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Around the world in five
BRAZIL
Brazil unveils new HE internationalisation scheme
Brazil is replacing the Sciences without Borders (CSF) initiative with a new international mobility financing regime, aiming to enhance bilateral relationships with overseas partners. The new fund will be targeted towards postgraduate students and early career researchers looking to develop research abroad. While the CSF was managed at a federal level, the new scheme gives more autonomy to universities, requiring them to form an internationalisation strategy with international partners.
GLOBAL
Is fear of unqualified leads holding back your school website?
If universities optimised their websites, most could multiply the number of enquiries captured by up to 400%. Achieving this result requires just a few simple tweaks that make it easier for visitors to register their interest, such as decreasing the number of questions on a web form, segmenting by readiness (the distinction between “Keep me updated” forms and “Talk to me” forms) and using more student testimonials and videos.
UK
74% of public value international students when economic worth revealed
New research has found that people’s attitudes towards international students change when learning of their economic contribution and the jobs they generate. In a recent survey, only 12% of respondents wanted to see more international students in the country, but this doubled to 24% when they learned of the economic gains. Similarly, the 20% who wanted to see less international students in the country dropped to 13% when told of the economic value of international students.
FRANCE
French tech: A hot spot for entrepreneurs, 15 years in the making
Watch out Silicon Valley – the tech scene in France is gaining massive traction. Students from France’s world-leading business schools are now choosing tech over other job options, with one third of French students stating they would like to either found or join a start-up. The French talent pool is also impressive: Paris has over 134,000 professional developers, the second highest in Europe behind London, and 43% possess an MSc in Computer Science.
SOUTH KOREA
South Korean teens top in maths and science, but lack interest
South Korean students are excelling in science and mathematics, but the way the subjects are taught is not kindling interest in the students, a new report reveals. While South Korea placed fifth worldwide in the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2015 science test, and first for maths, they ranked 26th and 28th (out of 35) in terms of interest. Professor Lee Joo-ho of the Korea Development Institute (KDI) says the disparity can be traced to the “learning by rote” method in the nation’s schools.
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Changes to dispute resolution rules
Set up in July 2016, the Dispute Resolution Scheme (DRS) aims to resolve financial and contractual disputes between international students and their education providers.
The Ministry of Education (MoE) is now making a technical change to the wording of the rules governing the DRS to make them consistent with the Education Act 1989. The current DRS wording says that the adjudicator’s decision is final when the student claimant has formally accepted it, whereas the Education Act 1989 simply says that the adjudicator’s decision is final.
From 29 May 2017, the DRS rules will state that the adjudicator’s decision is final. This should prevent potential confusion or unnecessary delay in resolving disputes.
As is now the case, students who disagree with the outcome of the disputes resolution process can still challenge it in the Disputes Tribunal, through the court system or through any other complaint resolution body.
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NZIEC and the future of China student recruitment
Mr Zhou Chenggang is president and chief executive officer of New Oriental Education and Technology Group, one of China’s largest student recruitment agencies.
In his keynote address, President Zhou will outline some of the key trends curently shaping student recruitment from China and highlight what the future will have in store for New Zealand international student recruiters.
Alex Grace, ENZ Regional Director for Greater China and North Asia, said, “New Oriental has longstanding partnerships with schools and tertiary institutions across New Zealand. We’re looking forward to hearing President Zhou’s insights on the future of the Chinese student market and implications for New Zealand international education marketers.”
During his more than 30-year career in the education sector, President Zhou has been awarded the Leader in Chinese Educational Enterprise and Outstanding Individual in Education Industry in 2011-2013 awards, and was the 2010 Person of the Year (Tencent, Global News, and Beijing Morning Post).
Visit the NZIEC website to find out more about President Zhou and his keynote address.
President Zhou joins conference MC Miriama Kamo, Dr Jason Fox and Dr Esther Brimmer as NZIEC headline speakers. NZIEC will be held at SkyCity Convention Centre in Auckland on 22 and 23 August,
Get ready to reserve your place at the international education event of the year! Registrations for NZIEC 2017 will open on Wednesday 17 May.
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ENZ sponsors The PIEoneer Awards
The awards aim to recognise individuals and organisations that are raising professional standards, enhancing their engagement or redefining the international student experience.
ENZ is sponsoring the flagship ‘PIEoneer of the Year Award’.
“We’re delighted to support this initiative,” says ENZ chief executive Grant McPherson.
“We’re pleased to partner with The PIE to recognise the most outstanding achievement in international education globally.”
Amy Baker, Managing Director of The PIE, says it’s great to have ENZ’s support.
“New Zealand’s Think New brand aligns itself well to the transformational nature of international education. We therefore see ENZ’s sponsorship of our PIEoneer of the Year category a great fit.
“We also look forward to receiving entries from New Zealand stakeholders in the awards,” says Amy.
The University of Auckland’s Brett Berquist features on the judging panel.
“I'm honoured to be on the jury for the inaugural awards and encourage my New Zealand colleagues to submit their ideas and successes for the competition,” says Brett.
