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  • Flying Kiwis in Chile

    The students have been living with host families and attending school in Santiago, giving them a great opportunity to immerse themselves in the Chilean culture as well as practice their language skills.

    Last Friday the Flying Kiwis visited Escuela Nueva Zelandia, a school named after New Zealand and located in Independicia commune, an underprivileged area in Santiago. They talked to the students about New Zealand, and in return the Chileans taught the group the traditional Chilean dance cueca.

    The Flying Kiwis have also visited La Moneda, the presidential palace in Santiago where they had a short meeting with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Edgardo Riveros, who was very pleased to meet them.

    The Flying Kiwis programme was developed in response to the successful Chilean government-sponsored Penguins without Borders programme, which sees Chilean students coming to New Zealand to study.

    The objectives of the scholarship scheme are to broaden New Zealand students’ cultural awareness, encourage New Zealand schools to build relationships with Chilean schools and to promote our school education to the Chilean market.

    New Zealand is the first country to develop such an exchange with Chile, creating bonds between our two countries and lifelong connections for all the students taking part.

    The Flying Kiwis farewelled Santiago on 24 June and are winging their way back to their families and friends in New Zealand.

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  • Game On English launched in style

    New Zealand has teamed up its expertise in rugby and English language teaching to develop a new edu-sport programme for Japan in the lead up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Summer Olympics.

    On Monday 7 July Prime Minister John Key and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe launched Game On English in Auckland as part of Mr Abe's official visit to New Zealand.

    The leaders threw a rugby ball to the programme’s inaugural students – Japan's national sevens female champions from Iwami Chisuikan High School – to kick off a rugby skills training session and officially launch the programme.

    The Prime Ministers, current All Black Conrad Smith and Huriana Manuel, captain of the New Zealand women's sevens team and Black Fern, met and shook hands with each of the rugby players before they went through their training paces.

    In the lead up to Japan hosting the Rugby World Cup and Summer Olympics Prime Minister Abe has announced a government goal to improve English language skills and increase sporting capacity amongst youth.

    "As a country with an envious track record of developing the world’s best rugby players and a top quality education system, New Zealand is well placed to help the Japanese government meet their goal," says Grant McPherson, Chief Executive, Education New Zealand.

    The Game On English programme matches English language providers with sports academies to deliver centrally-organised, bespoke courses for young athletes.

    "Growing export revenue from international education is a key part of the Government’s Business Growth Agenda. Programmes such as Game On English are aligning New Zealand’s educational expertise with demand in the global market."

    Japan is now the third largest source of international students to New Zealand. 

    "Our success as a country will be determined by our level of connectedness with the rest of the world. Education is one of the best ways to build international linkages.

    "These students will act as ambassadors for New Zealand education promoting the quality of our education system when they return to Japan," says Mr McPherson.

    The Iwami Chisuikan sevens team are studying English at the English Language Centre of Auckland Institute of Studies (AIS) in the morning and training with Auckland Rugby Academy in the afternoon for the month they are in New Zealand.

    "New Zealand is very different from Japan, but the people here made it really easy for me to adapt and feel comfortable. I enjoy being able to communicate freely with people from different backgrounds in class, and the support we get from teachers is invaluable," says Iwami Chisuikan player Aoi Kurokawa.

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    "Kiwis train differently – they emphasise technique and make training fun. I would like to bring what I learned back to Japan."

    Ran Aoki is also enjoying her rugby in New Zealand. "The best part of the programme is the training. Auckland Rugby make it fun and give invaluable comments and feedback."

    "Kiwis value the quality of training in a given timeframe over accumulated hours which allows us to get the most out of our short stay in New Zealand.

    "I learn English all around – in class, whilst training, and at home with my homestay family!"

    In two weeks a second group of Game On English students will arrive from Japan. 

    Eleven secondary school players from Kanto Super League will be based in Dunedin - studying English at the University of Otago Language Centre and receiving rugby training from Otago Rugby Football Union and local Dunedin high schools.

    Both groups of students are in New Zealand at the invitation of the New Zealand government to pilot the programme. 

    "It is our intention that Game on English will be rolled out nationally and New Zealand will support Japan in achieving their English language and sporting ambitions in the next five to six years and beyond," says Mr McPherson.

    We will evaluate the pilot programme over the next month and advise the next step in due course.

  • Bold gaokao reforms announced

    The changes will see the removal of streaming – a policy which has been in place since 1957 – allowing students greater flexibility in subject choices to count toward their final score. Higher education admission processes are also slated to change.

    Common subjects remain

    Under the current gaokao system, students must study Chinese language, maths and a foreign language (usually, but not exclusively, English). Students will continue to study these common subjects.

