ENZ hosts agents and alumni in Japan

There are many New Zealand providers and agents who are working hard in Japan, and we know that there are more who would like to make forays in to this market. In line with these activities and initiatives, ENZ is making a concerted effort to re-enage with Japan – changing its status from a Tier Three to a Tier Two priority market, and ensuring it receives additional marketing support and investment.

New Zealand and Japan have a long history of education cooperation – Japan is New Zealand’s fourth largest source country for international students, with 9,563 Japanese students in 2012.

There is plenty of opportunity to grow from this strong base, and New Zealand is more committed than ever to engage at all levels – including government, as demonstrated by the visit in the same week by the Minster for Tertiary Education Skills and Employment, Hon. Steven Joyce to strengthen our education relationship.

New Zealand is an ideal partner for Japan in its bid to internationalise its education system and its workforce, providing a prime destination for Japanese students to learn English – formally and informally – in a world-class education system within a multicultural environment.

The agent networking events held in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka and were designed to give New Zealand education providers the opportunity to reconnect with their existing Japanese agents and expand their network of education agent contacts in Japan. It was also an opportnity to promote ENZ’s new online agent e-learning programme which provides agents with current and relevant information on New Zealand and New Zealand education.

The events featured a presentation from ENZ on New Zealand’s unique study benefits and an update from Immigration New Zealand on their new Immigration ONLINE visa processing, scheduled for launch in the first quarter of 2014, plus, of course, an opportunity to network and socialise afterwards.

It is hoped that the agents left these events with a clear sense that they are very much valued as promoters and sellers of New Zealand education to Japanese students and their families.

The purpose of the alumni networking event in Tokyo was to help keep the alumni connected with New Zealand and with one another, and affirm their roles as willing ambassadors for New Zealand education.

The alumni networking reception was held at the New Zealand Embassy in Toyko, and it proved to be the perfect venue for hosting the approximately 40 alumni and the New Zealand education providers who were in town for the agent events.

The networking function included speeches from New Zealand’s Ambassador to Japan, Mark Sinclair, Minister Joyce and invited Japanese alumni, and included a performance from Tomitsuyu (stage name) a geisha in training. 

The event also included a classic kiwi BBQ and a yes/no game much loved by the Japanese.

A nice moment recalled by the two ENZ staff who attended was of alumni taking photos of themselves eating pavlova to post on their Facebook pages.

The activities in Japan supported ENZ’s recently launched ‘Study in New Zealand’ school campaign in which showcases to prospective school students and their parents that you get more from a New Zealand education: a better learning experience, greater lifestyle opportunities and the foundations for a promising future and career.