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• PM announces widened Game On English in Japan

  Launched by Prime Ministers Abe and Key in July 2014 and piloted with two groups from Japan last year, the programme has now expanded beyond rugby to include rowing and golf.

  Surrounded by past-participants and hopeful future participants of the programme, PM Key noted the importance of building both English language and sporting skills for Japan’s youth in the lead up to the 2019 Rugby World Cup and the 2020 Olympics. Tokyo will be a host city for the RWC and will also host the Olympics and Paralympics.

  Ran Aoki, who participated in last year’s pilot programme, and Shunsuke Hoshitani, a hopeful for this year’s programme, greeted Prime Minister Key in English and welcomed him to Japan. They thanked Governor Masuzoe for the opportunity and said that they both aim to represent Japan at the 2019 RWC and 2020 Olympics.

  Education New Zealand’s Senior Market Development Manager, Fiona Haiko, commented “At the moment there is a real appetite in Japan for fresh ideas and programmes that not only develop English language skills, but also develop a broader skill set, whether it be in sporting or other areas.  Initial feedback and interest in the programme is encouraging.”

  Below: PM Key and Tokyo Governor Masuzoe with (L) Shunsuke Hoshitani and (R) Ran Aoki. Back row: Representatives of the Kanto Super League (KSL) teams who participated in the pilot last year and will participate again this year.

  

• Korea alumni association reinvigorated

  The Association has been energised by the arrival of new members, including recent graduates, and has plans for championing the New Zealand education story with prospective students in Korea and with industry.

  Prime Minister Key met 13 alumni of New Zealand education institutions – both Koreans and New Zealanders now based in Korea – who briefed him on the Association’s future direction and activities, and shared their study experiences in New Zealand. The alumni present at the event hold a wide range of positions including fashion designer, music company executive, children’s book illustrator, attorney, CEO of a technology company, a former professor of design and officers in the Korean military.

  “A New Zealand education provides many Korean students with a platform from which to launch successful careers in business, academia, and a range of other industries in Korea and New Zealand,” said Lisa Futschek, Education New Zealand’s Regional Director for Americas, Japan, and Korea.

  “New Zealand education has strong links with industry and business, meaning New Zealand-educated graduates are work-ready, innovative and flexible. The diversity of the local Korean-Kiwi community in Korea shows the range of choices that can open up with a New Zealand education.”

  The Association will organise various activities catering to shared interests and goals of other Korean-Kiwi community such as job opportunities, charitable activities, and a grand networking event in October 2015.

  To find out more and join (or recommend a friend that they join!): https://www.facebook.com/NZAAkorea

• Game on English – Golf launched in Korea

  Game on English is an edu-sport programme that combines intensive English language classes with top quality sports training. Game On English – Golf is aimed at talented young Koreans, 13 years and over, who want to become professional golfers.

  “Game On English combines New Zealand’s expertise and passion for sport with our education system that consistently ranks amongst the best in the world,” said Lisa Futschek, Education New Zealand’s Regional Director for Americas, Japan, and Korea.

  “With an estimated 70,000 Koreans passionate about golf, and both our countries’ claims on World #1 women’s golfer Lydia Ko, it seemed the obvious sport to test out the Game On English market in Korea.”

  To launch and raise public profile of Game On English in Korea, four young Korean golfers will be awarded scholarships to spend a month in New Zealand working on their game with the professionals at New Zealand’s Institute of Golf while improving their English at English language school, Unique New Zealand.

  Applications for these scholarships will open in mid-2015.

• IEGF recipient to enter Asian market

  The product, called Bud-e Reading, was formally launched in Auckland on 14 April.  It is the brainchild of education publisher Global Education Systems (GES), literacy expert Jill Eggleton and digital design studio Custard Square and introduces young children to read and write the most commonly used words, helping them develop confidence and positive attitudes to reading.

  Education New Zealand’s grant has been used by Bud-e to sign up partner agreements in Asia, provide in-market training and pay for a social media and marketing strategy.

  “The grant has been provided from the International Education Growth Fund (IEGF) as part of ENZ’s commitment to supporting businesses such as Bud-e Digital Limited, in developing new markets, products and services,” according to Business Development Manager Adele Bryant.

  Bud-e features a free to download digital app and a series of picture books that introduce young readers to friendly little alien Bud-e who guides the reader through learning milestones using games and activities.  That progress is captured and fed back to parents and teachers.

• International Student Barometer results

  What can we do differently to meet and exceed students’ expectations?

