s Win the World scholarship programme.
Since New Zealand joined the Science without Borders (SWB) scheme in 2013, more than 170 Brazilian students have studied in New Zealand under the undergraduate sandwich programme.
Although the undergraduate sandwich (study abroad) awards take up the majority of the SWB funding, the programme also funds full PhD and sandwich PhD studies. A new Masters programme has also been established and ENZ and UNZ are currently working on New Zealand’s inclusion in this programme.
SWB also provides the following awards:
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Inbound Fellowships which aim to bring early-career researchers and senior scholars to Brazilian universities and research centres.
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Young Talent awards fully fund one to three year research stays in Brazil with an attractive package including round-trip tickets, relocation expenses, a tax-free highly competitive lecturer-level monthly allowance, a contribution toward research costs and funding for research assistantship.
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Special Visiting Researcher Programme for joint projects with research groups in Brazil and work in the country for up to three months every year over two to three years. A generous grant is available to researchers including round-trip tickets for every annual visit, a tax-free highly competitive senior-level monthly allowance, a contribution toward research costs and funding for a sandwich PhD at home and a Post-doctoral Fellowship in Brazil.
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Offshore Technological and Innovation Development awards that support the participation of Brazilian researchers, specialists and technicians in development and training activities overseas.
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Strong interest in Aotearoa New Zealand from Latin America
Students ranked New Zealand second highest as a destination of interest for a future international education programme. The top factors influencing their decisions post-COVID-19 were visa processing, accommodation costs and the academic quality of the institution.
The top decision-making factors for agents were course costs, border settings and airfare costs.
New Zealand ranked highly for competence in managing the pandemic and health control, but it ranked fourth for agents on adequate infrastructure for the reception of international students in the near future. Both agents and students said face-to-face was the preferred mode of study.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao sponsored the survey run by the Brazilian Education and Language Travel Association (BELTA) across Latin America, to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the international education sector.
ENZ’s Latin America team shared the BELTA Latin America 2021 survey results with around 50 industry representatives and agents at a virtual forum in December 2021.
The event also celebrated ENZ’s Recognised Agencies (ENZRA) for their contribution to maintaining the visibility of New Zealand’s education brand during the pandemic.
You can view the webinar and related materials on Intellilab here.
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Cohort 4 students arriving
Andy Walker, Business Development Manager at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, says the nomination process for Cohort 4 has now closed.
“We recently made a final reallocation of unused places to providers from across the sector, who had demonstrated they have travel-ready students.
“Students whose nominations have been confirmed are encouraged to submit their Request for Travel application to Immigration New Zealand as soon as possible. Immigration New Zealand have advised that as at 21 June, 4,709 RFTs had been approved and 1,862 student visa applications granted.
“We’ve worked very closely with the Ministry of Education and collaborated with Immigration New Zealand throughout this process. We have particularly valued the partnership with education providers across the sector to successfully implement the cohort,” Andy says.
“I’m very pleased that we’ve been able to bring back these international students sooner than would otherwise have been possible. International students bring a wealth of social, cultural and economic benefits, and we’re all looking forward to welcoming them back to New Zealand.”
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Student visas & Sri Lanka
Currently these applications are processed in the INZ Bangkok Area Office. From 27 January 2014 the INZ Mumbai Area Office will process all student visa applications lodged in Sri Lanka.
Visa applications will continue to be submitted to the Visa Application Centre (VAC) in Colombo, Sri Lanka. However, once applications are processed in India there will no longer be an option to pay by credit card. All visa application fees must be paid in $USD Bank Drafts made out to “Immigration New Zealand”.
The VAC service fee remains unchanged and can be paid in cash, bank draft or bank transfer.
Applications from Sri Lanka lodged before 27 January 2014 will continue to be processed at the INZ Bangkok Area Office and can be paid for by credit card.
For further information, please refer to updates on the INZ website here.
General inquiries from Sri Lanka can be directed to: Mumbaifeedback@mbie.govt.nz or NewDelhifeedback@mbie.govt.nz.
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Education New Zealand nominated for three upcoming awards
ENZ recognised for Gilman Scholarship mahi
Education New Zealand has been selected as a finalist in the 2021 AmCham - DHL Express Success & Innovation Awards. The awards, run by the American Chamber of Commerce in New Zealand, celebrate the success and innovation of companies doing business with the United States.
ENZ is a finalist in the Bilateral Connections category and our entry focusses on how our Gilman Scholarship funding and other initiatives underway with US federal agencies and education institutions are helping build lasting connections between New Zealand and the United States through education. The winners will be announced at a function in Auckland on 26 August.
