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  • Education New Zealand targets $4.4 billion by 2027

    Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) today announced its plan to grow the international education sector over the next three years. The strategy, which aims to build the economic contribution of international education to $4.4 billion by 2027, focuses on growing and diversifying the number of international students studying in New Zealand. 

    “International education has made a good start to its recovery with more than 69,000 enrolments in the first full academic year since borders reopened and universities returning to 86% of pre-pandemic numbers,” said ENZ Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons today. 

    “The government has a goal of doubling the value of export earnings in ten years and international education has its part to play. 

    “In the first year of the strategy the focus is putting additional investment into markets we have identified with growth potential. These include India, Viet Nam, and the Philippines, and some specific sectors within markets like Japan and Thailand. We need to start now to grow awareness of New Zealand in these markets if we are to achieve our growth targets. Moving forward, we will continue to seek growth through diversifying markets while maintaining our strength in traditional markets such as China and India. 

     As a small agency with a finite budget, ENZ needs to be very smart and maximise every opportunity for New Zealand,” said Dr Sissons.  “We look to use the potential of Scale, Impact, and Leverage as the measuring rods for everything we do, as we commit to the Government’s Export Double goal”. 

    The strategy is the result of extensive consultation with the international education sectors, partner Government agencies and comes on the back of a productive 12 months for Education New Zealand. 

    In the past 12 months Education New Zealand student attraction activities have delivered: 

    • More than two million visits to the Study with New Zealand website 

    • Added more than 69,000 prospective students to its database 

    • More than 22,000 individuals have made enquiries to providers regarding study 

    • Our business-to-business activities targeting education agents delivered 33 webinars to over 1,800 participants 

    • 18 in-country events delivered in five countries (Thailand, South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, China) 

    • The New Zealand International Education Conference KI TUA 2023 to 599 delegates 

    • 50 new indigenous to indigenous networks and partnerships 

    • Sector satisfaction with ENZ topped 77% 

    ENZ’s offshore team provides significant support to overseas visits by representatives of the international education sector and the New Zealand government, building and deepening relationships said Dr Sissons. In 2024 this included a visit by representatives of all New Zealand Universities to India in February, and ENZ supporting the education component of the Prime Ministerial Trade Missions to Southeast Asia and Japan 

    The agency also supports education visits to New Zealand. Very recently this included the visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang, which included China’s Education Minister Huai Jinpeng.   

    It was the second visit by Minister Huai to New Zealand in ten months, and highlighted the strong momentum our bilateral education relationship. In 2023 ENZ also delivered the Prime Minister’s Scholarships to Asia and Latin America (PMSA/LA) which sees New Zealanders travel internationally for learning experiences and administers the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship programme for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT). The Manaaki Scholarships offers scholarships to eligible citizens from developing countries to study at a New Zealand education institution or university or at a Pacific university 

    In 2023 these important programmes have awarded: 

    • 118 individual PMSA/LA scholarships  

    • 20 group PMSA/LA scholarships  

    • NZIEC KI TUA 2023 delivered with 599 delegates 

    • 861 Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships awarded 

    “I am very pleased and proud of the results the team at Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao has delivered alongside the sector. We have more to do,” said Dr Sissons.


    For further information: 

    Justin Barnett | Director of Communications, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao  

    +64 21 875 132

    About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/   

    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 student experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas. 

    With approximately 105 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.   

     

  • Rise in international students rating New Zealand experience positively

    In the 2024 International Student Experience Survey, students lifted their positive rating of their experience to 86 percent, two percent higher than the previous year.  

    In addition, the number of students who rated their experience as “excellent” lifted eight percent to 41 percent. 

    The results were announced today at the international education sector conference, NZIEC KI TUA, which was organised by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ). 

    Commenting on the survey results, ENZ Acting Chief Executive Dr Linda Sissons said the results demonstrate the high quality of the New Zealand education experience both inside and outside the classroom. 

    “That we have a significant increase in the number of students rating their overall New Zealand experience as excellent is something to be celebrated. The results are a reassuring testament to the ongoing recovery of the sector and our ability to deliver international students what they highly value in a study destination.  

    “We are delighted to see how positive students are about the people they meet and connections they form in New Zealand. This speaks strongly to the enriching ties these students will have to our country in the long run, and how we will benefit and learn from each other,” Dr Sissons said. 

    2024 sees the highest proportion of international students (41 percent) rating their overall New Zealand experience as ‘excellent’, up from 33 percent in 2023. This proportion is higher than any of the previous three surveys undertaken. This year also includes a much larger sample of 6,431 students compared to 4,755 students last year.  

    Students were most positive about the people and connections they experienced in New Zealand (90%), followed by education experience (87%), making study arrangements (87%), arrival and orientation (85%), and living experience (83%).  

    Students also positively rated their experience using an education agent, particularly their agent’s knowledge of their education provider’s application process (84%), New Zealand application options (81%) and how using an education agent reduced the time taken to complete their application (79%). 

    For further information: 

    Visit Tableau Public to access the data sets (login required) - International Student Experience Survey 2024 | Tableau Public

    Visit ENZ's Intellilab for the full report - International Student Experience Survey 2024 Report | ENZ IntelliLab

    Or contact: 

    Sai Raje | Senior Communications Advisor, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao  

     +64 21 479 649  

     

    Notes to Editors:   

    About the New Zealand International Student Experience Survey 2024  

    The New Zealand International Student Experience Survey aims to better understand the overall student experience for international students enrolled with New Zealand education providers as well as those who have recently completed their studies. The survey also aims to understand where improvements can be made to enhance the international student experience.  

    International students across all sectors and all stages of the student journey were invited to participate in this online survey. Fieldwork for this survey was conducted from 10 May to 4 June 2024 and included 6,431 respondents representing over 100 nationalities. 

     

    About Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) https://www.enz.govt.nz/   

    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 student experiences and to encourage New Zealand students to study overseas. 

    With approximately 105 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.   

     

     

  • ENZ roadshow heading to South America in 2025!

    The South American region has significant potential to grow international student numbers to New Zealand. ENZ is excited to help facilitate this growth with a series of agent-facing events in Bogota, Colombia, São Paulo, Brazil, and Santiago, Chile. 

    Representatives from all New Zealand's education subsectors are invited to participate, with New Zealand Private Training Establishments (PTEs) and English Language Schools (ELS) particularly encouraged, seeing as both subsectors have been identified as having significant opportunities for growth in this region in ENZ's 2024/25 Business Plan. 

    The events offer New Zealand providers the opportunity to deliver presentations to local education agents, meet with them one-on-one, and network at a closing function. 

    ENZ's Director of Engagement for Latin America, Javiera Visedo, said that these seminars will offer a great opportunity for New Zealand institutions to reconnect with high performing South American education agents.  

    “In 2023, we had 3,124 students from Latin America studying in New Zealand which is a 68% increase from 2022 but a long way off pre-Covid levels, said Javiera. 

    She added in organising this series of events for early next year, we want to to keep facilitating the ongoing connection of New Zealand’s providers with key agents in the region, putting New Zealand front of mind as they assist students in their international study decision making processes". 

    Any education providers who are interested in receiving more information about the events and register to attend, can do so here - https://enzevents.eventsair.com/EduNZ/2025-south-america-roadshow/info

  • Around the world in five

    Australia  

    An IDP survey finds that reactions are varied across key student sending markets to Australia’s tighter immigration rules and higher financial requirements and visa fees. The findings suggest, however, that increased financial requirements and application fees could influence the study plans of half (or more) of prospective students 

    India 

    In its first full budget since coming to power for the third term, the Modi government has focused on some major funding allocations for different areas in India’s education sector  

    Malta 

    International students are turning to Malta for study opportunities – in part due to a scheme that allows them to earn back the majority of their tuition fees once they start working. 

    Nepal 

    Study visa issuance to Nepalese citizens has grown in three of the top four English-speaking destinations. 

    United States 

    The Biden-Harris administration in the US has announced actions to speed up visa processing for college graduates who hold job offers, sending a positive signal for prospective international students.  

