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Indian and Kiwi students explore water issues
The Untouched World Foundation’s (UWF) Waterwise Leadership and Global Citizenship Programme gave students the opportunity to learn about the entirety of the water resource chain - from primary energy players, through to farming, recreation, cultural and conservation interests.
Taking part were students and teachers from Otago secondary schools, tertiary institutions and the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Education for Peace and Sustainable Development (MGIEP). Representatives from YESPeace Youth Network in Asia also attended.
The programme involved a week of activities which included visits to lakes, rivers, vineyards and orchards, discussions with water and land use and tourism and irrigation experts, and interviews with locals.
“Youth leadership is firstly about agency – understanding the many facets of the issue, developing the transferable skills to collaborate with others, acting responsibly and then finding a clear path to actively and positively model their own views and behaviour. It is vital we all listen and engage with an international perspective on these issues,” says Mark Prain, Executive Director of UWF.
Key partners included Otago Regional Council, Otago Community Trust and Contact Energy. Further support was also provided by ENZ, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and Ngai Tahu.
“Otago Polytechnic believes educating youth on key issues facing society, unlocking their unique leadership potential and inspiring them to become active change-makers is vital,” said Marc Doesburg, Otago Polytechnic Director Globalisation.
Last week’s activities are just part of a range of ongoing initiatives. An “Acts of Kindness’” Campaign is also being developed and will involve MGIEP and UWF mobilising youth in partner institutions to foster meaningful exchange of ideas, knowledge and action towards the achievement of UNESCO’s Sustainable Development Goals.
Organisers are aiming to establish a New Zealand-India youth leadership exchange programme with a focus on fostering youth leadership, which is a key aspect of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) Global Action Programme.
For further information visit the Untouched World Foundation website
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Around the world in five
JAPAN
Japanese-language schools expand offerings overseas
Japanese education companies are expanding their language offerings overseas to meet the growing demand for Japanese-speaking foreign manpower as the nation opens its doors to workers from overseas.
THAILAND
Thailand eyes lifelong learning push
To address concerns that Thailand’s “outdated” education system can no longer offer "future-proof" degrees for students, there are calls to develop a lifelong learning approach comprised of online learning, in-line learning, beeline learning and frontline learning.
US
US Department of State endorses education agencies
In a historic move, the US Department of State has officially endorsed the usage of education agents, with a State Department representative expressing a desire to “work together to promote the United States as the destination choice for international students.”
INDIA
India needs better strategies to promote 'Study in India'
Earlier this year, the Indian Government launched a ‘Study in India’ website to help foreign students find Indian universities, but more needs to be done. There were only 46,144 foreign students in India in 2017, but higher numbers could significantly boost India’s soft power and university rankings.
FRANCE
French university fees for non-EU students set to rocket
University fees for students outside of the EU, which will include Brits after Brexit, are set to shoot up by as much as 16 times the current cost, the French prime minister has announced.
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Chilean students and teachers tour New Zealand
The programme aims to broaden access to intercultural learning opportunities for Chilean students from disadvantaged backgrounds. It is fully funded by the Chilean Government and administered by AFS Chile and AFS New Zealand.
The students – from Cerro Navia, Lo Prado, and Pudahuel, three of the lowest income territories in Chile – had never travelled before. In New Zealand, they participated in English language lessons as well as cultural activities in Auckland and Whitianga. This included visiting a Marae and living with local host families to experience family life in New Zealand.
AFS National Director, Doris Cuthell, said it was a privilege to welcome the students to New Zealand.
“The Chilean Government is committed to increasing access to cultural and educational experiences for young people, to help equip them for a more interconnected world,” said Ms Cuthell.
“Our Global Choice programme was a perfect fit for these students, and the experience life-changing.”
The students and their teachers finished their trip at a reception in Wellington on 12 December with Wellington Mayor Justin Lester, the Chilean Ambassador to New Zealand Rodrigo Espinosa and AFS New Zealand. Mr Lester spoke to the students about his own life-changing AFS experience during an exchange to Germany.
“Immersion allows students to experience other cultures and learn English in a way you can’t at home in the classroom,” said Ms Cuthell.
