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  • NZ-based education agents engage with sector

    “This proved to be a really useful opportunity for sector representatives to reconnect with New Zealand-based education agents,” says Geneviève Rousseau Cung, Partnerships Manager at Education New Zealand Manpou ki te Ao (ENZ). 

    Agents heard presentations from Immigration New Zealand and Te Pūkenga during the fair. ENZ spoke about the I AM NEW brand campaign which was launched at NAFSA at the end of May 2022.

    Ms Rousseau Cung says this is the second year that ENZ has organised an event like this for locally based agents.

    “It’s crucial to keep engaging with ENZ Recognised Agents, given their important role in promoting a New Zealand education and connecting prospective students and their families with education providers,” Ms Rousseau Cung says.

    “New Zealand-based agents in particular were adversely affected by the border closure, and so it’s great to support their work as we reconnect with the world.”

    Attendees rated the event as being highly valuable as an opportunity to get up to date information and re-engage face-to-face.

    “We particularly appreciated the networking opportunity and understanding how ENZ is marketing New Zealand to the world,” one agent commented.

  • Girls in Tech Scholarships – Indonesia

    This is the second year of the scholarship programme, organised by Girls in Tech Indonesia, an international NGO focused on empowering women in technology, working with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ).  

    “This scholarship programme showcases a New Zealand learning experience. It also represents a commitment to support Indonesian women's development in the technology field,” says Ben Burrowes, ENZ’s Regional Director Asia.

    Riza, Nurulita Aida Rahmasari, a nutritionist and one of the 2021 awardees, says she found the course extremely worthwhile: “The most exciting moment is when I completed the final project using data about nutrition in Indonesia. As someone who knows nothing about programming, I could complete the eight-week course with a simple analysis using Python. I am hoping that I can use these new skills to gather data that is useful to make a strategic decision for the government, specifically to improve conditions of Indonesians regarding nutrition and health.” 

    This year’s scholarship awardees have already started on their first course in data analytics with Code Avengers, a Hamilton-based edtech company focussed on digital learning. They will take part in a variety of training courses, including product management, until September. Training will be delivered by Code Avengers and by Remote Skills Academy, an Indonesian-based training provider. 

    "We want more women to have digital skills and to be confident using practical technologies that can open up more opportunities for them to take jobs in this field,” Mr Burrowes says.  

    “We also want to provide an opportunity for scholarship recipients to experience learning with a New Zealand institution, through our collaboration with Code Avengers.”

  • APAC TVET Forum registrations go live

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is excited to be hosting this virtual forum in partnership with Skills Consulting Group and Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology.

    This year’s forum theme Reshape – Rethink – Reset reflects the need to ensure the sustainability of workforces through innovation and skill building. The world of work is changing rapidly, so the upskilling and retraining of workers throughout the Asia Pacific region is more important than ever.

    APAC TVET provides an opportunity to share knowledge and insights on best practice across the region.  Participants will hear from sector leaders and practitioners throughout government, business, and education. There will be opportunities for learning, discussion, and networking.

    The wide-ranging programme features topics such as:  

    • Solving skills shortages in a global community 
    • Youth employment and lifelong learning
    • Skills for tomorrow and the credentials required 
    • Reimagining work: Digital transformation  
    • Inclusive systems that bridge the gender gap and promote diversity 
    • Embedding sustainability in vocational education

    Speakers are drawn from across the region, and include:  

    • Grant McPherson, Chief Executive – Education New Zealand 
    • Leon Fourie, Chair International Working Group – Te Pūkenga
    • Khun Phornvit Phacharintanakul, Senior Vice President – CP Group (Thailand) 
    • Akustina Morni, Senior Advisor – International Organisation of Employers (Brunei)
    • Dr Rohit Kishore, Director – Fiji Higher Education Commission
    • Kameli Batiweti, Chief Executive Officer – Fiji Commerce & Employers Federation
    • Dee Halil, Datacenter Region Expansion Skills Program Manager – Microsoft
    • Frances Valintine, Founder/Chief Executive Officer - The Mind Lab Tech Futures Lab
    • Professor Chan Lee, Seoul National University (South Korea) 
    • Afiq Redzuan, Group Chief Executive Officer – Multimedia Technology Enhancement Operations (Malaysia)

    All main APAC TVET Forum sessions will offer synchronous translation in four languages: Mandarin, English, Bahasa Indonesia, and Vietnamese.