    While the three common subjects will be tested at a ‘unified date’, many provinces will allow students to take two separate exams for English and submit their best result.

    Streaming abolished

    The reforms will remove the policy of streaming students into the arts stream or the science stream in their second year of senior high school. Instead, students will study a mix of arts and science subjects.

    More subjects introduced

    As well as the three common subjects, the reforms will see students study 11 others. The 11 subject areas will likely vary between provinces.

    While students must study all 11 subjects, only three results from six identified subjects – history, geography, politics, chemistry, biology and physics – will count toward their overall gaokao score. The three results may be a student’s best results and/or be from subject areas which align well with their future study plans.

    The 11 subjects will be assessed based on a ranking system, with students awarded a ‘pass’ or ‘fail’ grade. How the rankings will be converted into scores for the overall gaokao score is an area that will be clarified through implementation plans.

    These changes will likely see students prioritise particular subjects based on their future study plans.

    Change in admission processes

    The admission processes of China’s higher education institutions will also change. The reforms encourage institutions to adopt a multidimensional enrolment system; to look beyond a singular focus on gaokao results to include ‘academic performance’ and ‘overall qualities’ in their assessments.

    With the removal of streaming, it is likely that Chinese higher education institutions will provide students with greater clarity as to the subject requirements they must meet to apply for specific fields of study – for example, a higher score in politics may be more important for students seeking to study law than biology.

    Another change relates to the ‘extra points’ policy. This policy saw students with strengths in sports or artistic pursuits awarded bonus points for the gaokao and thus a better chance of entering top universities. This policy will be removed from 2015.

    Implementation

    The China Ministry of Education has designated Shanghai municipality and Zhejiang province as pilot areas for the reforms. Implementation will begin later this year for first year students at senior high schools.

    Both Shanghai and Zhejiang are expected to publish implementation plans in the coming months which will outline in greater detail how the reforms will be implemented.

    The reforms will be rolled out nationwide from 2017 and are expected to be fully implemented by 2020.

    Rationale for the change

    The reforms follow the significant debate across China about the education system’s ‘fitness for purpose’ in an era where innovation is essential for the next phase of China’s economic development.

    The reforms seek to address common criticisms of the gaokao. As Vice Minister of Education Du Yubo said, “to put it simply, we are trying to solve the problem of yi kao ding zhong shen (one exam determines one's entire life)”.

    Greater international recognition likely

    The reforms will likely stimulate an increase in the number of tertiary institutions around the world accepting gaokao for admission into degree programmes. A growing number of institutions already accept gaokao results, including seven of Australia’s Group of Eight universities.

    Education New Zealand has been working with Universities New Zealand on the acceptance of gaokao results for direct entry. We are interested in hearing from all New Zealand providers which do currently or are considering direct entry on the basis of gaokao. Email us at china@enz.govt.nz.

  • Game On English a hit in Tokyo

    The event provided an opportunity to showcase the benefits of the programme and to get feedback from the students to help with discussions on the further development of the programme.
     
    Held at the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo, the event brought together the students, Japanese Ministry of Education officials, Japan Rugby Union representatives, media and other stakeholders. Adding real star power to the event was Black Ferns Captain Huriana Manuel – along with a black moonboot – following up on her attendance at the launch of Game On English in Auckland back in July. 
     
    Students from both of the pilots presented on their experience in New Zealand– many in English. The students were full of confidence and enthusiasm about what they had learnt and experienced in New Zealand.
     
    Vice Minister for Education Shinichi Yamanaka spent time with the students as they talked about their time in New Zealand. Chairman of the Japanese Rugby Football Union, Tatsuzo Yabe also attended the event and spoke positively about this NZ Inc. initiative. Both commented on the holistic nature of the programme, equally developing students’ English language and rugby skills which are necessary to play at the top level. 
     
    Japan is now looking towards hosting the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics which will feature Sevens Rugby, sparking an increased interest in rugby in Japan. We are now exploring how the Game On English programme might be developed in 2015 and beyond. 
     
    Two teams participated in the pilot programmes. The first, a top girls’ sevens team from Iwami Chisuikan High School spent four weeks in Auckland working on their English with the Auckland Institute of Studies and their rugby skills with the Auckland Rugby Academy. Their visit coincided with Japanese Prime Minister Abe’s visit to New Zealand, and he and Prime Minister Key launched Game On English in style in Auckland.
     
    Player Ran Aoki said: “The best part of the programme was the training. Auckland Rugby made it fun and give invaluable comments and feedback.
     
    “Kiwis value the quality of training in a given timeframe over accumulated hours which allowed us to get the most out of our short stay in New Zealand.”
     
