21 June 2017 at 9:00 am

United States to headline NZIEC as Country of Honour

ENZ is pleased to announce that the United States of America will feature as the inaugural Country of Honour at NZIEC 2017.

ENZ has joined with the US Embassy in Wellington and US Consulate General in Auckland to bring about the partnership. It will see the US featured in a number of conference sessions as well as in the conference environs.

“The Country of Honour designation is another way in which we can bring the world to NZIEC,” says ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson.

“We’re delighted to be delivering this inaugural Country of Honour partnership. Conference delegates will benefit from the range of insights, experiences and connections that this collaboration will deliver.”

We are very excited about this partnership,” says US Chargé d'Affaires Candy Green. “Shared educational experience allows for the collaboration of bright, inquisitive minds from both sides of the Pacific. It ensures that the relationship between our two countries will continue to go from strength to strength.

“Bilateral student mobility between New Zealand and the United States continues to grow, and we’re proud to be able to highlight the many opportunities available with the support of Education New Zealand.”

NAFSA opening plenary

Weta Workshop's Sir Richard Taylor took to the stage at NAFSA to talk New Zealand education.

America’s presence at NZIEC follows New Zealand’s star turn at this year’s NAFSA conference in Los Angeles. ENZ and the US Department of State announced a partnership to support more US students studying in New Zealand through the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.

Last year, almost 3,000 American students studied in New Zealand. Increasing numbers of Kiwis are also heading to the US for secondary and tertiary education – around 1,600 per year at last count.

The Country of Honour collaboration will see the US featured in a number of conference sessions, including a keynote address by Dr Esther Brimmer, a session on digital marketing by Mitch Gordon from Go Overseas, and a roundtable with nine US study abroad professionals. A number of other Americans will also be presenting in conference sessions during conference.

NZIEC delegates can also look forward to engaging with the team from the US Embassy and Consulate General at the US Lounge in the expo hall. Stay tuned for a few surprises along the way!

With well over half of the available places already sold, make sure you book your ticket for NZIEC soon. Register at www.nziec.co.nz/register

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