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Connecting with education providers and agents in Germany

Earlier this month, ENZ took part in the ICEF Conference in Berlin. ENZ Associate Director of Engagement, Olga Elli, joined a panel discussion on the topic ‘Australia and New Zealand: The Year That Was and the Year Ahead’. This session brought together agents and providers from around the world to explore policy updates, challenges, and opportunities in international education.

Central to the discussion was New Zealand’s International Education Going for Growth Plan, with its ambitious goals and targets. Olga highlighted that the strategy is built around sustainable growth and grounded in public support as well as student success. She reinforced a message that resonated strongly with the audience: New Zealand is open, and students are welcome.

ENZ Associate Director of Engagement, Olga Elli, participating in a panel discussion at the ICEF Conference in Berlin.

Another key engagement in Germany was a roundtable with Hamburg-based education agents, held during a cultural night at MARKK Museum and hosted by New Zealand Ambassador to Germany, H.E. Craig Hawke.

The roundtable provided an excellent opportunity to exchange market insights, address challenges, and identify new opportunities. Agents shared positive feedback on New Zealand’s growing popularity among German students, citing safety, high-quality education, and the manaakitanga New Zealand offers as key drivers.

They also noted the success of scholarship campaigns in promoting New Zealand as a study destination. Single-sex schools were highlighted as particularly appealing to high-performing German student athletes, and agents expressed interest in exploring new schools in smaller coastal towns.

Olga said engagements like this reaffirm the importance New Zealand places on collaboration and open dialogue with international partners. “By sharing insights, addressing challenges, and celebrating cultural connections, we continue to strengthen New Zealand’s position as a trusted and welcoming study destination,” Olga said.

ENZ will continue working closely with education agents to ensure they have up-to-date information on New Zealand, awareness of emerging policy updates, and access to New Zealand Taught Me campaign materials – so students can experience the very best our country has to offer.
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Media roundtable highlights employers’ need for well-rounded talent
Guest speakers included Dr John Subritzky, New Zealand High Commissioner to Malaysia; Ryan Carroll, Director of Randstad Malaysia; Richard Tan, co-founder and Managing Director of lelong.com.my; and Jane Goh, ENZ Marketing and Strategic Relations Manager.
The roundtable was well-received by the 11 editors and journalists who attended.
Ryan Carroll said employers in Malaysia want talented individuals who possess various skills and competencies.
“Employers today are looking for someone who can help the organisation produce productivity gains. They want candidates who have good skills in project management, are competent in the digital and social media space, and are confident communicators. All these can be acquired through internships, part-time work or even working on charity projects.
“While it is still important that potential employees have the relevant skills and workplace experiences, they must also be able to articulate effectively about how they can contribute to the company. For example, if they have worked on a particular case study or project in university, they need to be confident talking about their experiences and what they learnt during that process,” Mr Carroll said.
Dr Subritzky spoke about the New Zealand education system and institutions are committed to developing holistic educational experiences that are relevant to the workplace.
“New Zealand recognises the importance of a well-rounded education to employability, which is why our education system focuses on helping students transition from academic life into the working world,” he said.
Richard Tan, a Victoria University of Wellington alumnus, shared his experiences studying in New Zealand.
“What I liked about the New Zealand education system is that it encourages students to pursue and develop their interests. It doesn’t force a student into a particular stream but focuses on teaching him or her how to acquire information and meaningfully apply that knowledge across various situations. This means that even as a pure science student, I was given the flexibility to explore other areas of interest to me such as accountancy.
“I was also able to work part-time at various places and this helped me pick up softer skills such as communicating effectively with peers and dealing with different types of personalities, which then eventually helped me in my career,” Mr Tan shared.
Over the last year, New Zealand has seen an increase in Malaysian student numbers.
“There was a 23 per cent increase in the number of first-time student visas approved year to-date in June 2016. In particular, we saw an increase in the number of student visas approved for the universities and Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) sectors,” said Jane Goh.
The media roundtable was well-received by media. A total of 11 editors and journalists attended.
Tokyo fair sparks excitement around New Zealand study opportunities

Earlier this month, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) delivered a two-day event in Tokyo that brought New Zealand education to the forefront for Japanese students, families, and education agents.

The ENZ Fair attracted around 600 prospective students and their parents, while more than 150 education agents attended the seminar. The strong turnout and enthusiastic engagement reflected growing interest in New Zealand as a study destination.

A total of 62 New Zealand education providers took part, representing schools, universities, English language institutions, private training establishments (PTEs), and New Te Pūkenga New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology (Te Pūkenga) providers.

The school sector led the charge, with 52 providers represented, highlighting the increasing demand for secondary education pathways.

Fumiaki Tanaka sharing his personal experience studying in New Zealand.

Attendees heard from inspiring guest speakers who shared personal stories and connections to New Zealand. Fumiaki Tanaka, a former Japan national rugby player and the first Japanese athlete to play Super Rugby with New Zealand’s Highlanders, spoke about his journey as an international student. Yukiko Chiba, Executive Officer and Director at Sekai Bunka Publishing, offered a parent’s perspective, reflecting on her child’s life-changing experience studying at a New Zealand high school.