“From Barrancas to New Zealand is a fantastic initiative – we’re very proud to be involved in a programme that is increasing our capacity to broaden access to intercultural learning for more diverse communities.”
The Chilean Government is committed to working with AFS New Zealand through the Global Choice programme and will provide From Barrancas to New Zealand scholarships for the next three years.
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Languages International turns 40
Around 90 people, including the school’s founders Chris and Frances Woolcott, attended the evening event at its Merchant House buildings in Auckland.
Darren Conway, CEO Languages International, said the school has come a long way since it opened four decades ago.
“Over the years, Languages International has brought tens of thousands of young people into the country, from all over the world, for a language and travel experience. We’ve also helped more than 1,500 English teachers into jobs across New Zealand and abroad,” said Mr Conway.
“Initially, our students came for a study, travel and cultural experience, and this ‘edu-tourism’ segment is still the core market. However, more students are now wanting to take work experience home or develop their English in order to pursue higher education or training in New Zealand.”
A key project for Languages International in 2019 will be preparing to host the annual IALC (International Association of Language Centres) workshop in March 2020. IALC is an association of 140 leading independent schools teaching languages – IALC members and over 100 education agents will travel to Auckland in March 2020 to take part.
L-R: Chris and Frances Woolcott, the founders, with Larissa Merz, Russia Marketing Manager and her husband, Dmitri.
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Two years in Colombia
Stuart at Machu Picchu
After a short trip to Argentina four-and-a-half years ago, I knew that I had found a special place in the world. I love New Zealand and it will always be home, but I had to get back to South America. This love affair had originated from an attraction to the culture, the people and the unique energy of life there. It was a certain vibrance; an addictive rawness and excitement that had changed the way I looked at the world.
Many years later, whilst completing my final year of a mechatronics engineering degree at the University of Canterbury, I started to look for a way I could return and continue studying, working or volunteering. I was eventually recommended the PMSLA which, paired with a Master of International Business programme in Colombia, seemed like the perfect fit.
I have been living in Medellín which is Colombia’s second largest city. It has been titled ‘The City of Eternal Spring’ due to its consistent, warm weather all year round and I can quite happily confirm the reputation. Other lesser known facts about the city are that it was voted The World’s Most Innovative City in 2013 and is often said to have the best sounding Spanish dialect in the world. The city has a plenty to offer with regular cultural events, a plethora of places to dance (salsa, reggaeton, bullerengue and kizomba are all very common here), language exchanges, history tours and a bustling nightlife. Quite possibly my favourite aspect about the place though is that you are always close to the mountains. If you feel like taking a break from city life there’s a bunch of trails and waterfalls to explore that rival a Kiwi bushwalk any day of the week.
My university has also exceeded my expectations. Universidad EAFIT has a comfortable sized campus with extremely modern facilities that are new, clean and equipped with everything you’d expect. The staff are incredibly friendly, and the lecturers have all done a fantastic job teaching me about international business. I spend most of my time there as it is very close to home, located on the edge of the popular El Poblado district which acts as the city centre of restaurants, bars and hotels.
Students at the Colombian school where Stuart taught English.
I’ve also had a lot of opportunities to see Colombia’s hotspots. I have spent time in the capital of Bogotá, explored the coffee region of Salento, travelled all over the north coast to Santa Marta and Cartagena, dove into some full language immersion by volunteering at a hotel in Cali for three weeks and taught English for three weeks in a small mountain village. There is still much to see and learn in this country and I’m looking forward to seeing what awaits in the year to come.
“The way I'll approach the rest of my life has been shaped by my experiences here. I have travelled all over South America, learned about international business, become almost fluent in Spanish and made some good friends.”
I’m now one year down and, with one more year to go, I couldn’t be happier to head back over to Colombia to tackle 2019. I’ve learnt an incredible amount during my time in South America and the way I will approach the rest of my life has been shaped by my experiences here. I have travelled all over South America, learned an incredible amount about international business, become almost fluent in Spanish and made some extremely good friends.