Find out more about the awards, including how to enter, at pieoneerawards.com
Be quick! Entries close 16 June.
The PIE is an independent media and recruitment company offering a range of services for international education professionals. The PIE is also the official media partner for NZIEC 2017. Find out more at thepienews.com.
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Around the world in five
GERMANY
Why Germany educates international students for free
In Germany, international student numbers have risen about 30 percent since 2012. In most countries, this would mean lots of extra cash from hefty tuition fees but, in Germany, students famously learn for free, regardless of where they come from. With international students making up nearly one in 10 students, why does the country choose to pass up tuition from other countries’ young people?
UK
UK aims to double number of students going abroad by 2020
Universities UK International has updated its strategy to boost outward mobility, which includes doubling the number of students who go abroad during their degree to 13.2% of total enrolments by 2020. In 2014/15, 6.6% of full-time, first degree, undergraduate, UK-domiciled students undertook an international placement. The strategy outlines six objectives to achieve the goal, such as building capacity to facilitate outward mobility, sharing best practice, and providing a collective voice for the sector.
GLOBAL
IIE’s tips to welcome international students
IIE’s team of experts has pulled together 11 actions to make international students feel welcome. These include using your institution’s social media to share specific messages about your campus; enlisting international students and alumni as ambassadors to reach out to newly admitted students; sending periodic updates about issues of concern such as safety and visas; highlighting student associations and re-examining your print and online materials to make sure they represent the diversity and welcoming nature of your campus.
VIET NAM
Vocational training drains State budget
For many years, thousands of billion đồng have been invested in many vocational secondary schools or technical high schools nationwide. However, many remain idle due to poor student enrolment. Đào Ngọc Dung, Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, admitted that a key reason for the situation is poor planning, saying schools have been built without conducting a survey of the market demand, and failing to meet the actual needs of the country.
INDIA
IIT heads are worried about the quality of India’s engineers
A number of directors from Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT) are concerned over the employability of the millions of engineers in the country. The rapid growth of India’s IT industry in the 1990s and 2000s saw thousands of low-quality engineering colleges pop up as an alternative to the IITs, which are notoriously hard to get into. However, without proper training or access to the right curricula, only a quarter of India’s engineers are employable. Experts say what’s needed is education with a more practical and relevant approach to learning.
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International IT graduates connect with industry
Tip:
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Work-ready programmes are a great way to connect employers with local talent
Each of the international graduates delivered a 60-second pitch to the room, followed by an informal networking session to talk further with employers about work opportunities.
The event was organised by ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events & Economic Development).
The graduates are participating in a 12-week software development boot camp delivered by Industry Connect, an initiative that prepares graduates for the New Zealand IT market. Each student received a full scholarship, thanks to a joint funding agreement between ATEED, ENZ and Immigration New Zealand. Five graduates from the programme have already secured permanent jobs in the tech sector.
Study Auckland Manager, Nick Arnott, said through these networking events, ATEED hopes to retain the best international graduates in the region by promoting skilled employment pathways – particularly in high-growth sectors such as IT.
“It's great to see the graduates throw themselves into networking with employers, and also to see how interested the employers were in hiring diverse talent,” said Nick.
"It really showcased the human side of the work ATEED is doing to transition international graduates into skilled employment.”
CVs of international graduates
Greg Scott, ENZ’s General Manager, Industry Development said the programme is indicative of a wider change happening in international education.
“International students are starting to seek more from their education than just a qualification – career outcomes, soft skills, and work experience are more likely to sway their decision on which location and institution they should choose for study.”
Greg said the number of employers attending the networking event was a testament to the growing interest in talented international graduates.
“More and more employers are seeking people that aren’t only tech savvy but have cultural knowledge and language skills too.
“It demonstrates that Auckland's tech sector is hungry for skilled international graduates. Most likely, other sectors are too.”
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Thailand celebrates agents and alumni
At the function, 24 recognised education agents and an alumni association representative were awarded appreciation certificates by His Excellency Mr. Ben King, New Zealand Ambassador to Thailand.
Jaruwan Pongjaruwat, ENZ’s Programme Manager – Thailand, said the event was a chance to recognise their work and to show them the value of being specialist New Zealand agents.
“We want to motivate them to keep doing what they do so well. For big agents, we want them to have a larger focus on the New Zealand market.
“Having alumni in attendance also gave agents a chance to get contacts for future student reference.”
The event also acknowledged the role of the New Zealand Alumni Association as a key influencer of Thai students and parents. Jaruwan said alumni are routinely invited to attend education fairs to answer enquiries about life in New Zealand.
“Their personal experience makes them reliable, and their advice is very beneficial for potential students and parents who are looking for real-world information and tips.
Agents and alumni at the ENZ Appreciation Day in Bangkok
“Many alumni work in Thai universities and, through them, we’re able to connect with management to discuss potential partnerships, training and professional development projects. Alumni are useful contacts to have!”
Ambassador King spoke about the important role of agents in a student’s study pathway.