Agent seminar

At the agent seminar, ENZ provided a New Zealand market update with the latest information, guidance and promotional materials.

The seminar also included a session focused on building long-term relationships between New Zealand and Japanese institutions. Headon John Paul, who represents the Oceania region for Ritsumeikan Uji Junior and Senior High School, and Ritsu Hidume, a New Zealand alumni now studying at Ritsumeikan Uji, shared their insights and advice with New Zealand education providers.

A roundtable discussion with four education agents and members of the Japan Association of Overseas Studies (JAOS) explored how agents support New Zealand education, current trends in the study abroad market, and opportunities to strengthen collaboration.

ENZ Senior Market Develop Manager Takako Tominaga said the feedback from New Zealand providers was overwhelmingly positive.

“We were really pleased to hear that New Zealand providers were impressed by the quality of the agents who attended, and that Japanese families showed genuine enthusiasm and interest in learning more about studying in New Zealand.”
Student voices celebrate the NZ-ASEAN relationship
ENZ has been running Student Voice since 2012, providing a platform for international students to share their experiences and views on studying in New Zealand.
This year’s event was jointly run by ENZ and the MFAT, and domestic students were also invited to take part, in recognition of the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and ASEAN.
Thirty international students representing all 10 ASEAN countries joined with the 10 New Zealand students who were recipients of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia, Understanding South East Asia programme. Together, the students took part in an interactive two-day programme aimed at better understanding the student experience. They heard from sector experts including Simon Chu from the University of Otago around the importance of alumni networks; Lester Khoo from Auckland University of Technology on how a New Zealand education can launch careers in ASEAN; and Jimmy Walsh from Beca on the value of ASEAN-NZ links in business.
The students also had the opportunity to talk informally about their experiences. We will share more on this in a later edition of E-news, but here are some of the comments for starters:
“Only when you are out of your comfort zone will you understand and learn many things, not just about your degree, but everything. It’s hard to not fall in love with New Zealand."
“Studying in New Zealand has opened up my soul. The past two years at the University of Otago had a significant impact on my character building. The University of Otago has moulded me into a more expressive, responsible, and confident person. New Zealand has also taught me to seize the opportunities whenever you have a chance because you will never know where that opportunity might lead you.”
My participation in ASEAN Student Voice 2015 only reinforced my belief that studying in NZ gives me that well-rounded academic experience that I can take home to enrich my contribution to Indonesia's development."
A real community has built up around this year’s Student Voice, and participating students set up a Facebook page to keep their connections going.
The programme culminated in an evening reception attended by around 100 people, including Hon Steven Joyce, the students and their host institutions, officials on the English Language Training for Officials programme, Heads of ASEAN missions and government representatives as well as people from ENZ, MFAT and the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
Students from Wainuiomata High School’s Kapa Haka Group, Te Tira Whakaau, brought New Zealand’s powerful cultural history alive with a performance at the reception. Te Tira Whakaau finished first overall in the regional secondary school Te Awakairangi ki Wairarapa Kapa Haka competition last month.
Prime Minister’s Scholarship group round opening soon for applications
New Zealand organisations and institutions will soon be able to apply for this year’s group round of Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America.

This award is administered by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), enabling New Zealanders to experience international education and continue to build and maintain key trade relationships between New Zealand and key Asian and Latin American regions.

Acting Group General Manager, International Marketing, Brand & Scholarships, Sahinde Pala, said the group programme is flexible, and applicants are encouraged to think creatively about their learning programmes.

“We invite organisations and institutions to design a learning experience that can give learners the chance to follow their passion, develop connections, and make an impact in our global and local communities” she said.

Successful past applications have included semester exchanges, language immersion, indigenous-to-indigenous exchange programmes, internships, and research projects.

Applications can be made by any education provider (including universities, institutions, wānanga, iwi, hapū, whānau, institutes of technology and polytechnics, and private training establishments).

About the scholarship

All citizens or permanent residents of New Zealand over the age of 18 can apply for the scholarship. Recipients do not need to be in tertiary education, as the programme aims to make international educational opportunities accessible to all New Zealanders.

The scholarships cover tuition fees for offshore institutions, and a contribution towards internship fees, flights, living, accommodation, and visas.

Since the programme’s beginning in 2013, at least 3810 scholarships have been granted to New Zealanders.

Applications are open from 26 February to 11 April, find out more by visiting the Prime Minister’s Scholarship website.