I am exceedingly grateful to the PMSLA for this opportunity and I would advise anyone out there who might be considering something like this to start investigating what’s out there. With the upcoming FTA agreement between New Zealand and the Pacific Alliance (Perú, Bolivia, Chile and Colombia) there are going to be many more opportunities to bridge the Pacific and connect our little country with the behemoth of South America. It’s an exhilarating period of time and I invite you all to come and take part in the next stage of the journey.
Stuart running some private English lessons.
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Japanese students help Kiwis to think global
“Our relationship with Jissen Gakuen has developed slowly over a twenty-two-year period. This has helped ensure that it is not only sustainable, but benefits everyone involved,” said Wayne Hegarty, Principal Marlborough Boys’ College.
Each year, students from Jissen, a co-educational junior and senior school, spend between eight days and one year studying in the Marlborough region.
“We’ve recently hosted a group of students who had the most fantastic stay,” said Zoe Gray, International Director at Marlborough Girls’ College.
“They made lifelong bonds with their new Kiwi friends in such a short amount of time – they were so upset about leaving that it took the visiting students a whole two hours to get on the bus to start their trip home.”
“We’re told the visiting teachers and students thoroughly enjoyed their time here in Marlborough and can’t stop talking about it now they’re back home.
“It’s been a wonderful opportunity for our local students too. The ‘buddies’ have benefitted significantly from the experience.”
“Supporting our students to develop global skills is an important part of our curriculum.”
During their stay in Marlborough, the Japanese students are either hosted by a local family with young people of a similar age or are partnered up with a buddy at school. This buddy programme encourages and supports local students to develop leadership skills, interact with students from other cultures, and form international connections.
As part of the education relationship with Jissen Gakuen, both Marlborough Girls’ and Boys’ College offer scholarships for local students to travel to Tokyo to study at Jissen Gakuen (two boys and two girls). The Ota scholarship was first offered to year nine students in 2004. “The scholarships are incredibly popular and each year we receive a large number of worthy applicants. The panel’s job to select just two students from each college is incredibly difficult,” said Zoe.
“In Japan, our students are placed with host families for ten days. They study Japanese culture, help facilitate English classes and are encouraged to take part in the daily rituals of their host family.
“Supporting our students to develop global skills is an important part of our curriculum.”
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International students learn about sustainability
As part of the English Language School’s commitment to sustainability, New Horizon students are taking part in regular tree-planting days, with the planted trees then being named after individual students.
Through a connection with Fresh Air Forests, a sub-group of Habitat Biodiversity and Pest Management Limited, students now not only plant trees but also receive certificates with the coordinates of their exact tree, so they can track its growth and progress in real time once they return home.
Student Issaree Homjun is a big fan of the initiative saying she enjoyed the combination of being outside and “doing something good for the planet.”
Lindsey Scott at New Horizon College said that while the experience itself is enjoyable, it’s the drive to keep New Zealand’s environment healthy and beautiful that is the biggest motivator.
“It spreads the message of environmental responsibility, which is one of New Horizon’s core values,” Lindsey said.
“Students are not only improving their English language skills but are making a tangible contribution to the wider Hawke’s Bay community.”
New Horizon’s plans to promote sustainability don’t end here.
“We’re starting a ‘bags not’ movement, aimed at significantly reducing single-use plastic bags. This sits alongside opportunities for our students to participate in local community projects organised by the Regional Council and Forest and Bird.”
A focus on the environment is also being woven into the teaching programme at New Horizon College.
“We’re launching a new course called English and the Environment. Environmental concerns are of course of significant international interest. We’ll focus both on what we’re doing well but also on identifying areas for improvement, and how we might share ideas with other countries.”
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Letter from the CE: Rolling out the welcome mat for students
At ENZ, we’re in planning mode for the year ahead, which involves finishing up projects such as our partnership with Mortal Engines. Our digital and PR campaign for the film, which features New Zealand and international graduates who worked on the Hollywood film, launched in early January. Impressively, the campaign video assets reached more than three million people in the first week alone. This is a promising start, and we expect to see continued interest as we promote New Zealand as a great place to study the creative arts.
At this time of year, student support is top of mind with the arrival of new international students, who will feel excited and anxious about life in their new home-away-from-home.
New Zealand’s place in the world means that Kiwis intrinsically understand the importance of forming and maintaining global skills and connections, and the leap of faith this often involves.