ENZ's digital China ecosystem recognised in China Business Awards
ENZ is a finalist in the 2021 HSBC NZCTA China Business Awards, New Zealand's preeminent awards for recognising business success in China. ENZ is nominated for the United Media Solution Award for Digital Excellence in Business between China and New Zealand, for our China digital ecosystem and experience work.
Tū Ngātahi nominated in prestigious marketing awards
ENZ's Tū Ngātahi campaign, delivered by Special Group, has been selected as a finalist in the Designers Institute of New Zealand Best Design Awards. Tū Ngātahi calls for New Zealanders to stand together with our international student community and send a message of empathy and support. It is nominated in the Public Good category.
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Update from Immigration New Zealand
Peak processing season in full swing
Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has seen an increase in applications submitted during September 2024, ahead of the 1 October visa fee and levy increase and because of our ‘apply early’ messaging.
In September 2023, approximately 3,104 international student visa applications were submitted and in September 2024, approximately 6,893 international student visa applications have been submitted, an increase of 122%.
Now that we are in our peak processing period, we expect these processing times to grow as we receive a higher volume of applications. Students should get their visa application in at least 3 months before they plan to travel to New Zealand for the first semester of 2025.
By now, most students should have received an offer of place from their chosen education provider. Anyone expecting to study in the first term of 2025 should apply now.
We acknowledge that some students who are waiting on key study documentation are unable to apply 3 months ahead. In these cases, they should apply as soon as they have all of their documents, but they need to be aware that late applications may not be processed in time for them to start studying.
Immigration New Zealand has three student processing sites in New Zealand, and has allocated more staff to processing student visas, compared to last year’s peak.
Ensure you submit a complete applicationTo avoid delays, we encourage students, agents and advisers to follow the advice in our student visa information sheets. If they do not include all the required documents when they submit their application, it may be declined.
Applications that have a statement of purpose letter written by the student, telling us about their personal circumstances and plans in New Zealand, help us assess their intent. If a student intends to apply for another visa after study, they should declare this. Students are allowed to apply for another visa after they finish studying.
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From the CE: Promoting New Zealand’s education in Asia
The visit by Education Minister Chris Hipkins to South Korea, Indonesia and Singapore in October 2022 was an opportunity to reaffirm the Government’s strong commitment to international education. Representatives from the university sector, Te Pūkenga, schools, as well as the PTE and EdTech sectors, and ENZ were part of the accompanying delegation. Bilateral meetings were held with key Ministers in each country, and there were opportunities to meet with alumni, agents local school children and others. You can read more about this trip in this edition of E-News.
This month, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s visit to Asia also included a significant international education component, particularly in Viet Nam. Education was highlighted as an important pillar of partnership in all bilateral meetings, and we were delighted to help arrange and participate in an education forum in Hanoi. We will report on this trip in more detail next month.
Our recent international education events have featured a mixture of ENZ-run events and commercial and global events. The key aim has been to raise the awareness and profile of New Zealand education, and provide a platform for New Zealand education providers to engage directly with prospective students and their families, with education agencies and other key stakeholders, particularly within Asia. Recent events have included a Korean agent seminar, COEX Fair and New Zealand education night reception in Seoul, a reconnecting series with Japanese partners in Tokyo, Viet Nam agent seminars and fairs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, and a Thai agent seminar and fair in Bangkok. Looking ahead to next year’s events, ENZ’s international event calendar for the first half of 2023 is now on our website here.
The second phase of New Zealand’s successful international marketing campaign, I AM NEW, is now underway with a primary focus on China, India, South Korea, Japan, USA, Brazil, Viet Nam, Thailand and Germany. While the initial campaign aimed to raise awareness that New Zealand has reopened for international education, this second phase is focussed on reigniting interest in a New Zealand study experience, and transforming that interest into a commitment to study with New Zealand. A Spanish version of the I AM NEW campaign has also just been launched yesterday in Bogotá, Colombia, to reach this important segment of the Latin America market.
As we work with our partners and stakeholders within New Zealand and offshore to promote New Zealand education in the lead up to the 2023 student intake, we are hearing about a shortage of homestay accommodation that it would be good to resolve. More families are needed to welcome international students into their homes. This can be an enormously rewarding experience for everyone involved, one that builds lasting friendships and a deeper understanding of people from another language and culture. We will be talking with the sector to agree the best approach to addressing this challenge.
Finally, if you are looking to contact our Auckland-based team, please note that we have moved out of our office on Quay Street, and will be in a new office at 191 Queen Street from 5 December 2022.
He rau ringa e oti ai – Many hands make light work.
- Regional visa dashboard FY 2015