25 November 2021 at 12:09 pm

Wellington honours international student success

International students have been celebrated for their achievements at the Wellington International Student Excellence Awards.

The annual event, hosted by economic development agency WellingtonNZ, recognises the contributions international students make to the region through their academic, creative, sporting, community and online pursuits.

The awards also celebrate local students who support their international peers, international graduates and locals who give international students opportunities in the workplace.

Wellington mayor Andy Foster presented awards to 18 international students and graduates from tertiary institutions and high schools in the region.

Victoria University of Wellington doctoral student Thoa Thi Thu Hoang, from Vietnam, won an academic excellence award for her dissertation, which produced a method for prioritising buildings in the city for seismic retrofit and analysed the residential red zone programme in Christchurch.

Ehsan Hazaveh of Iran took out a creativity award for his doctoral research at Victoria University of Wellington on using photography to tell the stories of refugees in Wellington. One of Ehsan’s solo exhibitions was opened by Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern at the New Zealand Portrait Gallery, while another was part of the World Refugee Day Festival.

Malaysian student Nurul Izzati – who plays basketball, netball, frisbee, futsal, athletics and korfball – took out a sports award. She has represented Victoria University of Wellington in ultimate frisbee and korfball and won gold in the 100 metres and 4 x 100 metres relay events in a Malaysian sports tournament, where she was named sportswoman of the year.

Wellington Girls’ College student Jasmine Yip, from Hong Kong, was recognised for her contribution to the community as an international student representative, Student Volunteer Army ambassador, charity volunteer and climate change activist.

Giam Li Heng Ronel was recognised for completing his university entrance programme with UP Education online from Singapore due to border restrictions and mentoring other students along the way.

The event at The Opera House in Wellington on 9 November 2021 also drew a virtual audience of more than 200 others from 37 cities in 13 countries around the world.

Education New Zealand congratulates all the winners on their outstanding achievements.

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