We each have a responsibility to treat others as we would like to be treated ourselves, to wrap a warm welcome around students embarking on a New Zealand education experience – to embody manaakitanga.
Offering a helping hand at key points of the student journey and making personal connections will go a long way in ensuring a student’s time in New Zealand is positive and empowering.
We all have a role to play here.
At ENZ, we’re on a journey ourselves to ensure an excellent student experience is a cornerstone of our work. Student experience is a focus of the International Education Strategy, co-developed with the Ministry of Education, and we have put in place some clear plans for delivering and measuring our progress in this area. We are working on some exciting developments to benefit students and providers. You will hear more from us on this soon.
As we know, international education can help prepare the next generation of students to meet the demands and challenges of an increasingly globalised world.
For this reason, we should be thinking about how we can ensure domestic students are making the most of opportunities at hand too. The next round of PMSA/LA applications will open shortly, and I urge all tertiary students to consider an international experience.
I look forward to hearing about all these success stories in the coming year and seeing how international education benefits New Zealanders and New Zealand communities. For further insights into the benefits of international education for New Zealand, I encourage you to download Beyond the Economic, a 2018 report commissioned and published by ENZ which has been an extremely popular resource. It is filled with case studies of Kiwis who have experienced first-hand how international education enriches lives.
Each of those stories begins here, at the start of the school year and the first welcome to international students.
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive, Education New Zealand
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German students discuss sustainability with the Speaker
Mallard, a former Minister of Education (1999-2005), was eager to engage with students during his trip to Germany in January.
Olga Elli, ENZ’s Market Development Manager Europe, said LMU’s strong focus on sustainability research and interest in New Zealand presented a great opportunity for Mallard to discuss areas of mutual interest, and encourage young Germans to look to New Zealand to study.
“LMU is very keen to build on their existing links in New Zealand and formally partner with New Zealand universities,” said Olga.
“The Faculty of Geography, where Mallard spoke, has many links and relationships with New Zealand institutions and researchers. For Example, New Zealander Gordon Winder, Professor for Economic Geography and Sustainability Research at LMU Munich is Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Environment (The University of Auckland).”
During his visit, Mallard gave a presentation on “Sustainability, Conservation & Education in New Zealand” to geography and geology students. They asked lots of questions about sustainability, pollution, climate change, and what New Zealand’s response is to these challenges.
“Mallard emphasised that increased collaboration between our countries in areas of environmental research can create solutions to global issues. He also spoke of kaitiakitanga and the sense of responsibility Kiwis feels to protect their environment, which was really interesting to the students.”
After the presentation, the students continued the conversation with the Speaker at a reception alongside the New Zealand Ambassador to Germany HE Rupert Holborow and ENZ’s Team Europe.
“We will be working closely with LMU to foster relationships with New Zealand providers.” Said Olga.
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Kiwi students become ambassadors in Beijing
The students represented three cohorts from Massey University and the University Canterbury. Two of the groups were based at Peking University, while the other had been studying in Hangzhou.
This marks the second year in a row that PMSA groups have come together at a function at the New Zealand Embassy in Beijing.
New Zealand Ambassador to China, Clare Fearnley, welcomed the visitors and provided an update on the China-New Zealand relationship. Other Embassy staff, representing a range of government agencies from the Ministry of Primary Industries to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade were present to talk to students about their roles and areas of interest.
ENZ Regional Director North Asia, Adele Bryant, said it provided a great opportunity to encourage the students to be ambassadors for New Zealand education during their stay in China.
“These students are ideally placed to help raise the profile of New Zealand education, as they are great examples of the kind of students we produce – independent thinkers, and creative, innovative and skilled young people.”
Massey University’s Head of the School of Humanities, Kerry Taylor, also believes in the value of the programmes to students, both now and in their future.
“The PMSA provides an opportunity for our high academic achievers to experience first-hand the dynamism and relevance of China to New Zealand,” said Kerry.
“Many will come back to do more study in China or develop business links with China that will contribute to New Zealand’s prosperity.”
A PMSA group from Massey University at the New Zealand Centre, Peking University. The Massey students studied an intensive Chinese Language programme at PKU.