    The second team in the Game On English pilot was a group of 11 boys from the 11 schools making up the Kanto Super League who were in Dunedin from mid-July through early August. The boys divided their time between the gym and training ground with the Otago Rugby Football Union and the classroom at the University of Otago Language Centre.
     
    “Partnerships between English language schools and rugby unions were key to the success of the pilot programmes. For the month they were in New Zealand, the students were fully immersed in an English speaking environment which started with their homestay families and went on the through the classroom and into their rugby,” said Francesca Hilbron, ENZ’s International Market Manager.
     
    “And they’ve had a New Zealand rugby experience that could see them on the way to being stars of the future.”
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  • New Zealand shines at China Education Expo

    As the photos show, New Zealand’s presence at the fair had a big impact, with the Kiwiana finger puppets proving a popular and distinctive crowd pleaser as students assessed a sea of study options. 

    Initial feedback from industry participants also noted an increase in interest from agents; they report New Zealand is more and more in demand by their customers. The Beijing agent seminar had 120 participants, the majority of which were agents, who had come along to meet New Zealand institutions. 

    Alex Grace, Regional Director – Greater China, says collective hard work by government and industry to build awareness and raise perceptions of quality is clearly having an impact.

    “ENZ, as the government’s lead agency for international education, has paid particular attention to raising the bar in terms of how we package and present the New Zealand education experience. That was noticed and commented on with envy by other countries.”

    “It is gratifying to work in partnership with such a committed and professional group as that which signed up for CEE and our agent seminars. It is only by working together that we’ll increase the impact of our activities and a make a difference.”

    New Zealand: Country of Honour for CEE 2015

    And there is more good news: New Zealand will be the Country of Honour for CEE 2015. Alex says: “Ambassador Carl Worker and I attended the Gala Dinner event at which New Zealand was named as next year’s CEE Country of Honour. This is a major achievement, representing not only the relationships developed by ENZ, but also the commitment over the years by our industry. Please start planning now to participate in October/November next year!”

    Fairs and agent seminars continue in Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai through 3 November.

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  • PM’s Scholarships for Asia announced

    “The experience these students will have while living and studying in a different culture will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” says Peter Bull, Education New Zealand’s General Manager International.

    “While in Asia, the students will establish enduring relationships and networks that will help them to succeed in the global economy and bring benefits to New Zealand.”

    “Education relationships are two-way and having smart capable New Zealand students studying in Asia is very valuable in building capability for New Zealand's future.”

    The Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia cover overseas study, research or internships ranging from six weeks to two years at the best Asian institutions.

    Successful recipients include a group of students from Unitec who will travel to Japan with service robots they have built, a student from the University of Auckland undertaking a Masters in International Law at Seoul University, and a student with a background in primary produce markets aiming to complete a Chinese language course so he can specialise in trade between New Zealand and China.

    Since the inaugural awards in December 2013, just over 350 New Zealand students have been awarded PMSA scholarships. 

    “As well as the individual benefits, scholarship recipients act as ambassadors for New Zealand and showcase the quality of our education system wherever they go in Asia. The more Kiwis who get the chance to study overseas, the better for our own international education industry,” says Mr Bull.

    “Our students make an invaluable contribution toward raising awareness of New Zealand, giving Asian students a direct link with study in our country and representing the possibilities that are out there to experience the benefits of an international education.” 

    Applications are now open for the next round of scholarships and close on 30 March 2015. Visit the PMSA pages to find out more about eligibility and the application process, and for a list of all scholarship recipients to date.

  • Diplomas recognised by Chinese authorities

    Vice Minister of Education Dr Hao Ping and Secretary for Education Peter Hughes signed the Arrangement on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China at the 8th Joint Working Group on Education and Training. 

    The Arrangement, first signed in 2002, was updated and re-signed to take into account the range of changes  to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and related settings that have occurred since 2002.

    In a new move, two and three year diplomas from New Zealand were also added to the list of qualifications officially recognised by Chinese authorities.

    The changes will see greater recognition of academic qualifications between New Zealand and China, making it easier for students to further their studies in either country.

    “This increases New Zealand’s attractiveness at a study destination and expands opportunities for New Zealanders looking to study in China,” said Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce when announcing the signing.

    When Chinese students return to China after their studies, they get their foreign qualifications verified by the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). The updates to the Arrangement ensure that a greater number of students receive the appropriate recognition, enabling them to gain official comparability of their qualifications within the Chinese system. 

  • $50,000 sister schools programme launched

    The fund, announced by Chief Executive Grant McPherson during the 8th New Zealand-China Joint Working Group on Education and Training, aims to support schools’ relationships with Chinese counterparts.

    The $50,000 fund will be accessible through a contestable application process for New Zealand schools. It will enable new sister school relationships to be developed and existing relationships to be strengthened.