    For more information and to register visit www.apactvetforum.com

  • More than 1,000 delegates attend NZIEC KI TUA 2022

    NZIEC at a glance   

    • 1,065: Registered delegates, making this the biggest NZIEC ever  
    • 105: Sessions delivered across the week  
    • 101: Speakers   
    • 11: MCs and facilitators  
    • 8: Time zones that ENZ’s international team members joined sessions from   
    • 3: Studios in operation, in Pōneke Wellington, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and Ōtautahi Christchurch 
    • 88%: Delegate satisfaction for keynote and plenary sessions (rated good or very good).

    “This was the largest NZIEC ever held, which shows the high level of interest in rebuilding the international education sector within Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Grant McPherson.

    “I’d like to thank our line-up of keynote, plenary and breakout speakers, as well as everyone who took the time to attend. I hope all of our delegates were encouraged and inspired and gained a gem or two for the rebuild journey ahead.” 

    Prime Minister and Minister address conference delegates 

    Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern recorded a special message for our sector. If you missed it during the conference closing session, take a moment to view it now.

    YouTube

     

    Education Minister Chris Hipkins also addressed conference delegates and answered questions. Conference delegates can view this session on the event portal.

    New ingoa Māori  

    This year, to celebrate its 29th birthday, NZIEC was gifted a new ingoa Māori (te reo Māori name): NZIEC KI TUA. The name was inspired by the following whakataukī:  

     

    He rā ki tua.  

    Look positively toward the future,  Better times are coming.  

     

    Ki Tua is not about returning to the ‘status quo’. It’s about reconnecting to the world, finding a fresh perspective, and taking a new approach.

    “The adoption of NZIEC KI TUA reflects our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and the Maihi Karauna, the Crown’s Strategy for Māori Language Revitalisation,” Mr McPherson says.

    “NZIEC’s new name also reflects Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinct cultural identity and the importance of continuing to develop our sector’s annual conference.” 

    Sessions are still available  

    Registered delegates can watch or re-watch conference sessions from the event portal until Friday 16 September. 

    Conference highlights 

    Recognising the challenge facing the international education sector, the conference explored the theme of Towards Recovery: Reflect, Reconnect and Renew. 

    The programme started by reflecting on the sector’s pandemic experience, including moving reflections from international students and international education practitioners. Delegates explored student experience through the pandemic.

    The programme then shifted to reconnecting with the world. Delegates heard from Minister of Education, Hon Chris Hipkins, and New Zealand’s leading trade negotiator, Vangelis Vitalis. 

    Mid-week we turned our attention to renewal, and how our industry can seize the big opportunities and overcome the big challenges it faces. We explored the intersection of te ao Māori and international education, how we can develop global citizenship, approaches to innovation and diversification, and tackling the climate challenge.  

     

    Quotes that struck a chord 

      

    • “I learned a lot about love, I think. Love and care during this pandemic”  
      - Veena TK, Masters student from Malaysia, reflects on an unexpected aspect of her pandemic experience in Aotearoa.  

      

    • “I love my school canteen. You know especially butter chicken pie, they’re $4 each. Pretty good.”  
      – Year 13 student Chad (Min-Hyeok) Kang’s favourite go-to food spot in New Zealand is close to home.  

      

    • "I do want to thank everybody for their ongoing feedback and support and for the huge amount of resilience and persistence that we have seen across the international education sector. I do think there are some very, very exciting things ahead for us."  
      – Hon Chris Hipkins, Minister of Education, in his remarks to the international education sector.  

      

    • “Let me start first with the international context… we have war, we have plague, we have the famine and of course we have climate change as well”  
      – Vangelis Vitalis discusses contemporary challenges in the international arena. 