  The 2014 English Language Sector (ELS) and Private Training Establishment (PTE) International Student Barometer (ISB) surveys were commissioned by Education New Zealand to investigate the decision-making, expectations, perceptions and experiences of over 2,000 international students enrolled with New Zealand providers. 

  The ISB surveys also incorporate a global benchmark to provide an indication of how New Zealand compares to other countries offering English language learning and niche education such as that offered by PTEs.

  Overall, students rate their study experience in New Zealand highly – above the global benchmark for both sectors. Students’ inclination to recommend their institution is above the global average 2012 for the ELS, but slightly below the global average for the PTE sector.

  Interactive seminars for PTE and ELS providers were held last week as an opportunity for providers to delve a little deeper into the findings and examine best practice activity.

  Participants in both seminars were in agreement that the setting and meeting of expectations, and opportunities to meet and interact with New Zealanders were priorities going forward.  

  Other areas identified by participants for consideration included:

  • The need to address the sense of isolation from school and community that some students feel by facilitating involvement in community, cultural and groups and sports clubs.

  • Providing timely and accurate information to the student before they arrive in New Zealand, on the programme of study and on the New Zealand lifestyle and Kiwi culture.

  • With social networking sites ranking low in importance as an influencer for choice of institution should organisations rethink their marketing activities?

  • The provision of tailored pathways advice for students progressing to further study or into employment.

• Malaysian student teachers value NZ experience

  While it was not much money, it motivated them, according to Mdm Anis Abdullah, co-ordinator of the Kiwi Experience Project at the Institute of Teacher Education (Batu Lintang) in Kuching, who accompanied the students.

  Over the next year they raised their target of 100,000MYR or $NZ 30,000. That first day they rented out the bikes for less than 1 ringgit – so the fact there were 12 takers was the incentive to continue.

  During the March visit to Dunedin the third-year primary-level English language student teachers gained insights into New Zealand culture, education techniques, ways of managing pupil behaviour and various literacy programmes. The tour ended with the students performing three songs, including a waiata, at North East Valley Normal School.

  Aged 21 to 25, many will be posted in rural areas with added responsibilities as school administrators and for pastoral care of pupils. “English is part of the curriculum in both primary and secondary schools now but in 2016 it will become compulsory and pupils will be required to pass English language studies to graduate from high school,” according to Mdm Anis.

  She said the trip enabled the students to have the total Kiwi experience.  “I believe in the holistic approach to education where learning entails much more than just what you study in class. Trips like this enrich an education. New Zealand is the most expensive benchmark option for us, but it is the best because we would like our students to see first-hand how the early literacy and reading recovery programmes are carried out here.  Besides, New Zealand is a very beautiful and safe country and the warmth of the Kiwis always made us feel very welcomed.”

  This visit was the first time some had left their home region of Sarawak. “They have had a great time and many said that when they graduate and have worked for a few years, they will come back.”

  Mdm Anis said commonalities existed between the Malaysian and New Zealand teaching ethos. “It is about teachers being informed, knowledgeable and global citizens. Our teacher development programmes focus not only on intellectual aspects, but  also on developing values and the emotional, spiritual and physical aspects – similar to the ‘life-long-learner’ concepts in New Zealand.”

  Mdm Anis hopes the Malaysian Ministry of Education will plan another twinning programme for Malaysian students to study at the University of Otago, possibly at Masters level. She previously helped co-ordinate such a programme at the institute where she works, that ended in 2013, for 117 student teachers to complete half of their Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, TESOL, degree at Otago.

• Cricket star hits home the NZ education message

  Stephen is supporting the strategy by helping to raise New Zealand’s profile as an education destination among India’s leading universities, faculties and students in the South and West of India.

  Stephen’s own brand, shaped from his outstanding international cricket career, resonates enormously right across India and his down-to-earth, humble Kiwi style works well with a wide range of stakeholders.

  ENZ’s General Manager International, Peter Bull, was in India last week participating in promotional activities with Stephen and was thrilled both by the former world-class cricketer’s commitment to ENZ’s goals and by the publicity his presence creates.

  “The attention on New Zealand education that Stephen Fleming generates among the students and faculties of important universities in India is absolutely tremendous.”

  Stephen’s strong India connection can be traced back to 1994 when he faced India in his debut test cricket match. He is now the coach of the most successful Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), following an exceptional captaincy of the Black Caps.