    Cultivating relationships in sister regions and cities between China and New Zealand will be a priority.

    “New Zealand and China recognise the important role that language and culture plays in developing globally aware citizens,” ENZ's Regional Director – Greater China Alexandra Grace said.

    “The relationships New Zealand primary, intermediate and secondary schools nationwide have with fellow Chinese schools are a valued source of learning opportunities, cross-cultural skills development and friendship between our two countries.”

    Since 2005, the total number of students learning Chinese language in New Zealand schools increased five-fold from 4,733 to 22,031, with particularly strong growth at primary and intermediate level.

    The number of Chinese international school students studying in New Zealand has also increased, growing by 11 percent in 2013. 

    Applications from clusters of schools are encouraged. Further information on the criteria and application process will be published at a later date through E-News. 

  • Eighth Education Joint Working Group meeting held

    The Chinese delegation was led by Vice Minister of Education Dr Hao Ping. He was accompanied by senior officials from China’s Ministry of Education, the China Scholarship Council (CSC) and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE). 

    Before the JWG, Vice Minister Hao and his delegation called on Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce, where a range of issues of mutual interest were discussed.

    The JWG is the formal mechanism under which discussions take place between government officials on the bilateral education and training relationship. Established in 2002 – and the first such consultations between China and any foreign country – these meetings provide the opportunity to take stock of what has been achieved and to chart a strategic course for the future.

    “The importance of having such periodic and “formal” consultations can’t really be overstated”, says ENZ's Regional Director – Greater China Alexandra Grace. 

    “Between JWGs there is of course regular interaction, both at ministerial and officials’ level, but the JWG process brings with it its own kind of discipline.  Both sides are acutely aware of the need to evidence progress on both standing agenda items, as well as on newer initiatives.  It is the perfect 'action-forcing' occasion, which also nicely evidences how the bilateral education relationship involves a range of actors on each side”.

    This year’s meeting discussed the promotion of student mobility between New Zealand and China, the teaching of Chinese culture and language in New Zealand, cooperation between education institutions at schooling and tertiary levels, quality assurance projects, New Zealand’s involvement in Chinese training programmes and the implementation of Free Trade Agreement related education initiatives.

    ENZ will follow up on specific opportunities that were discussed during the meeting and liaise with relevant sector peak bodies as appropriate. 

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    Above:Members of the New Zealand and Chinese delegations enjoy a nice Wellington day after the conclusion of the 8th JWG meeting.

    Two arrangements were signed at the meeting, covering qualification recognition and cooperation in higher and vocational education:

    • The Arrangement on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China

    • The Arrangement to Operationalise the Vocational Education and Training Model Programme in place between the Ministry of Education of New Zealand and the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China

    An Agreement on Cooperation in Higher Education between Universities’ New Zealand and China Education Association for International Exchange was renewed.

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    Above: Universities New Zealand representative Derek McCormack signs a cooperation agreement with CEAIE Secretary-General Sheng Jianxue, witnessed by Peter Hughes and Dr Hao Ping.

    New Zealand’s delegation was led by Secretary for Education Peter Hughes. ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson joined NZQA Chief Executive Dr Karen Poutasi and officials from the Ministry of Education, ENZ, NZQA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the meeting. 

    Derek McCormack, Vice Chancellor of AUT University, represented Universities New Zealand to discuss cooperation in higher education and Mark Flowers, Chief Executive of Waikato Institute of Technology, represented New Zealand’s institutes of technology in vocational education discussions.

    The last JWG meeting was held in Beijing in 2010. The next JWG meeting is scheduled for 2016. 

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    Above: ENZ Education Manager An Jiangqun (Rosemary) interprets at the JWG meeting. Rosemary’s skills as a trained interpreter came in handy during technical discussions on education cooperation. 

  • Sister Schools Fund open

    The fund is open to all New Zealand schools. Grants of approximately $2,000 - $3,000 per school will be awarded to successful schools to establish new sister school relationships, or to strengthen existing relationships, with a focus on sister cities/provinces.

    The fund was announced during the Joint Working Group which took place during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to New Zealand in November 2014.

    This initiative will support schools to deliver on the Government’s Leadership Statement for International Education, which seeks to increase New Zealanders’ skills and knowledge to operate effectively across cultures. The fund also delivers an outcome from the School Sector International Education Roadmap, in which schools expressed a desire to grow institutional partnership channels with offshore schools.

    A sister school partnership is a planned collaboration designed to offer the partners mutual benefit. Applicants need to explain how their planned activity will contribute to strong sister school relationships which foster learning opportunities, cross-cultural skills development and friendship between our two countries.

    Activities may include (but need not be limited to);

    • staff and/or student exchange

    • curriculum-based collaborative projects

    • enhanced language programmes.

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