      

    • “Knowledge wasn’t retained for status, it wasn’t a choice. Often it was associated to the wellbeing and betterment of our people” 
      – Sharlene Maoate-Davis talks about how education is conceived and valued from a te ao Māori perspective.  

      

    • “Six months in a leaky boat has a whole new meaning to me”  
      – Abbas Nazari on his experience prior to being rescued by the MV Tampa. More seriously, he offered these remarks: “The essence of my talk is very simple… in life there are obstacles and challenges that fall across your path. Despite all these challenges, there is always light at the end of the tunnel.” 

      

    • “The weight of the past is constantly fighting with the pull of the future and the push of the present to try and kill innovation”  
      – Melissa Clarke-Reynolds on organisational immune systems’ reactions to innovation.  

      

    • “Changing your world is your critical contribution to changing the world”  
      – Dr Kennedy Graham on how you can contribute to the climate challenge.

    Stay tuned to next month’s E-News for more details on NZIEC KI TUA 2023.

  • Innovation at Festival for the Future

    This annual event showcases leadership and innovation, and seeks to amplify rangatahi and minority voices, to demonstrate leadership around topics such as climate action, diversity and inclusion, and sustainable development.

    More than 30 speakers took part, attracting more than 1,000 participants across New Zealand, as well as online participants around the world.

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) promoted the Prime Minister's Scholarships for Asia and Latin America and ENZ's mahi in global citizenship more broadly.

    ENZ's space on the expo floor at Festival for the Future

    Former Prime Minister’s Scholar for Asia, Young New Zealander of the Year, and co-founder of Aotearoa’s first Māori owned electricity company, Ezra Hirawani, was one of the opening keynote speakers. Ezra spoke about the importance of global citizenship, what it means for him as a Māori New Zealander and how it can be used to address the issues of our lifetime.

    In addition to partnering with Inspiring Stories Trust as a sponsor of the Festival, ENZ supported the Global Impact Award. Courtney Davies, a young New Zealander leading environmental programmes for young people across New Zealand and Africa, with a focus on sustainable change and action, received this year’s award.

    Left to right: Allan Chan, Michelle Chen and Kurt Weston - three of the Prime Minister's Scholarship alumni who joined us at Festival for the Future to share their scholarship experience with others.

    ENZ's Karl Wixon delivers Hono-ki-te-Ao - Global Citizenship from a te ao Māori perspective, ENZ's workshop at Festival for the Future. Throughout the Festival weekend, Karl ran the workshop four times to packed out audiences.

    ENZ's Jordana Zhu (centre) and former Prime Minister's Scholar Allan Chan (centre right) engage with attendees at ENZ's expo space.

    Courtney Davies (right), winner of the 2022 Global Impact Award, speaks on the main stage during a panel discussion on the final day of the Festival.

    Some of ENZ's wider team at the Festival. Left to right: Carla Rey Vasquez, Seb Klinkum, Nera Leitupo, Tereska Thornton, Marina Wilmerstadt, Michelle Chen and Nick McNeil.

  • Welcoming Michael Zhang to Team China

    Michael brings to the role 10 years of experience as a New Zealand diplomat. Throughout his professional career he has had a strong focus on China and an extensive record of working in the international education market in China. Having served as Acting Consul-General in Guangzhou and Deputy Consul-General in Chengdu, Michael has a deep understanding of the operating context in China. 

    Combined with his expertise in Chinese language and culture, Michael brings a highly valuable skillset at a critical time for the international education sector, says Lisa Futschek, GM International at ENZ. 

    “We will be very sorry to farewell Miranda Herbert, who has been with us since June 2019, but it’s exciting to have another highly qualified person for this important role,” Ms Futschek says. 

    Michael will undertake an induction programme in ENZ’s Wellington office from 5 September 2022 before visiting key international education providers in New Zealand, as well as NZ Inc agencies. He will relocate to Beijing from the end of September, for a three-week handover with Miranda and the ENZ team on the ground.

  • Entrepreneurial skills lead teams to win BizVenture Japan challenge

    The business pitch challenge centred around iconic New Zealand brand Cookie Time, which has operations in Japan. Six teams of Kiwi students and four Japanese teams experienced a taste of entrepreneurship through ‘dragon’s den’ style business pitches, tackling one of two real-world business briefs.  

