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New initiatives to keep New Zealand education dream alive in Viet Nam
Earlier this year, ENZ asked study providers how we can support the visibility of New Zealand schools who usually operate in the Vietnamese market.
Two proposals have now been selected.
The first will fund Year 10 students from five Manawatū schools to undertake a customised version of AFS’ Global Competence Certificate (GCC).
AFS is partnering with Massey University to facilitate the programme and each New Zealand school will partner with a Vietnamese school from TTC Education, ENZ’s private school network partner with over 18,000 students.
Students from both countries will join weekly virtual workshops facilitated by Massey University – in the last four weeks of New Zealand’s school year – focused on developing the students’ lifelong global ‘power skills’ and providing them with an opportunity to interact and connect directly with their overseas student counterparts.
CEDA and Palmerston North City Council will offer scholarships for up to 25 Manawatū students to participate in the Vietnam GCC, while ENZ will fund the same number of students to participate in Viet Nam.
The second initiative will support the development and implementation of a digital marketing strategy for 14 New Zealand schools. This initiative, which is being delivered by Lightpath Consulting Group, will include dedicated in-market representation, market advice, agent engagement support and a customised Vietnamese website.
The activities will help build a strong, in-market sector presence while borders are closed. They will enable the schools and ENZ to engage through tailored digital marketing programmes to boost the reputation of New Zealand schools with Vietnamese audiences.
Viet Nam is an important market for New Zealand schools. In 2018, it was one of our only source markets to record student growth on the year before, with 39 percent more Vietnamese students choosing to study here.
“Education New Zealand remains committed to supporting New Zealand schools’ activity in Viet Nam and given the current challenges presented by COVID-19, we believe that supporting in-market representation models will maintain visibility in a market which has demonstrated continued growth for the sector,” ENZ Regional Director – Asia, John Laxon, says.
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Opening new doors for Chilean teachers of English
Two groups of 20 Chilean teachers of English recently spent time at two New Zealand universities, studying diversity and inclusion in the classroom and learning more about the Kiwi style of teaching.
The first cohort, from Chile’s Araucania region, went to the University of Waikato’s Institute of Professional Learning. They were the third group of teachers funded to travel here by Araucanian local government.
University of Waikato Associate Director of International Education and Development, Chris Henderson, describes their programme as “genuinely collaborative”.
“As our relationship with the Chilean Ministry of Education has developed, we progressed from delivering an off-the-shelf programme to co-creating a teacher development intitiative that is bespoke and unique to Chilean teachers’ needs,” he says.
"Our unique point of difference is our inclusion of Māori language and learning methods in mainstream classrooms. This is something our Chilean teachers aspire to achieve for their Mapuche [indigenous] learners. As such, we can inspire possibilities and introduce methodologies that will support their journey."
The second cohort spent four weeks at Massey University in Palmerston North. Funded to come here by the Chilean Ministry of Education’s Programa Ingles Abre Puertas (English Open Doors) programme, their members came from all over Chile.
This course featured classes on pedagogical innovations that promote student-centred instruction, as well as visits to local schools, practical workshops and a two-day stay on a local marae.
One student commented: “Not only this course taught us content, but also it engaged me with your culture. How am I going to learn about New Zealand education if I didn't know anything about you? I feel your culture, traditions and daily lifestyle are now part of my life; I feel I fully understand your system and how to apply it in my own reality. Thank you for making this experience as unique as I thought it would be.”
ENZ Senior Market Development Manager, Javiera Visedo, says she is delighted to continue working with the Chilean Government on teaching initiatives like these.
“Chile and New Zealand are like-minded partners and the education linkages get stronger and deeper every day,” she says. “These groups are perfect examples of the work we have been doing in Chile aligned with our International Education Strategy, and we definitely expect more to come.”
For enquiries regarding opportunities like these in Chile, contact Javiera via email: javiera.visedo@enz.govt.nz.
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ENZ hosts its first famil since 2019
Eleven public universities were represented in the Malaysian delegation of senior executives from the Multimedia Technology Enhancement Operations Sdn Bhd (METEOR). METEOR is a consortium of universities that aims to provide advanced solutions through technology. This was an exploratory visit, to enable delegates to discuss a range of opportunities and possible partnerships with New Zealand universities and Te Pūkenga.
The visit was exciting on many fronts as our institutions demonstrated their expertise and explored mutually beneficial relationships, regions showcased their attractions, and the famil delegates from Malaysia experienced many aspects of New Zealand.
The eight-day visit included Wellington, Canterbury and the Waikato. While the start of the week coincided with a cold southerly storm, this was mitigated by warm hospitality and the promise of sun later in the week.
L to r: Lisa Futschek, GM International at ENZ; ENZ’s Chief Executive Grant McPherson; Mr Muhammad Afiq Bin Redzuan, Group Chief Executive Officer at METEOR; and YB Senator Tuan Jaziri Alkaf Abdillah Suffian, after signing an Education Cooperation Agreement.
The delegation was fortunate to meet with Minister of Education Chris Hipkins during their visit. While in Wellington they also signed an Education Cooperation Agreement with ENZ that provides a framework for our relationship going forward. They also met up with Malaysian students at various institutions and heard about their personal experiences here.
The delegation saw trades in action at WELTEC’s trades campus where they observed building apprentices on a block course.
Famils are important for ENZ as well as for New Zealand institutions, as they establish relationships and strengthen people-to-people links. They are also a key way to showcase some of the best education New Zealand has to offer across different regions.
ENZ looks forward to hosting more famils in the coming months, in partnership with institutions and regions throughout New Zealand.
You can read more about the METEOR famil on the Ara website here.
A Kiwi welcome was on offer at a private bach in Duvauchelle near Akaroa.
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Around the world in five
IRELAND
Ireland to create new technological universities
Ten of Ireland’s 14 institutes of technology are working together to merge and set up four new technological universities focused on science and technology programmes by September 2018.
Read moreCOLOMBIA
Colombia hopes peace can attract postgraduates
The ongoing peace process has given new impetus to the country’s efforts to attract international students, with the Colombia Scholarship scheme for postgraduate students doubling its budget and inviting 110 applications.
Read moreINDONESIA
University sector to open to 100 percent foreign ownership
Indonesia’s university sector will open to 100 percent foreign investment, including allowing foreign universities to open local campuses, according to the head of the country’s investment board.
Read moreUK
Alliance needed on student mental health
A student mental health report has prompted a group of stakeholders in the education sector to call for more collaboration to improve mental health of students, including international students.
Read moreCHINA
App designed to help protect Chinese students abroad
A private company has launched an app to provide a range of security, travel and emergency support services to Chinese international students in New Zealand, US, Australia, Cambodia and Israel.
Read more -
Latin American agents tour New Zealand
The trip was organised by Carlos Robles, Director of IEP’s New Zealand Choice Schools, a consortium of 14 New Zealand secondary schools. It began in the north with a visit to Kerikeri, and covered schools right through to Dunedin – hitting Auckland, Te Puke, Napier, Rotorua, Wellington and Queenstown in between.
Carlos said the diverse range of schools and settings gave the agents useful insights into what New Zealand offers as a study destination.
“At Kerikeri High School, the agents participated in a Sailing Academy with the students, while in Queenstown they witnessed the modern facilities and collaborative learning approach at Wakatipu High School,” said Carlos.
“It showed agents the range of education experiences that Latin American students can have in New Zealand and that often aren’t available in their home countries.”
In Napier, the group visited Taradale High School and William Colenso College before hitting Western Heights High School in Rotorua where the students performed a haka. The whirlwind trip ended at Te Puke High School.
ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager Brazil, Ana Azevedo, said the agents returned to Mexico and Brazil with a deeper knowledge of the secondary school possibilities they can share with their students.
“It reinforces that experiencing a Kiwi classroom first-hand is a great way to inspire agents to promote the variety of high-quality education offerings in New Zealand.”
The agents also had some time for adventures including taking in the sights in Queenstown and Milford Sound, spending an afternoon at Te Papa in Wellington, cycling through the vineyards in Napier and relaxing in the hot pools of Rotorua.

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Student speakers at NZIEC 2018
WelTec student Angelique Viola came from the Philippines to study accounting here, leaving behind a secure job and taking a leap of faith. After graduation, her goal is to find employment as an accountant in New Zealand.Three things I’ve enjoyed about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. My tutors were supportive and made me feel comfortable to ask them questions. It helped me cope up with my studies and boosted my confidence. Other support, like the free shuttle bus provided by my school, was also a big help.
2. It is the first time that I encountered a study break during the school semester. That one-week break helped me to cool off before the final exams.
3. The Work-Ready Wellington programme helped me learn about New Zealand’s working environment.
Three things I’ve found hard about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. Finding a part-time job related to the field I am studying.
2. The cost of transportation is quite expensive.
3. It’s challenging to find an institution that offers free seminars/training to enhance specific skills I am lacking.
The one thing that would have made the biggest difference/improvement in my experience is…
I am taking a Graduate Diploma in accounting and it would be beneficial to have on-the-job style training and to learn software such as Xero or MYOB in the curriculum. This would definitely help me in my job hunt since most New Zealand employers are looking for experienced individuals.
Yuki Sugito left Japan to study at Wainuiomata High School – party driven by the appeal of the All Blacks at the 2015 World Cup. He has become involved in kapa haka, competing in the national championships with his school group. He plans to study tourism management at the University of Otago, and also wants to teach Japanese to Kiwis.Three things I’ve enjoyed about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. I like learning about New Zealand culture. At school, I participate in Kapa Haka and get to learn the significance of Māori traditions.
2. New Zealand school is less strict than Japan and I can relate to the teachers and build good relationships.
3. I can practice my English every day.
Three things I’ve found hard about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. Learning English is hard. In Japanese we don’t pronounce “r’s” and “l’s”. Also, the slang New Zealanders use is hard to get used to.
2. In New Zealand you have to self-manage your time. In Japan you “must” do things, in New Zealand you “should” do things, but no one makes you do it. You have to be motivated to achieve.
3. The NCEA system is different and hard. The system in New Zealand means if you don’t get your credits you can’t go to university. In Japan, the universities don’t operate like this.
The one thing that would have made the biggest difference/improvement in my experience is…
The classes for each subject in school are longer than in Japan. I wish New Zealand had at least a 10-minute break between classes. In Japan, classes are 50 minutes long with a small break in between which makes you feel recharged to learn the next subject.

Jingxin 'Ada' Wang is originally from China, and studied a master’s degree in accounting at Victoria University of Wellington. She enjoys travelling and has embraced hiking since being in New Zealand.
Three things I’ve enjoyed about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. Excellent international student insurance – I don’t need worry about any accidents.
2. Help from the international students centre, they give you the best advice no matter what issues you struggle with. There are also lots of discounts for international students such as gyms, barbershops and restaurants.
3. I went to a Work-Ready course organised by Wellington Council, which made it easier for me to find employment after graduating.
Three things I’ve found hard about being an international student in New Zealand:
1. The Kiwi accent was very hard to understand at the beginning, and it was difficult for people to understand my own accent.
2. It’s hard to find delicious and authentic Chinese food in New Zealand.
3. Winter is my nightmare, and the weather here is always so rainy, windy and cold!
The one thing that would have made the biggest difference/improvement in my experience is…
I wish I had more support from my university about New Zealand etiquette and taboo. International students need to mingle into New Zealand culture and society and know the appropriate way to speak and to behave.
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Why country preference matters for international student experience
The 2025 International Student Experience Survey has recently closed. Many thanks to all providers who encouraged participation from their current or recent students.
As we grow our timeseries we aim to look below the topline findings for additional nuggets of information. For example, in our analysis of the 2024 International Student Experience Survey we looked at how a first-choice preference of study destination may impact eventual student experience.