You can also email any questions to the ENZ Scholarships team at scholarship@enz.govt.nz.
An update from ENZ's Events team
Many of you are working closely with our international teams on in-market initiatives and programmes of work. The following update refers to the events as listed on the events calendar on our corporate website and does not include additional in-market activity.
If you’ve confirmed to attend any of the upcoming ENZ calendar events for the second half of this year, the team will be in touch as soon as they can to update you on how the event will proceed.
Events framework
We are developing an events framework that will initially support events planned until the end of 2020 and look at alternative ways we can deliver events and fairs in New Zealand and overseas. This framework is in response to the current situation and the need to adjust how we do events over the next 12-18 months.
We are aware delivering events virtually is a high priority, but we also understand that not every event will translate well to virtual delivery, and each market has its own challenges requiring a bespoke approach. The framework will consider each countries’ restrictions. It will also look at the viability of events taking place virtually or whether a hybrid approach could be used and be more effective.
Virtual events platform
To assist us in making the right decisions in event delivery, we are undertaking an initial scoping exercise of digital platforms that facilitates the delivery of events, fairs, and conferences online.
Our goal is to ensure our education industry has access to ‘best-in-class’ digital events options that align with our student audience needs. In order to align with your recruitment goals we will consult with industry partners to better understand what your requirements are for digital events, and whether an integrated ENZ platform could strengthen our ability to recruit students to New Zealand.
Attendance at virtual fairs
We are all receiving invitations to virtual fairs and we are assessing which events we will attend as it is essential New Zealand remains visible during this period. To help inform these decisions, the events team would welcome information on the events you will be participating in through to the end of 2020. Please email them at events@enz.govt.nz with this information, or if you have any further queries.
Events season wraps up in the Philippines
Ben Burrowes, ENZ’s Regional Communications & Strategic Relations Manager for South East Asia, said the events were a fantastic way to sign off on a successful year in the Philippines.
“The market has not been without its challenges in 2017 but we’ve made some great progress in shifting perceptions away from a migration focus on New Zealand to promoting our world-class offering for high-value students,” said Ben.
“Much of that has been achieved through building networks with local and international schools. Our latest series of school roadshows, in which we were joined by a number of New Zealand providers, built some strong partnerships particularly as we look to recruit the new K-12 Filipino graduates into our tertiary system.”
ENZ also co-funded three successful agent-led fairs with Golden Summit Immigration Consultancy (Cebu), IDP (Manila) and Fortrust Education Services (Manila) with more than 25 providers attending. The feedback from all providers was very positive and the events were well attended – particularly the Fortrust fair, which attracted more than 2,200 visitors.
ENZ’s Ben Burrowes with Andrea Preston (Queenstown Resort College) and Catherine Ang (Weltec & Whitireia) at Far Eastern University in Manila.

Close to 100 local guidance counsellors and career advisors attended a training session hosted by Unitec, which included a soft-sell presentation on New Zealand’s world-class education offering.
“This growing network of local counsellors and career advisors is proving valuable, as they have a strong influence on prospective students,” said Ben.
“We’ll continue to work with them closely as we focus on recruiting a greater number of Filipino students into our undergraduate programmes.”
ENZ also generated some great media coverage, a highlight being an NZ Inc. media roundtable in Cebu which included David Strachan (the New Zealand Ambassador to the Philippines), Hernando Banal (New Zealand Trade Commissioner), Steven Dixon (Tourism New Zealand’s Regional Director), Catherine Albiston (Immigration Advisors Authority) and ENZ’s own John Laxon, Regional Director – South, South East Asia & the Middle East.
NZ Inc. media roundtable in Cebu
Event season in Viet Nam
Two alumni networking events had more than 200 registrations, as well as the participation of Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and New Zealand Aid, who answered queries from students and parents about studying in New Zealand.
Several seminars were held alongside the fairs to discuss student visas, the New Zealand curriculum and NCEA, and the NZ ASEAN Scholar Awards. The seminars drew significant interest with the rooms full for most of the day.
Ben Burrowes, ENZ’s Regional Communications & Strategic Relations Manager for South East Asia, said it was fantastic to see so much interest in the seminars.
“It was clear that the students and parents had already conducted their own research and had come prepared with specific questions on programmes of study and life as a student in New Zealand.”
The Hanoi agent seminar, held on 17 March, included student visa updates from INZ, followed by education agent training and “speed meetings” between local agents and New Zealand education providers.
The events were accompanied by a comprehensive public relations programme that resulted in good coverage in Vietnamese media. Some 15 local media members attended a media briefing in Ho Chi Minh City, seizing the opportunity to interview two Vietnamese alumni and Ben.
The ENZ team also conducted an online chat with vnexpress.net, a top online news website in Viet Nam with over one million views per month. During the two-hour live chat session, questions were put to panel members Ben, Chris Klaassen (Chair of SIEBA), Giang Nguyen (University of Waikato’s SEA Regional Manager), and Lucy Nguyen (SIT’s International Marketing Officer for Vietnam). They answered nearly 60 questions ranging from New Zealand’s quality of education, the transferability of qualifications, the high school system and NCEA. After the live chat, the answers remained on the news site and were syndicated by many other online sources.
Ben said the number of questions put to the panel was a positive sign.
“A number of questions asked for comparisons between New Zealand and some of our stronger competitors – a further testament to the growing market awareness of New Zealand,” he said.
Air New Zealand was among the events’ partners, providing two sets of return tickets to New Zealand at the fairs.
Ben Burrowes (second from left), Tam Le (second from right) with Vietnamese alumni

Speed meetings at the Hanoi Agent Seminar