  • Māori and First Nations people connect during University of Toronto visit

    18 indigenous students and two indigenous staff from the University of Toronto’s ‘First Nations House’ were invited to Aotearoa New Zealand for a week-long visit at Tirorangi Marae at the base of Mount Ruapehu in July. 

    The purpose of the visit was to enhance cross-cultural understanding between Māori and First Nations and Métis peoples and is significant as empowering iwi and hapū in the international education space is an important Te Tiriti obligation for ENZ, as an Aotearoa New Zealand government agency.  

    The visit took place during the time of ‘Puanga’ which is when the single star rises higher in the sky than the Matariki star cluster and is recognised by iwi and hapū that can’t see the Matariki cluster from their location.  

    Māori and First Nations and Métis people have ’sharing circles’ as a common way to teach and learn.

    The group participated in a wide range of activities in the area while staying at the marae. They were then welcomed to Te Whanganui-a-Tara by the ENZ Wellington office, visiting Te Tiriti o Waitangi at Archives New Zealand Te Rua Mahara o te Kāwanatanga and and Te Herenga Waka — Victoria University of Wellington, before finishing their trip in Whakatū (Nelson) with some adventure tourism activities. 

    Indigenous students Kieren and Bailey from the University of Toronto sampling Wellington’s outdoors with ENZ's Craig Rofe.

    The First Nations and Métis members of the group experienced what living on a marae was like and were also immersed in how a tribe engages with the environment, and how iwi businesses, local council and government agencies such as the Department of Conservation (DOC) operate in the field with iwi partnership. 

    Iwi people sharing lake Rotokura’s healing power, a wāhi tapu (sacred place) for the local tribe.

    Dr Craig Rofe, ENZ’s Kaitohutohu Matua Māori – Senior Advisor Māori, said that during the visit, Māori and First Nations and Métis people were able to compare the similarities and differences of their contexts to grow understand of their respective challenges and successes.  

    The First Nations people’s struggles to overcome racism and prejudice resonated with tangata whenua, in particular the intentional elimination of language and the current mechanisms of revitalisation. 

    Many stories shared with together showed the everyday trauma that resides in each of us and how, as indigenous people, we try to navigate these obstacles to make a better world for the next generation”, said Dr Rofe.  

    The trip motivated the students to connect more with their languages and culture upon their return.  

    Kenzie, from the Mohawk tribe said “when we meet again, I’ll be able to talk to you in my language, I’m declaring it!”. 

    Katherine from the Eskasoni First Nation tribe said “My experience connecting with the Ngāti Rangi revealed the transformative power of global Indigenous connections. Participating in ceremonies such as Hautapu and visiting Mount Ruapehu was particularly moving. Listening to their stories of ancestral ties to the land and taking part in traditional ceremonies that emphasized community and connection to the environment deepened my own personal understanding. This experience inspired me to initiate conversations with elders in my own community about our traditional land management practices.” 

    This experience also highlights the important offerings that Māori, and indeed indigenous knowledge, has to offer to international education. In particular, and not exclusively, the deep connection that indigenous peoples have with the environment and therefore natural obligation of care. 

    First Nation student, Alexis, discovers the origins, medicinal, spiritual and mechanical properties of harakeke (flax).

    Sustainable practices and programmes can benefit from indigenous inclusion and perspectives, especially with the large-scale impacts of global warming and general pollution in many countries. The co-governance structure that Ngāti Rangi iwi and DOC work with as part of post Te Tiriti Settlement was used as an example of decolonised solutions within our New Zealand context. 

    There have been discussions between ENZ, Ngāti Rangi iwi, and the University of Toronto about an ongoing relationship and considering what a reciprocal engagement might look like moving forward. 

     

    Nāku te ika i , nāku anō i whakatau  

    Ki te haere, whāia i te Pare-i-te-taitonga, tērā taku ika. 

    This is a Ngāti Rangi iwi reference to the Ruapehu mountain being the ‘pillar post’ of the ‘Fish’ (North Island).

     

  • From the Acting CE: NZIEC KI TUA a great success

    Kia ora e te whānau, 

    What a few weeks it has been! The 31st New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC) KI TUA was the absolute highlight of the past month. It was a huge success and a huge undertaking involving all parts of the Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao.  