Summary of findings
- 78% of international students currently or recently studying with a New Zealand provider reported that New Zealand was their number one choice of study destination.
- Of the 22% of respondents for whom New Zealand was not their first choice, Australia was most preferred (32%), followed by the USA (17%), Canada (15%), and the UK (14%).
- The most common reasons people gave for selecting a country other than New Zealand as their first choice of study destination was that their preferred country has ‘a good standard of living/is a developed country’ (26%), good institutions/education providers (24%), ‘a high quality of education’ (23%), and ‘good employment opportunities’ (23%).
- Country preference matters for student experience: Overall, experience scores were higher for those who reported that New Zealand was their first-choice destination for international education (median score 8 out of 10) compared to those for whom New Zealand was not their first choice (median score 7 out of 10). This effect persisted controlling for age, gender, subsector, and home country.
ENZ’s Director of Insights, Marie Clark, says that her team will be looking to focus on more of these sorts of insights for the coming year.
“With global policy changes impacting student decision making around country preference, it is important to understand how this might flow on to influence student experience and, even more importantly, actions providers can take to improve the experience of students for whom New Zealand may not have been the first choice for a study destination,” Marie says.
Recommendations for education providers to ensure a positive student experience
Irrespective of whether New Zealand is a prospective or current international student’s preferred study destination, education providers can take the following actions before and during the student application phase and after enrolment to ensure a positive overall student experience.
Prospective decision-making phase
1. Clearly articulate the benefits of studying in New Zealand, followed by benefits offered by specific locations and education providers to ensure that students have a broad idea of the New Zealand way of life.
2. Identify the key drivers of choice for your target students and if those drivers focus around country, course or provider choice.
3. Ensure that those supporting student decision-making are equipped with the same knowledge as well as how New Zealand compares to the alternative destinations that the prospective student may be considering.
Application and enrolment phase
4. Invest in pre-arrival communications, take the time to reinforce the choice of destination with both the international students and their influencers.
5. Ensure pre-arrival communications address common challenges or challenges regularly highlighted by international students of a similar demographic.
6. Consider how international students can begin to build their networks and local connections to ensure a smooth transition.
During study
7. Identify if there are a group of students at your institution, who may have been actively considering an alternative destination.
8. Look at which aspects of student experience have the most impact on overall experience and invest your resources there. For example, enhancements to living experience scores are likely to have the most impact on overall student experience.
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From the Chief Executive: Strengthening our global education brand and New Zealand’s diversity
Kia ora koutou,
On Monday, we were delighted to see the signing of the India New Zealand Free Trade Agreement taking place in New Delhi. This is a positive development and signals a new era in the relationship between New Zealand and India.
Earlier this month, Sahinde Pala, our Group General Manager – International and Sector Engagement, and I were pleased to meet with the Chair, CEO and Board of the India New Zealand Business Council (INZBC). With India a priority market and our second‑largest for international students, the meeting was a valuable opportunity to discuss collaboration, including market research and alumni storytelling.
Indian students are thriving in New Zealand. Results from the International Student Experience Survey continue to show that Indian students report a highly positive overall experience, underpinned by strong ratings for education quality, people and community connections, and arrival and orientation. These findings reinforce New Zealand’s reputation as a welcoming, supportive study destination where Indian students feel connected and well supported across their study journey.
In turn, the Indian student community continues to make a significant social, cultural and economic contribution to Aotearoa. This contribution was recently acknowledged by the Prime Minister, who highlighted the Indian community as an outstanding role model, noting their ambition, aspiration and strong work ethic.
Alongside engagement with India, our work across priority markets continues more broadly. Our China team is preparing to attend the World Digital Education Conference, hosted by China’s Ministry of Education, focused on how digital and AI technologies can enhance education quality and equity globally.
In case you missed it, last week I was pleased to share new ENZ research showing New Zealand’s international education brand continues to strengthen.
Our Global Brand Health and Awareness Survey found that 22 percent of prospective international students now rank New Zealand in their top three study destinations – reaching the Government’s 2034 Going for Growth target nearly a decade early.
