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Around the world in five
United Kingdom
UK: student visas down as dependent applications plummet
The UK Home Office has published data showing a large decline in student dependent applications since new legislation was introduced at the beginning of this year, as well as a fall in student visa applications.Australia
The Australian government has announced a legislative package with a series of new measures for the country’s international education sector. The measures include a cap on new international student enrolments, a prohibition on education providers holding ownership positions in education agencies, a ban on agent commissions for onshore student transfers, and more stringent oversight of education providers and agents alike.
India
Record immigration is colliding with housing crises across the world
India Times is reporting that countries like Canada and Australia are reevaluating their immigration policies to address the pressures on housing affordability and sustain economic growth.
United States
Agents worried over high US visa rejections for African students
International education actors in Africa are uniting with their US partners and activists to call on the study destination’s government to ‘rethink’ visa policies for African students.
SEA
Malaysia, Singapore & Thailand rise in THE Asia rankings
India has overtaken China as the second-most represented country in the Times Higher Education Asia University rankings 2024, with 91 universities compared with the neighbouring nation’s 86 institutions.
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Insights Accelerator - 3 things for 30 minutes for PTE and ELS providers
The goal of the Insights Accelerator sessions is to offer concise information and insights to support our PTE and ELS providers. By focusing on three things within 30 minutes, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) hopes to efficiently deliver useful takeaways while being mindful of busy schedules.
ENZ’s General Manager, Sector Engagement and Innovation, Wendy Kerr said that two Insights Accelerator sessions have been held so far and were well received by attendees.
“My team is constantly reviewing ways we can better engage with the sector and add greater value. With this platform, we hope that we can support providers in their strategic planning endeavours through the sharing of useful information about our services, as well as market insights.
“These sessions also provide an avenue for us to understand more about our customers. We will be hosting more of these sessions in the coming months so please keep an eye out for the invitation”, added Wendy.
For the launch session, Nick Sinclair, ENZ’s Global Brand Manager presented on the international advertising campaign: Learn New Every Day, and talked about the campaign rationale, channels and target markets, and campaign assets as well as where and how the sector can use these.
In the second Insights Accelerator, ENZ’s Director Insights Marie Clark presented information on ENZ Intellilab, including 2023 Ministry of Education Student Enrolment Data. Marie shared how providers can access Intellilab and the range of information available. The session also looked at the survey findings from the 2023 New Zealanders’ perceptions of the value of international education research and 2023 International Students Experience research.
If anyone missed the sessions, the slide pack and presentation can be accessed via the links below.
For further information, please contact Jane Yang, ENZ Business Development Manager – jane.yang@enz.govt.nz
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Tokyo Board of Education seeks NZ education providers for Masterclass promotional opportunity
The Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education (BoE) is one of Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao’s (ENZ) education cooperation arrangement partners in Japan. The BoE is currently looking for 1-2 New Zealand education providers to provide online classes for their Virtual Study Abroad session, part of the Tokyo English Channel.
These classes are designed to provide Tokyo secondary school students with the opportunity to connect with education providers from around the world, including New Zealand. During these sessions, students are exposed to new ways of thinking from lecturers while interacting and enhancing their communication skills in English with other international participants. The deadline to submit an expression of interest (EOI) is Tuesday 29 May COB NZT.
ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager, Misa Kitaoka, said that this opportunity gives New Zealand providers a chance to promote themselves to a wide audience that includes high school students in Japan learning English as a second language as well as a larger audience of English-speaking students from Australia, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Indonesia, Jordan, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, UAE, and Viet Nam.
“This is a great opportunity for Education New Zealand and New Zealand providers to work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education to co-develop educational materials for a significant number of Japanese secondary school students. In 2023, the BoE Virtual Study Abroad pages received 840,000 views.
“Lecture videos will include promotional materials from your institution and will be publicly accessible on the BoE website after the Virtual Study Abroad Session,” said Misa.
Screenshot of the BoE website which hosted Massey University classes in 2022. The videos can be accessed via this link.
The online lectures will contain:
1. Two pre-class videos: Introduction of the lecture theme and discussion topics of approximately 5 minutes each. The pre-recorded videos will be streamed on the Virtual Study Abroad website for students to watch before participating in the actual lecture.
2. Actual lecture: Delivered online via Zoom or other video conference system on 14 October or 4 November 2024. The lecture contains:
- A two-minute school promotion (pre-recorded video)
- Lecture Part One. Presentation from the lecturer (10 minutes)
- 20 minutes of group discussion
- A 10-minute presentation by students
- Lecture Part Two. Presentation from the lecturer (10 minutes)
- 20 minutes of group discussion
- A 10-minute presentation by students
- A five-minute wrap up
The event overview and EOI requirements can be found in this document: Tokyo English Channel_Virtual Study Abroad_Lecture Themes and Event Outline.pdf.
Interested parties can submit their EOI by completing this online form: https://forms.office.com/r/U544y9CQ7D
Selection Criteria includes:
- Lecture Theme: Is the lecture theme relevant to New Zealand or the New Zealand-Japan relationship?
- Abstract: Does the abstract clearly show New Zealand’s capability or strengths in the selected topic?
- Audience: Is the lecture abstract engaging and interesting for the target audience of high school students?
The timeline for the EOI process is as follows:
Timeline:
- 31 May: ENZ submits the New Zealand finalists to Tokyo BoE
- 28 June: NZ finalists confirm the lecture title and abstract with Tokyo BoE
- 30 August: NZ finalists work with Tokyo BoE nominated vendor to record pre-lectures
- 30 August: NZ finalists provide school/institution promotion video* to Tokyo BoE
*School/institution promotion video doesn’t have to be recorded for this purpose. The school/institution can provide their existing videos e.g. already on YouTube, etc.
14 October or 4 November: Participate in online event
Examples from past event can be found via these links:
Questions about the Tokyo English Channel can be sent to ENZ’s Japan team at Japan@enz.govt.nz.
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International education front and centre during Prime Minister’s trade mission to SEA
From 14 to 20 April, New Zealand Prime Minister Rt Hon Christopher Luxon led a delegation of New Zealand business and government leaders to Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. Included in the delegation was Tracey Bridges, Board Chair of Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), who joined a small group of education sector representatives, as well as other New Zealand Inc partners, including New Zealand Trade and Enterprise and New Zealand Story.
ENZ’s offshore teams based in Singapore and Thailand played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the international education events, ensuring international education was front and centre throughout the visit.
Tracey said that it was pleasing to see that our sector received significant attention throughout the visit and that it played an important part in the New Zealand export story.
“Being part of this delegation gave ENZ the opportunity to reinforce the significant economic, social, cultural, and diplomatic value that international education brings to New Zealand.
“It was also a wonderful opportunity to underscore the importance of people-to-people links in strengthening bilateral relations. The delegation particularly enjoyed meeting so many New Zealand alumni and hearing how their New Zealand education has had a profound impact on their personal and professional success,” added Tracey.
Positive attention on our sector was achieved from the start when Massey University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Jan Thomas signed an Enhanced Collaboration Agreement with Singapore’s PSB Academy’s Executive Chairman Viva Sinniah. This collaboration is a first for a New Zealand university and marks a significant expansion beyond traditional offshore teaching partnerships.
From Singapore, the delegation moved on to Thailand, where ENZ facilitated further international education events. Massey University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) under the Thai Ministry of Education. Under the MoU, Massey University in collaboration with ENZ will host in-market English training workshops for more than 100 Thai teachers under the supervision of OBEC in June 2023. This took place during a joint press conference at the Thai Government House, witnessed by the Rt Hon Christopher Luxon and Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin.
ENZ Thailand, in partnership with Rajamagala University of Technology Phra Nakhon (RMUTP), then hosted New Zealand Member of Parliament Mr. Paulo Garcia, along with 27 delegates at the RMUTP campus for several cultural performances and tours. Later that afternoon, the ENZ Thailand team hosted a New Zealand Alumni Network event inviting the education representatives on the delegation, media representatives and 25 alumni who have all made substantial contributions to the bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Thailand.
ENZ’s Regional Director Asia (excluding China), Ben Burrowes said that Prime Minister Luxon engaged enthusiastically with the alumni and was able to see first-hand the role that international education plays in strengthening people-to-people connections around the world.
“During this event Prime Minister Luxon presented the Distinguished Service Awards to acknowledge the New Zealand Alumni Association in Thailand and the invaluable support it gives to international education.
“In addition to this Award, the Prime Minister presented an Eminent Alumni Award to a graduate who has made outstanding contributions to furthering bilateral ties between our two countries,” said Ben.
The Thai leg of the itinerary finished with a cocktail reception commemorating the Prime Minister’s visit. Over 400 guests representing various New Zealand Inc agencies, key local stakeholders from government agencies, educational institutions, private corporations, and education agents attended the event, reinforcing the close education ties between New Zealand and Thailand.
Lastly, the delegation travelled to the Philippines which for many members was their first visit. The time was effectively used here to engage with a number of ENZ’s key stakeholders invited to New Zealand Inc engagements across the programme.
At the close of the trip, Prime Minister Luxon said "the commercial announcements and deals between the delegation on the trip and counterparts in Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines represent the growth of long-term, strategic partnerships.
"These relationships bind our countries closer together and deliver increased prosperity for all those involved."
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Agents get a taste of ENZ’s ‘Future of Sustainable Food’ pilot at ICEF ANZA 2024
Over 50 international education agents at the ICEF ANZA workshop held in Ōtautahi Christchurch from 22 to 24 April experienced Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao's (ENZ) education pathways prototype (Stage 1). The prototype was designed to introduce students to the huge global opportunity around sustainable food design and production, and the world-leading education pathways from New Zealand institutions that can open employment doors into a wide range of exciting careers.
“In New Zealand, you can learn from top experts and study in the heart of where food is grown, technology is advanced, and industry opportunities abound."
This pilot came about in response to agents’ demand for more information about what expertise sets New Zealand apart from other destinations and makes a New Zealand education unique.
An education agent from Australia trials the ‘Future of Sustainable Food’ prototype at the ICEF ANZA conference held in Ōtautahi Christchurch last month.
To develop the pilot, ENZ worked with Jix Reality – a Christchurch-based tech company headed up by an ex-international student to New Zealand – using virtual reality to provide an immersive and engaging experience, including examples of real New Zealand study environments. The user journey involved a visualisation of the full breadth of the food production value chain, illustrating how this goes well beyond agriculture to encompass other domains and careers such as food engineering, value chain management and marketing. The experience went on to highlight New Zealand’s credentials as one of the world’s top food developers and exporters, and allowed the user to browse relevant study programmes and consider which one could lead them to their desired future career.
Jix Reality Founder, Sakthi Ranganathan, (right) is seen here demonstrating the sustainable food production narrative on an interactive table with an education agent from Kenya.
ENZ’s General Manager Sector Engagement and Innovation, Wendy Kerr, was on hand at the workshop to talk to the agents and collect feedback via a survey. Wendy said that the results were very clear – agents agreed almost unanimously that the prototype provided new and useful information about New Zealand’s strengths, study pathways for students and future employment opportunities in this field.
“92% also confirmed that this experience made it more likely that they would recommend New Zealand as a study destination.
“One agent said that they think it is a great tool to market New Zealand as students can see their future and make informed decisions while another told me that it was a great experience and the tech and approach is ahead of its time,” added Wendy.
ICEF ANZA Chief Executive, Markus Badde, trialled the VR experience and is pictured here providing his feedback to Jix Reality Founder, Sakthi Ranganathan, and ENZ’s GM Sector Engagement and Innovation, Wendy Kerr.
Attending education providers also had the opportunity to try the prototype, one describing it as “a wonderful virtual reality marketing tool which is of enormous value to agents, schools and service providers. A great investment and even better you have used a Christchurch based company to develop it.”
This pilot forms part of ENZ’s Innovation and Growth programme, seeking new ways to support the diversification and growth of the international education sector. The next stage for the pilot will be for ENZ’s Innovation and Growth team to use the feedback collected to develop the prototype further. It will then be turned into a marketing tool that is more accessible, informative and scalable for agents to use with students.
If you’d like to help us with beta testing or contribute content to future stages please register your interest with tim.brown@enz.govt.nz.
- International photo round-up
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Announcing closing plenary speaker for NZIEC KI TUA 2024
Drawing on his experience leading health care organisations and the health system in Aotearoa New Zealand, including during periods of significant change and uncertainty, Sir Ashley’s closing plenary session will focus on how to lead effectively now and in the future. He will talk to NZIEC KI TUA delegates about ‘leading through change and uncertainty’.
“We live in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world, which needs leaders to be agile and adaptable who can lead using different approaches than what we have used in the past. I am looking forward to speaking at NZIEC KI TUA on how we can lead in a world of rapid change and complexity,” Sir Ashley said.
Lead with Stories workshop by Jehan Casinader
Award-winning journalist and speaker, Jehan Casinader, will run a workshop, Lead with Stories at NZIEC KI TUA on 7 August. Casinader has spent 15 years telling compelling stories that resonate with people from all walks of life. He has a thorough understanding of New Zealand’s international education sector – and a degree in public policy.
Casinader says storytelling makes global influence possible.
“As New Zealand revives its international education sector, leaders and organisations will work harder than ever to engage the hearts and minds of students and partners around the world.
“However, in an increasingly noisy digital world, it’s harder to grab people’s attention.
"Traditional marketing no longer cuts it. And yet, many of us lack the confidence and skills to tell stories – or we’re afraid to. As a result, our most important messages are never heard,” Casinader says.
In his workshop, Casinader will share practical tools that helps leaders and staff from across the sector to tell compelling stories.
The NZIEC KI TUA 2024 programme will be available in July.
Register now – early bird registrations close on 31 May
Earlybird registrations are still open for the 31st New Zealand International Education Conference KI TUA (NZIEC KI TUA), which is being held in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, Wellington from 6 – 8 August 2024 at Tākina Wellington Convention & Exhibition Centre.
This year’s conference theme is NZIEC KI TUA – Te Ara ki te Ao*
‘Te Ara ki te Ao’, which translates to ‘the pathway to the world’, symbolises a journey that transcends borders and embraces global horizons. This concept frames Aotearoa New Zealand’s distinct international education environment, inviting participants to connect and collaborate to accelerate global growth.
Register now at NZIEC KI TUA 2024.
NZIEC KI TUA 2024 Partners!
Welcome to our newest partners Pearson, Edified, Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington and Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa Massey University and Flywire, who join TOEFL, Studentsafe, idp, IELTS, and Host Families NZ as partners for NZIEC KI TUA 2024.
And welcome to our new media partner: The PIE News.
If you’d like to partner with NZIEC KI TUA 2024, email us nziec@enz.govt.nz
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Opportunity for New Zealand and German academics to collaborate
The third funding round for the Programmes for Project-Related Personal Exchange (PPP) programme is open now. The programme supports early-career academics from New Zealand higher education institutions to travel to Germany and engage in research projects.
The PPP programme was established in 2021, when ENZ and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding.
Amy Rutherford, Regional Director Americas, the Middle East and Europe said the programme aims to strengthen academic relations between New Zealand and German institutions and to promote cooperative and complementary research activities.
“It enables young academics to not only further their careers, but also expand New Zealand’s international research links” she said.
The programme aims to fund group exchanges involving two to four researchers per country and covers all subject areas. It invites researchers to think of a project that would particularly benefit from working with German academic counterparts.
University of Otago Professor Chris Button is a recipient of PPP funding from the 2023 round and is working with Dr Robert Rein from the German Sport University in Cologne.
They are undertaking research that aims to provide evidence-based advice on how to promote water safety and prevent drowning.
Chris and his counterpart identified that drowning is a major cause of accidental deaths worldwide and is noted as one of the key challenges in the United Nation’s commitment to achieve global, economic, social and environmentally sustainable development.
The pair have observed a gap in academic literature about the potential benefits of floating, versus treading water or swimming when someone is in trouble in the water. They have collected a series of samples from 200 participants in New Zealand and will publish their findings soon.
Chris said he’s grateful that the PPP programme has helped him reinvigorate a long-standing collaboration with Robert.
“I encourage others to take the opportunities this programme offers to connect New Zealand and German academics” he added.
Applications for the 2024 funding round close on 28 June 2024, click here to find out more and apply.
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From the Acting Chief Executive: Cold temperatures, warm hearts
Tēnā koutou katoa
As a recent “polar blast” bought frost and icy conditions across New Zealand, my thoughts turned to the international students who arrived here in the warmth of summer. Living a long way from home in a different country is challenging enough without being subjected to freezing conditions. The good news is that all our research and everything we hear from our international students is that the welcome and manaakitanga they receive is universally warm.
In our Student Experience survey of 4,755 international students from the end of last year, more than 70 nationalities, 84 percent rated their overall experience positively, while another 83 percent said they would recommend New Zealand as a study destination.
Last Wednesday, along with our Chair, Tracey Bridges, we appeared before the Education and Workforce Select Committee comprising nine Members of Parliament. This happens every year. As a government agency it is part of reporting to Parliament. I am extremely heartened by the level of interest all the committee members had in international education. It is good to know the sector has advocates within Parliament.
Tracey has recently returned from Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines as a member of the business delegation supporting Prime Minister, Rt Hon Christopher Luxon. Education was a big part of the Prime Minister’s itinerary, and it was great to have Tracey in the delegation. Throughout the entire trip we took every opportunity to emphasise the benefits of international education to the Prime Minister. A good example was in Thailand where ENZ hosted a series of engagements, including the New Zealand Alumni Networking Event. At this event the Prime Minister met 25 accomplished New Zealand alumni, who have made substantial contributions to the bilateral relationship between New Zealand and Thailand. You can read more about the visit in our E-News article here.
New Zealanders going offshore for an experience is an important part of international education and ENZ’s work. It is pleasing then to see 60 applications for the group round of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia and Latin America that closed 19 April 2024. Of the 60, 22 were for Latin America and 38 for Asia. The applications are being assessed and successful scholarship recipients will be determined in a few weeks’ time.
In summary it has been, as it always is, a busy and productive month across international education. May will be no different.
Waiho kia pātai ana, he kaha ui te kaha
Let the questioning continue; the ability of the person is in asking questions.
Keep warm everyone.
Dr Linda Sissons
Acting Chief Executive -
New Zealand top of the world in university sustainability stewardship
New Zealand universities have come out on top of the world for sustainability stewardship in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024.
New Zealand universities’ approach to sustainability and equality has been announced as world-leading by Times Higher Education (THE) in its most recent Impact Rankings (2024). The stewardship rankings saw New Zealand score an average of 85.3 to come out ahead of Australia (84.4) and Hong Kong (81.9). All eight New Zealand universities participated in the rankings.
Now in its sixth year, the Impact Rankings is the only ranking system in the world that measures universities’ contributions to the United Nations’ Sustainability Goals (UN SDG’s). The Rankings assess the commitment made by universities to sustainability across four broad areas: research, stewardship, outreach, and teaching.
In topping the table for sustainability stewardship, New Zealand’s universities have scored well against indicators such as tracking food waste and having sustainable food choices on campus (SDG 2), the proportion of senior female academics (SDG 5), having water reuse policies and measurements (SDG 6), ensuring energy efficiency with renovations of buildings (SDG 7), and guaranteeing a living wage (SDG 8).
New Zealand universities also came second equal in the world against sustainability outreach, meaning high scores were achieved for contributing to policies addressing poverty (SDG 1), collaborating with health institutions (SDG 3), providing programmes for the local community to learn about energy efficiency (SDG 7), participating in cooperative planning for climate change disasters (SDG 13), and providing expert advice to government (SDG 16).
ENZ’s Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons welcomed the results and said the global recognition for New Zealand’s universities working hard to make a positive impact in the face of pressing environmental and social challenges world-wide was significant.
“New Zealand’s education system is guided by Kaitiakitanga (the Māori concept of guardianship). This principle instils a deep sense of connection to our land and a commitment to ensuring its health and vitality for future generations.
"Kaitiakitanga informs the approach taken by our universities to resource management, conservation, and sustainable development that all contribute to the UN’s SDGs particularly in the areas of food security, bioenergy, sustainable urban development, and climate change,” said Dr Sissons.
Dr Sissons added “It is incredibly positive to have our approach to sustainability stewardship and outreach recognised as world leading. This is particularly important to us as we know that students around the globe are increasingly prioritising environmental and social responsibility and choosing to study at institutions that align with their personal values.”
In this year's Impact Rankings, a record 2,152 universities from 125 countries/regions were assessed. Progress is measured for each of the individual 17 SDGs, and across the goals as a whole. View the full Impact Rankings 2024 results here.
Top countries/regions for sustainability stewardship in THE’s Impact Rankings 2024
Country/region
Number of ranked universities
Average stewardship score
New Zealand
8
85.3
Australia
21
84.4
Hong Kong
5
81.9
Ireland
8
81.4
Canada
24
80.5
United Kingdom
68
79.7
United States
46
69.1
South Korea
24
67.9
Belgium
5
65.2
Netherlands
6
64.5
Note: Table only includes nations with five or more ranked universities. Credit: Times Higer Education Rankings 2024
Top countries/regions for sustainability outreach in THE’s Impact Rankings 2024
Country/region
Number of ranked universities
Average stewardship score
Hong Kong
5
81.4
New Zealand
8
80.4
Canada
24
80.4
Australia
21
80
Ireland
8
76.4
United Kingdom
68
75.6
Belgium
5
71.9
Germany
8
68.1
South Korea
24
67.9
Netherlands
6
66.2
Note: Table only includes nations with five or more ranked universities. Credit: Times Higer Education Rankings 2024
For further information
Stephanie Morison, Senior Communications Advisor,
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
Stephanie.Morison@enz.govt.nz | +64223020104
Notes to Editors:
About Education New Zealand (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) is the government agency dedicated to helping Aotearoa New Zealand realise the social, cultural, and economic benefits of international education. Our role is to promote New Zealand as a high-quality education destination offering excellent education and students experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas.
With approximately 110 staff in 16 locations around the world, ENZ works closely with New Zealand’s diverse education sector which includes schools, English language providers, Private Training Establishments, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Te Pūkenga), and universities. Internationally, we work with a range of education stakeholders, including government agencies and education providers to identify and encourage sustainable growth opportunities for New Zealand’s education sector.