    The first focussed on the development of a new product for Cookie Time to introduce to its already established Japanese food and beverage market, supported by a three-year marketing plan. 

    The second focussed on the identification of a new market opportunity for Cookie Time to deliver its existing product range, either through a new sales channel, distribution model, or food and beverage sector.   

    While Covid-19 lockdowns in 2021 meant BizVenture Japan’s pilot year was entirely virtual, BizVenture Japan 2022 saw 30 Kiwi students from across the country flown to Wellington to experience cross-cultural education in person and present their business solutions, while Japanese students gathered at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo.

    New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Hamish Cooper, welcomed Japanese students to the New Zealand Embassy, Tokyo

    The winning New Zealand team comprised Fred Sugden from Taradale High School, Tiana Manu-Griffin from Tokoroa High School, Archie MacDonald from Cashmere High School, Jackson Wright from Whangaparaoa College and Keira Hills-Wilson from New Plymouth Girls’ High School.

    The winning New Zealand team

    Targeted at middle-aged Japanese businesspeople looking for an energy boost, and high school students fuelling their study, the line of Enerugi Cookies and Sweet Enerugi Senbei (rice cakes) combines Japanese culture, energy and the iconic Kiwi Cookie Time brand to offer a compelling product for the two target markets.  

    “Energy drinks are a growing market in Japan as people seek out more energy to work and help support their families,” said Fred Sugden, a Napier local. “At the same time, we learned that parents do not give their children energy drinks as many believe it will make their children go ‘crazy’.  

    “By offering a product with familiar and healthy ingredients like Matcha and creating a unique spin on traditional Senbei (rice cakes), we are confident our line will be enjoyed by Japanese consumers.”  

    Tiana Manu-Griffin, says the exposure to Japanese business and culture helped unleash the team’s creativity as they collaborated with like-minded individuals.

    Students from the affiliated schools of Waseda University and Japan Women’s University took part in the challenge from the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo

    “The best part of the competition was the ability to work directly with Japanese students and businesspeople, to understand the importance of culture and tradition in Japan. As a result, we developed a proposal that our target market loved, putting a twist on Japanese traditions and culture to reduce the use of energy drinks in Japan,” Manu-Griffin says.  

    “It was amazing to see what we could accomplish using our different backgrounds and experiences as a sounding board for problem-solving.” 

    BizVenture Japan students were mentored through a series of interactive workshops, where teams were encouraged to delve deep into the Japanese culture and business environment.  

    The bilateral collaboration exposed students to business and culture in both countries, with Kiwis developing their cross-cultural skills and Japanese students building on their entrepreneurial talents and English language fluency.  

    “I’m walking away from this experience with real-world skills and knowledge that I can take with me into university and the workplace. I now have a better understanding of how to approach business problems not only in New Zealand but around the world,” says Manu-Griffin. 

    Misa Kitaoka, Director of Education, Japan, for Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao, says the collaboration with Japan marked a special milestone.   

    “This year we celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Japan. BizVenture Japan serves as a way to continually build on this relationship, as travel for international students to New Zealand continues to open up. 

    “With education fostering people-to-people ties and supporting the development of close connections between our two countries, we cannot wait to take this collaboration to the next level in 2023.”  

    The 2022 BizVenture Japan programme is an initiative co-hosted by Education New Zealand, North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence, and Young Enterprise Trust. Education partners in Japan include Japan Women’s University affiliated schools and Waseda University affiliated schools.  

    2022 BizVenture Japan is supported by the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo and Embassy of Japan in Wellington. Cookie Time New Zealand and the Cookie Time Harajuku store kindly offered to be the focal business for the latest business challenge.

  • Building links in Malaysia

    The college also formalised its collaboration with the University of Canterbury (UC) at the event, which was attended by the Chief Minister of Penang, Mr Chow Kon Yeow, and New Zealand’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E Pam Dunn.  

    Mr Chow highlighted the importance of ensuring Malaysians have access to diverse education options that broaden their prospects as global citizens. 

    “The higher education sector plays an invaluable role in realising Malaysia’s targets of becoming a high-income nation,” he said.  

    Over the past two years, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao has focused on sustaining New Zealand’s global reputation through education and research partnerships, as well as leveraging digital tools to maximise learning experiences.  

    In Malaysia, this includes a programme launched by DISTED College in collaboration with UC, which allows eligible students to apply for a one-year advanced standing into UC’s Bachelor of Commerce degree. Students can also enter other UC programmes, including in engineering and science, via a range of pathway programmes offered by the college. 

    Mr Chow said cross-border collaborations like these, which allow students to begin their studies closer to home before seamlessly transitioning to a higher degree in New Zealand, significantly lower the cost and broaden the range of opportunities for Malaysian students. 

    Brian Imrie, Chief Executive Officer at DISTED College, is himself a New Zealander, and places high value on this opportunity from UC, for international students to explore the world and help solve future global challenges. Previous students have returned to Malaysia enthusiastic about their experience and the career opportunities it provided, he said. 

    Malaysia is one of New Zealand’s oldest and closest diplomatic partners in Southeast Asia, and this year marks 65 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.  

    L to r: Siti Karina (University of Canterbury), Ben Burrowes (ENZ), Chow Kon Yeow (Chief Minister of Penang), Brian Imrie, Chief Executive Officer at DISTED College, H.E Pam Dunn (NZ High Commissioner to Malaysia)

  • ENZ hosts its first famil since 2019

    Eleven public universities were represented in the Malaysian delegation of senior executives from the Multimedia Technology Enhancement Operations Sdn Bhd (METEOR). METEOR is a consortium of universities that aims to provide advanced solutions through technology. This was an exploratory visit, to enable delegates to discuss a range of opportunities and possible partnerships with New Zealand universities and Te Pūkenga.  

    The visit was exciting on many fronts as our institutions demonstrated their expertise and explored mutually beneficial relationships, regions showcased their attractions, and the famil delegates from Malaysia experienced many aspects of New Zealand. 

    The eight-day visit included Wellington, Canterbury and the Waikato. While the start of the week coincided with a cold southerly storm, this was mitigated by warm hospitality and the promise of sun later in the week.  

    L to r: Lisa Futschek, GM International at ENZ; ENZ’s Chief Executive Grant McPherson; Mr Muhammad Afiq Bin Redzuan, Group Chief Executive Officer at METEOR; and YB Senator Tuan Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, after signing an Education Cooperation Agreement.

    The delegation was fortunate to meet with Minister of Education Chris Hipkins during their visit. While in Wellington they also signed an Education Cooperation Agreement with ENZ that provides a framework for our relationship going forward. They also met up with Malaysian students at various institutions and heard about their personal experiences here. 

    The delegation saw trades in action at WELTEC’s trades campus where they observed building apprentices on a block course.

    Famils are important for ENZ as well as for New Zealand institutions, as they establish relationships and strengthen people-to-people links. They are also a key way to showcase some of the best education New Zealand has to offer across different regions.  

    ENZ looks forward to hosting more famils in the coming months, in partnership with institutions and regions throughout New Zealand. 

    You can read more about the METEOR famil on the Ara website here. 

    A Kiwi welcome was on offer at a private bach in Duvauchelle near Akaroa.

  • NZ Centre agreement with Peking University renewed

    Established in 2007, the New Zealand Centre promotes strong academic engagement between New Zealand and China across diverse fields and builds mutual understanding between both countries. It is supported by our Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). 

    A special event to mark the signing was jointly held at Peking University and at New Zealand's Parliament on 27 July 2022, hosted by Education Minister Chris Hipkins. Chinese Vice Minister of Education Tian Xuejun provided a speech, while New Zealand’s Ambassador to China, Clare Fearnley, took the opportunity to thank ENZ for funding migratory birds research, announcing this initiative during the ceremony.  Around 50 guests, including former New Zealand ambassadors to China and China experts from New Zealand’s universities, attended the Wellington event.

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