Given ENZ’s focus on bringing New Zealand’s education brand to life internationally, it’s encouraging to see that prospective students are not only aware of New Zealand, but are seriously considering it as a study destination. I encourage you to read more in our media release.
Closer to home, I’m looking forward to supporting the school sector at the annual SIEBA Hui – New Zealand’s largest international education conference for schools, in Christchurch next month. ENZ values its relationship with SIEBA as we work together to support high‑quality, sustainable growth.
He whenua auaha tātou, he whai tikanga, he whai whakaaro tonu ki te hapori.
We are a creative, practical and community‑minded country.Ngā mihi nui,
Linda Sissons
Acting Chief Executive -
ENZ unleashes the potential of Prime Minister’s Scholarships alumni
The first-ever event for alumni of the Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia and Latin America was hosted by Education New Zealand in November 2021.
The scholarships, administered by ENZ, enable New Zealanders to study, research or intern in Asia or Latin America. Since 2013, more than 2,400 group and individual scholarships have been awarded.
The virtual event – Hono Mai: a call to connect – drew together alumni from all walks of life, based in New Zealand and around the world.
They heard guest speakers from the Asia New Zealand Foundation and the Latin America New Zealand Business Council, held speed networking sessions in small groups on the EventsAir platform, and joined in challenges and trivia questions.
ENZ’s Global Citizens Manager, Carla Rey Vasquez, says the event was designed and driven by alumni, for alumni.
“Our global citizenship work aims to equip New Zealanders with the competencies to engage with the wider world, build connections with people from other countries and cultures, and take action on the things that matter to them.
“Alumni have so many rich, diverse relationships around the world which can be used to support and uplift each other. Hono Mai is about sharing those relationships to help alumni achieve their own goals within their own communities,” she says.
One of the alumni involved in organising the event was Robyn Scrimshaw, who studied Chinese law and language in Shanghai with a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia in 2014.
“Everyone had such a great experience on the trip; the event was about bringing that magic together and connecting everyone’s experiences in one place,” she says.
Now working as an urban planner in Tauranga, Robyn still draws on her experience of “different perceptions of public and private spaces” in the Chinese cities she visited.
Plans are underway for more networking events for Prime Minister’s Scholarships alumni in 2022.
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Tauranga welcomes over 770 international students
Anne Young, Regional Manager of Education Tauranga, said it has run a welcome ceremony for new international students for many years but due to space restrictions of venues, this has previously only included a select group of 200 participants.
“This year we wanted to include all students to show the whole Bay of Plenty community how large our international student cohort is. We secured a large convention space (850 seats) and invited all of our new students to the welcome!”
The new students, who range from five years old to tertiary students in their twenties, and represent 25 countries, were treated to dance and musical performances from Indian, Chinese and Korean cultural groups, as well as a rousing kapa haka performance from Tauranga Intermediate’s Te Whanau o Te Maro.
A number of speakers were also on hand to welcome them, including a representative from Immigration New Zealand and Mayor of Tauranga city, Greg Brownless. Mayor Brownless shared his own personal connection with the international community through his Taiwanese wife and children, and said it was great to see so many students from different countries in the region.
“You help bring the world to our doorstep, you teach our Kiwi students about your life, your country and your culture. This is so important as we grow the values of global citizenship amongst our community,” he said.
Anne said it was a very important event for the region.
“We not only want to ensure our international students feel welcome as they embark on their study journey but also showcase the many people across many organisations within our region who are here to support them and ensure that they have a positive experience here.”
It can be particularly daunting for primary school families to send young students overseas for school, so Education Tauranga runs a special welcome tour for them.
Held over two days, children and their parents were treated to a powhiri, complete with a chance to mingle over morning tea. They then had a taste of Kiwi cultural activities such as visits to local sites, eating fish ‘n chips and lessons in harakeke (flax weaving).
“It was clear that the international families were impressed – they were smiling and snapping photos to share with family back home,” said Anne.

