16 September 2015 at 9:00 am
Alumni Voices showcase NZ education across South East Asia
ENZ completed its Alumni Voices project in July, which included 40 written and 10 filmed interviews with high-profile NZ alumni from across South East Asia and we’ve since been sharing their awe-inspiring stories across the region.
The 10 filmed or ‘hero’ interviews have been a large focus, with the clips having premiered at a range of ASEAN 40 events celebrating 40 years of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and ASEAN. They’ve also screened at numerous ENZ events, including some high-profile media events in Vietnam during Minister Joyce’s recent visit, as well as various organised media gatherings across our four target markets in the region.
Through speaking more closely with these alumni to arrange the 40 interviews, an added bonus is that we’ve been able to really strengthen our relationships with them and have brought a lot of them on as unofficial ENZ ambassadors. We’ve organised plenty of in-market media interviews and as of early September, have achieved over $200,000 worth of PR value with each individual sharing some awesome testimonials of their time spent studying in New Zealand – something that’s proving to be a really powerful message for prospective students.
The 40 individuals were selected from a range of ASEAN countries and provide a strong mix of age, gender, industry and institutions.
We have the likes of Dr Mazlan Othman, Project Director of the Mega Science 3.0 project in Malaysia, who became her country’s first astrophysicist after graduating from the University of Otago in 1981 and once held the position as Director of the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs.
There’s Singapore’s Dr William Tan, a Massey and University of Auckland graduate who credits his time in New Zealand for launching his career which has earned him the titles of Paralympian, cancer survivor, marathon runner and neuroscientist.
Then we have H.E Chea Serey, a Victoria University of Wellington graduate who is currently the Director General of the National Bank of Cambodia.
Across all interviews, we found a number of common themes: New Zealand’s encouragement for critical thinking, the freedom to choose their own course of study and the warm and welcoming society.
Click here view the videos.