  Using Stephen’s profile in India during April means the three-day ENZ-Stephen Fleming programme of institutional visits and media interviews is happening against the backdrop of the IPL’s eighth season. As the most watched Twenty20 league in the world with a brand value of over US$7 billion, the IPL easily tempts business outside of cricket into action as excitement in India reaches fever pitch.

  The first day of the programme took Stephen and ENZ to Hindustan University, a highly ranked engineering and technical college in Chennai, the day after CSK won its first match of this IPL season. The team won off the last ball, sparking even stronger media excitement.

  Stephen pitched New Zealand education to more than 500 passionate students and staff at the university whose graduates regularly go abroad for postgraduate studies. Stephen also drew on his own education experiences, talking about his parents’ encouragement regarding the importance of education, and in the value education has had in shaping his future. This was later noted by the university’s reporting on the visit.

  Stephen also talked to the audience about the quality of New Zealand’s education programmes, universities and work opportunities in areas including the Christchurch rebuild.

  

  Above: Stephen Fleming delivering an inspirational speech to students and faculty at Hindustan University

  “I believe in the value of an education from New Zealand, and I’m always thrilled at the enthusiasm these students show in what New Zealand can offer them in terms of our education proposition,” Stephen told ENZ staff.

  The visit also included Stephen’s inauguration of a new cricket academy with some super-star batting by the New Zealand education brand ambassador and an on-air interview at Chennai’s leading English language radio which has an audience of 600,000.

  Stephen and the ENZ team finished the day with three print media interviews, with Stephen continuing to prove his worth by bringing cricket conversations back to the benefits of a New Zealand education. He also announced a New Zealand education t-shirt design competition open to students from leading fashion schools in India. Building on recent media success from two fashion-related Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia group tours to India, and on New Zealand’s creative, innovative, fresh-thinking approach, the design competition is targeting a niche audience in a market known for engineering, business and IT. The competition closes on 1 July when Stephen Fleming will be photographed in the winning design.

  Stephen Fleming and ENZ will be in Mumbai on 16 April and Bangalore on 21 April for more institutional visits and media interviews.

  This month ENZ’s India team has also supported agent-led New Zealand fairs in Pune, Kolkata and Ahmedabad with institutions pleased with the quality of students overall. A fourth agent fair is scheduled for Cochin on 21 April while the team also supports a Christchurch Educated mission in-country.  

• NZ education shines in China

  Running alongside the fairs were the ENZ-hosted agent seminars in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. 34 institutions participated in the seminar in Beijing, alongside 112 consultants, and 46 institutions participating in the Shanghai and Guangzhou seminars, with 60 consultants participating in Shanghai, and 116 in Guangzhou.

  A true NZ Inc effort, Immigration New Zealand also attended the fairs and seminars. New Zealand students holding Prime Minister’s Scholarships to Asia and currently studying in China also helped out – and feedback from industry participants highlighted the usefulness of their Chinese-language skills and the value of their more recent experience of the New Zealand education system.  The added bonus also being that these students are walking examples of the “outcomes” of New Zealand’s education system.

  High-level support for New Zealand institutions in China was demonstrated by the attendance of the New Zealand Ambassador to China, John McKinnon, at the agent seminar and fair in Beijing, and the attendance at the seminars in Shanghai and Guangzhou of the Consul-General in Shanghai, Guergana Guermanoff and the Consul-General in Guangzhou, Rebecca Needham. This underlined the cross-NZ Inc recognition of and support for the key role education plays in the bilateral relationship.

  International Market Manager - China, Amy Rutherford said, “I was delighted that so many New Zealand education institutions representing early, secondary, higher and vocational education participated in CIEET 2015 and the agent seminars. These events build on the previous work of industry and Education New Zealand to demonstrate the high value of a New Zealand education for Chinese students – work which is paying off, with New Zealand recently included in the Top 5 preferred overseas study destinations for China’s wealthy, as surveyed by the Hurun Report.”

• Award received

  This award (following on from a similar win in 2014) again acknowledges Education New Zealand’s ongoing support and commitment to its relationship with the Chinese Service Centre for Scholarly Exchange (the organiser and verifier of overseas qualifications, amongst other things) as well as recognises our industry’s commitment to participating annually in this set of important profiling and recruitment events.

  The University of Waikato received its “Best Overseas Partner University” Award at the same ceremony (detailed in the last edition of E-News).

• New Zealand: Country of Honour for CEE 2015

  This year, New Zealand is CEE Country of Honour. A major achievement this represents not only the relationships developed by ENZ, but also the commitment over the years by our industry. More information will soon be released, but please start planning now to participate in October/November events in Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai!