Latin America: 3 countries, 5 cities, 10 days

From 21-31 April, Minister Joyce visited Santiago, Bogota, Sao Paulo, Cuiaba and Brasilia undertaking a comprehensive programme focussing on international education but also covering his other portfolio areas of science, innovation and economic development. 

Simultaneously, ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson led a high-level university delegation comprised of Victoria University of Wellington's Vice Chancellor Grant Guilford, Otago University Deputy Vice Chancellor Richard Blaikie, Lincoln University Deputy Vice Chancellor Jeremy Baker and South America specialist Maria Duter, as well as UNZ Executive Director Chris Whelan.

This was Minister Joyce’s first visit to Latin America, and it was a great opportunity for him to experience the culture of doing business in the region as well as to get a first-hand impression of the opportunities.  The Minister particularly valued the chance to speak with New Zealand alumni. His various conversations with Chilean penguins, Brazilian Science without Borders’ students and Colombian Colfuturo scholarship recipients confirmed that the messages we promote on New Zealand’s high quality education, safe and creative learning environment, and the building of lifelong friendships and connections all ring very true.

The visit also confirmed that accessing scholarships funded by the governments of Chile, Colombia and Brazil should remain a priority for us.  In all three countries there are question marks over the longevity of some scholarship schemes, so maximising the opportunities to underline our commitment to them while in market was useful.

Overall, the Minister’s bilateral discussions with Ministerial counterparts in the region confirmed a solid interest in developing the government-to-government relationships in regard to international education.  As well as increasing student flows, interest was expressed in learning from New Zealand’s experience of developing a qualifications framework, standards and quality assurance measures, pathways policies as well as training teachers of English.  NZ/Colombia bilateral education consultations have been approved for the last quarter of 2015 and Brazil has agreed to refreshing our current bilateral MOU into an Education Cooperation Arrangement.

The Minister’s visit generated considerable media interest and was covered by television, radio and press, successfully raising the profile of New Zealand as an education destination.   The last word goes to the university delegation which supported one another’s offerings as well as the overall New Zealand education story with a refrain that developed during our journeys: “You can’t make a wrong choice in New Zealand”.  A powerful message for prospective students.

Left: Minister Joyce presenting at the Brazil Senate Education Committee. Right: The Minister speaks with the media after lunch with the Governor of Mato Grosso State.

Country insights include:

Chile

During the Minister’s visit, a fresh tranche of 80 Chilean high school Penguins Without Borders were confirmed to arrive in July for two terms.  Continuation of this programme is uncertain, with no indication of Chilean government plans to send Penguins in 2016. There’s good news, however, on the tertiary Becas Chile scholarship front, with administrators convinced by New Zealand’s arguments that subject-area rankings (rather than university-wide rankings) should be considered when approving study destinations.  This paves the way for increased student flow from Chile.  

Brazil

The Brazilian Science Without Borders scheme shows increasing numbers of Brazilian students approved for studies in New Zealand.  However, with the Brazilian public service facing severe budget cuts, there is no guarantee that the projected 100,000 Brazilian students will be placed for offshore study between now and 2018. 

The Minister's opening address at the international education FAUBAI Conference in Cuiaba hit exactly the right note, reaching around 500 international tertiary education contacts from 26 countries.  The strong focus in Brazil is on forging strong institution-to-institution relationships to encourage joint research, as well as student and academic exchange.

Colombia

A highlight of the Bogota programme was an event with scholarship agency Colfuturo, with presentations and interactions between the NZ universities and prospective students in person and online.  Executive Director Jeronimo Castro is passionate about New Zealand and prospects for increasing student flow are positive.

To find out more about opportunities in the Lain America region, please contact Lisa Futschek or Cecily Lin.

Above: The Minister’s Twitter feed included this media scrum at Faubai.