    It was an incredible honour for Manapou ki te Ao and the international education sector to have the President of India, Honourable Smt Shrimati Droupadi Murmu, address delegates.  

    In her keynote, President Murmu spoke about the strong and growing education ties between India and New Zealand and about how she saw education institutions in both countries collaborating in a number of fields, including vocational education, machine learning, AI, environmental studies, as well as cultural exchanges. She also placed great importance on the power of knowledge as an enabler of connections between our people. In closing, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to ENZ and our Government for honouring India in such a special way. 

    I also attended the State banquet at Government House in honour of the Indian President and took the opportunity to brief Ministers and senior New Zealand Inc officials present on the value of the President’s attendance and words at our conference.  

    Ahead of the conference, ENZ Board Chair Tracey Bridges and I were delighted to welcome Dr Fanta Aw, the Executive Director and CEO of NAFSA, and Dr LaNitra Berger, a NAFSA Board member, with a mihi whakatau at our Wellington office.  

    NAFSA, which is the Association of International Educators, annually hosts the largest global professional learning and networking event for all international educators and organisations that support international education. The meeting was a welcome opportunity to connect with the leaders of this important organisation. Dr Aw’s keynote laid clear the importance of international education and the challenges it faces.  

    I am incredibly proud of what was achieved collectively by ENZ and the whole sector at NZIEC KI TUA. It speaks positively of the progress made over the past two years since the borders reopened and the energy and drive we are all bringing to keeping the momentum. 

    To those of you that made the time and for the many who travelled from afar to attend, thank you! It was an absolute pleasure to have you in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. 

    Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi, engari he toa takitini  

    My success should not be bestowed onto me alone, it was not individual success but the success of a collective.   

    Ngā mihi  

    Dr Linda Sissons 

    Acting Chief Executive 

    Education New Zealand | Manapou ki te Ao  

  • International student speakers lay the wero at NZIEC KI TUA

    Sean Teow, Aria Ngārimu, Ibuki Nishida, and Albert Lu, each shared stories and insights with NZIEC KI TUA attendees that offered a reminder to those working in international education about why they do what they do 

    The students’ speeches laid a worthy wero for the international education sector to continue the good work and keep international students at the centre of our work long after they arrive in New Zealand.  

    In this context, a wero is a traditional Māori challenge, performed by Māori warriors at a pōwhiri to test the intentions of visitors – by wielding weapons and laying down the challenge, with a token, such as a small branch for visitors to pick up and show they come in peace. Wero can also be used to convey a 'challenge' in other settings besides the traditional usage. 

    President of the New Zealand International Students' Association (NZISA), Sean Teow (Malaysia), spoke candidly about the full range of his student experience – offering insights on how he came to choose New Zealand to what the international education sector could focus on to better the student experience further.  

    Sean Teow speaks at NZIEC KI TUA.

    Sean spoke about the need to focus on the “level of heart” that New Zealand exudes when interacting with prospective students alongside “bread and butter” attributes such as the high quality of education, lifestyle and beautiful natural environment. 

    Be proud of the quality of New Zealand education, but also you as people, there is a level of heart that exudes itself when talking to students. That intention can be felt by a prospective student who may be afraid and anxious to embark on that path, a simple feeling that these people know how to take care of me, and they mean well.  

    Don’t forget that the next time you recruit or interact with students for that could make the very difference with students remembering New Zealand and enjoying their time here. Embrace and embody manaakitanga,” Sean urged delegates.  

    Prime Minister’s Scholarship recipient Aria Ngārimu (Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Kahungunu ki Wairoa, Rongomaiwāhine, Te Whānau-ā-Apanui), a domestic student at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington visited India as part of her scholarship experience.  

    Aria Ngārimu at the Taj Mahal in Agra, India during her scholarship experience. Photo credit: Aria Ngārimu.

    In her address, Aria aptly used an Indian folk tale of five blind men attempting to describe an elephant that they had encountered for the first time to highlight how individual perspectives can be wildly different yet equally accurate. Her speech was a powerful reminder of the need to be open to points of view different from our own. 