“Your support for them continues while they are studying in New Zealand and often does not stop until they return home to Thailand.
“We want to thank you for all your work to ensure our Thai students are able to enjoy the best student journey possible in New Zealand.”
Adding to the fun, ENZ ran a quiz to test attendees’ knowledge of New Zealand and a photo competition.
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Sister schools go from strength to strength
Tip
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Sister-school relationships are a great way to connect on a personal level as well as a professional one
The sister-school agreement was officially signed back in 2015, and since then, the schools have alternated sending a cohort of students and staff to each campus.
Representatives from Chaotian Elementary School, including principal Kong Hong, visited New Zealand for the first time in 2016. During their visit to Owairoa Primary School, they discussed and compared educational philosophies, school management issues, teaching strategies, curriculum and cultural differences, as well as potential synergies and future co-operation between the schools.
Last month was Owairoa Primary School’s turn to travel to Guangzhou to share ideas with the principal and Board of Trustee members at Chaotian School. The Chaotian students were on hand to present musical numbers, martial arts, stories and art works for their guests – as well as drone acrobatics.
Principal of Owairoa Primary School, Alan McIntyre, said the Chaotian students were proud to perform for the Kiwi visitors, and were looking forward to having their turn to go abroad again.
“The Chaotian students couldn't contain themselves about the prospect of visiting us in New Zealand later this year – they were so excited.”
The visit also gave Alan an opportunity to try out principal Kong’s office chair for size, and the two talked about the possibility of a school principal exchange in future.
As part of the ongoing relationship, negotiations are currently underway to set up an Owairoa classroom at Chaotian school, and a Chaotian classroom at Owairoa school.
L-R: English Teacher/International Co-ordinator Sherry Xie, Principal Alan McIntyre, Principal Kong and Felix Ye, ENZ Education Manager Southern-Western China & Hong Kong.
However, Alan said the key to a strong sister-school dynamic is finding lighter moments in each visit to humanise their relationship.
“In New Zealand, we refer to a person by their first name and then surname, so in China where the names are reversed, we were addressing Principal Kong Hong as Principal Hong Kong!
“This cultural difference allowed us the cheeky opportunity to present her with a Miss Hong Kong sash and crown. The hilarity of the moment really helped cement our schools’ friendship and did so much for China–New Zealand relations,” said Alan.
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Students ‘tell the story’ about international education
Tips:
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Involve international and local students in your promotional events. Their personal experiences and insights help to ‘tell the story’ in an authentic way.
The two students spoke confidently to an audience that included Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Louise Upston, who launched the new strategy.
Yufei described how it felt to come to New Zealand, not knowing what it would be like or how he would be treated. He also spoke about his homestay family, and taking up soccer and surfing. Hannah described some of the benefits of having international students in her class, and what she has learned from them.
Education Tauranga Manager Anne Young, who organised the event, said she was delighted with the students’ contribution.
“Listening to Yufei brought home to everyone just how big a deal it is for a young student to come here from another country, and how important it is for us to look after them well,” Anne said.
“It was great to hear from Hannah too, about how much international students contribute to learning, in the classroom and outside.”
If you would like to find out more about the new education strategy for Tauranga, please email Anne Young at anne.young@educationtauranga.co.nz
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Quiz shows and education fairs in India
Tip:
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Interactive events are an engaging way to generate interest and enthusiasm from students
ENZ hosted The Kiwi Quotient (KQ) at the Symbiosis International University (SIU) campus in Pune, one of the most prestigious private universities in India.
ENZ’s Country Manager for India, Jugnu Roy, said New Zealand is an increasingly popular destination for high-quality international students.
“We’ve seen a 44 percent increase in Indian student enrolments in New Zealand universities for the first three months of 2017 compared to last year, and India is New Zealand’s second-biggest source country for international students.
“Highlighting New Zealand’s specialised courses and overall education quality will hopefully see this growth continue.”
KQ drew roughly 500 high-calibre students to the event, alongside key influential media, by highlighting two things beloved by India – cricket and Bollywood.
Soha and Stephen discuss international education
Bollywood star Soha Ali Khan (alma mater Oxford University and London School of Economics) joined former New Zealand cricket captain and ENZ Brand Ambassador, Stephen Fleming, for an inspiring panel discussion on international education. They then took part in a quiz show, picking students from the audience to compete against each other in teams, answering New Zealand-themed questions.
The event received significant media coverage and also created opportunities for New Zealand providers to partner with SIU to develop pathway programmes, particularly for specialist fields such as sports science, sports management and media. ENZ is currently following up.
ENZRA Fair
Following the KQ, ENZ supported four education fairs with Education New Zealand Recognised Agencies (ENZRA). This is the first year ENZ’s fair programme is being delivered exclusively through ENZRA partners, as it’s a cost-effective way of expanding New Zealand’s presence across key Indian markets.
The April series showcased more than 25 New Zealand institutions, including all eight New Zealand universities.
The 2016 fair series achieved enrolments worth $4.5 million economic value to date – so ENZ India are looking forward to seeing what the 2017 fair outcomes are.
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