    International representative of the University of Otago Students' Association, Ibuki Nishida (Japan), offered a challenge to the sector to remember that every international student has a story and the importance of staying connected to their experience and story while they were in the country 

    Ibuki Nishida laid a wero for the sector to remember that every student has a story.

    Don’t forget about those of us that are already here. I challenge you to not set a “finish line”, but instead learn from, and be a part of, each student’s ongoing story while we are here, that we can take to our loved ones to inspire them back home. 

    “Do not underestimate the power of word-of-mouth. When looking at growth, it might be one of the most important. And the way you tap into that, is to make sure students have a great experience while they’re here too. And remember that each international student is a story waiting to be told. So help us make it one for the books,” Ibuki said. 

    Albert Lu spoke about the differences in school life in his native Taiwan and New Zealand and what he likes about studying in Wellington.

    Albert Lu (Taiwan), a Year 11 student at Wellington High School, noted the differences in life in Taiwan and New Zealand as he spoke about his experience in New Zealand.  

    Albert spoke about the NCEA curriculum providing an opportunity to students to enjoy a good balanced lifestyle, how confidence was the key to settling into life in New Zealand and importantly, ‘another way to improve language faster is to hang out with friends whose first language is not my first language’. Albert does this through joining student groups, attending church and generally being proactive about life here in New Zealand.  

    “Everyone is friendly, I love it,” Albert said. 

    *Wero: In this context, a wero is a traditional Māori challenge, performed by Māori warriors at a pōwhiri to test the intentions of visitors – by wielding weapons and laying down the challenge, with a token, such as a small branch for visitors to pick up and show they come in peace. Wero can also be used to convey a 'challenge' in other settings besides the traditional usage. 

  • Find out more about what international students think about their NZ experience

    Director of Insights for Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), Marie Clark, and Student Experience Manager, Ross Crosson will be hosting a webinar on 22 August 2024 from 7-8pm NZST on the recently released 2024 Student Experience Survey results. The webinar is for anyone in our sector who is interested in delving more into the data.

    Marie and Ross will talk about the overall student experience for international students enrolled with a New Zealand education provider and where improvements can be made to enhance the international student experience. 

    You can register via the following link: https://enz.zoom.us/s/81600505051 

    If you can't make the live session, a recording will be available on Intellilab from Friday. 

    ENZ’s media release which includes links to the report and data sets can be found on our website - Rise in international students rating New Zealand experience positively » Education NZ (enz.govt.nz) .

  • International photo round-up

  • Special offer on ICEF Academy NZ Education Agent Course

    ICEF Academy, the professional training arm of ICEF, has launched a new online course that is designed to equip education agents with the resources they need to provide the highest quality of guidance to students wishing to study in Aotearoa New Zealand.   

    The New Zealand Education Agent Course (NZEAC) has been developed in collaboration with Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) and adds to the ICEF Academy’s portfolio of destination training. 

    ICEF is now offering a promotional rate for readers of E-News. Education agents can use the code NZEAC30 during checkout to purchase the exam with a 30% discount. This offer is available until 31 December 2024.  

    Since its 27 June launch date, the course is already proving popular. As of 14 August, 618 education agents have enrolled in the course, 532 have started, 127 have completed the course, and 16 have graduated.  

    Commenting on the course’s uptake, Sahinde Pala, General Manager Sector Services at ENZ said it was encouraging to see that the course was proving popular amongst education agents.  

    About the course itself, she said “The course offers comprehensive insights for education agents to help them advise students on study in Aotearoa New Zealand. It will help them become better informed about the country’s policies, culture and education system so that their advice to students is current, accurate and helpful.” 

    In undertaking this course, education agents will have the opportunity to study modules which will encompass New Zealand’s culture and history, education system, work policies and legislation, as well as effective student recruitment and support. The course is self-paced and free, however those seeking to highlight their knowledge as a destination New Zealand specialist have the option to undertake a paid certification exam, for which the 30% discount applies. 

    Education Agents interested in learning more about the New Zealand Education Agent Course can learn more at: New Zealand Education Agent Course (NZEAC) | ICEF Academy. Education agents are also reminded to register with AgentLab to keep up-to-date with all agent-related news and information  

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