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Around the world in five
US
The fast-moving world of alternative credentials and pathways
A new Inside Higher Ed report explores the array of certificates, apprenticeships and microcredentials that institutions and companies are creating to improve the link between education and work.
MIDDLE EAST
Middle Eastern youth pursue education in China to boost job prospects
Spurred on by China's growing investment in the Middle East, an increasing number of the region’s youth are choosing to study in China to gain an edge in a competitive job market at home.
SWEDEN
International students are key to plugging STEM gap
A new report is encouraging more grants for international students in Sweden to help plug a shortfall of STEM graduates. A high proportion of international students in Sweden study STEM, so grants to retain them could be key strategy.
GLOBAL
The lure of work rights for international students
With the ability to work and gain employability skills being major reasons why students opt for an international education, how do work rights impact student experience?
JAPAN
Japan relaxes employment rules for international graduates
Japan has announced a significant relaxing of residency rules for international students for 2019, allowing graduates to work in any role as long as they earn over an annual salary threshold of 3 million yen, or about 40,000 NZD.
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Education opportunities in Europe
Representatives of all eight New Zealand universities and three ITPs were among the 5,700 tertiary education professionals at the European Association of International Education (EAIE) conference, held in Geneva from 11-14 September.
The EAIE conference is the second largest for international education after NAFSA in the US, with attendees from 95 countries.
New Zealand institutions reported excellent levels of partner engagement throughout the week, boosted by the networking reception that ENZ hosted at the residence of New Zealand’s Permanent Representative to the WTO in Geneva.
Ahead of EAIE, ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson and Regional Director Americas & Europe Lisa Futschek visited three key European markets – France, Germany and the UK – to gain deeper market insights, identify market-specific barriers and explore opportunities for growth.
“Each market has different opportunities and challenges. Germany is New Zealand’s largest source of students in Europe, while the UK is our most important tertiary market. Student numbers from France are the second highest, with the majority of these enrolled in English language schools,” said Lisa.
“Understanding these markets is key for New Zealand providers looking to attract international students from there but this needs to be bolstered by relationship-building with education officials and agents in the market.”This year, ENZ has put significant effort into opening up the French market, including hosting a reception at the New Zealand Embassy in Paris this month to raise engagement with French agents (who play a key role in the market) and to increase awareness of New Zealand education with members of the French Senate and National Assembly – critical at a time when the French Government is moving towards a more outward-looking education model.
“At the tertiary level, French universities are interested in partnerships with New Zealand institutions in areas such as environmental management, food security, renewable energy and creative arts. There is also a growing focus on vocational training and pathways to employment – which fits well with our current "future-proof” messaging.”
At secondary level, New Zealand institutions are encouraged to promote longer-duration high school stays.
“French high school students tend to go to New Zealand for short stays during the European summer and aren’t invested in longer-duration visits due to a perceived lack of qualification recognition,” said Lisa.
France’s NZQA-equivalent, the International Centre for Educational Studies, revealed that recognition of NCEA qualifications is considered on a case-by-case basis by applying the French national qualifications framework and the European Qualifications Framework (EQF).
“This approach opens the door to promoting longer-duration high school stays until the end of Year 13, on the basis that NCEA Level 3 is comparable to the French university entrance qualification.”
Students from Europe make up some 10% of the international student cohort in New Zealand. In 2017, 1,945 French students studied in New Zealand.
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NZISA talks student mental health and wellbeing
Held at Victoria University of Wellington, the conference theme was International Student Mental Health and Wellbeing.
Mayor of Wellington, Justin Lester, welcomed delegates, followed by presentations from academics, health professionals and government agencies working with international students. A student panel discussion wrapped up the morning.
NZISA President, Lukas Kristen, said the theme was chosen in response to a growing awareness of the need for international student support services.
“While mental health and wellbeing is an issue in domestic student communities, it is amplified in international student communities due to the separation from family and friends, cultural differences and the lack of culturally trained practitioners.
“The biggest achievement of the conference was that student leaders in attendance are now better informed about where to get help. The workshops really highlighted that help is out there and how impactful it can be.”
Presentations included a plenary on student leadership by Professor Shanton Chang, University of Melbourne, as well as a session on sexuality and diversity. Patrick Au from the Auckland District Health Board delivered an engaging session about building mental health resiliency, and Dr Cathy Stephenson, a General Practitioner at Victoria University, spoke about supporting international student mental wellbeing.
This inaugural conference was, in part, made possible by funding the NZISA received in the International Student Wellbeing Strategy 2017 funding round.
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US delegation delighted by New Zealand biculturalism
Although many of the study abroad advisors were already working with New Zealand partners and sending students to New Zealand, they hadn’t experienced the country themselves.
Prior to the visit, participants listed Māori culture and heritage as one of their top three focuses for the visit to New Zealand institutions.
In Dunedin, the delegation was welcomed onto the Otago Polytechnic campus with a powhiri. In return, the delegation sang “Te Aroha” – after having practised it on the bus ride from their hotel.
The group said this moment, and similar experiences on other New Zealand campuses, was what provided them with a better understanding of New Zealand and the international student experience – even more so than the brochures they received from institutions.
“I was surprised and very impressed to see how Māori culture is so integrated and celebrated around the country. This is unique and a stark contrast to the experience of indigenous cultures in other countries,” said one delegate.
Alanna Dick, ENZ Field Director – North America, said the advisors left with a better understanding of New Zealand, and a drive to help more US students experience it too.
“It was clear to me the visit was a success when one study abroad advisor told me that now they understand the main points of difference between New Zealand and Australia! They now tell their students they would have a unique study experience in New Zealand, especially if they take a course to learn more about the indigenous culture like Kapa Haka or introduction to te Reo Māori.”
The US delegation offered suggestions for New Zealand institutions to consider when hosting international guests:
- Explain how Māori culture is embedded into curriculum
- Invite Kiwi students to sit on a student panel or lead campus tours
- More conversations over kai with faculty, staff and students and less PowerPoint presentations
- Consider having faculty give a short presentation about their area of research or courses they teach.
The US delegation also attended NZIEC to present a session on US engagement. They shared interesting initiatives and partnership models from their campuses, highlighted the importance of curriculum integration between US and overseas institutions, and shared best practices for outreach to students from diverse or underrepresented backgrounds.
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Changes to the Funds Transfer Scheme
As of 1 October 2018, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) and ANZ Bank New Zealand Limited (ANZ) have implemented changes to the Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) process to make it easier for students to transfer their maintenance funds to New Zealand.
While the FTS itself does not guarantee that a student visa application will be approved, it provides international students an option to safely transfer their maintenance funds to a New Zealand bank account before they get here to help ensure access to these funds once they are in New Zealand.
It is currently available for students from China, India, Philippines and Sri Lanka.
Following feedback, INZ and ANZ have been working together to streamline the FTS, with the following changes being implemented on 1 October 2018:
- Students will only need to complete one FTS application form instead of two separate forms
- Minimum funds requirements will be the same for all FTS students (NZ $15,000)
- FTS accounts will be set up for the first year of study only (12 months)
- Students will be able to choose the local bank to use for the transfer of funds into their FTS account in New Zealand
- There will be a more efficient funds confirmation process.
Celia Coombes, INZ’s Sector Relationship Manager (Education), says the changes will not negatively impact students.
“INZ and ANZ have worked very hard to review the FTS scheme and make it easier for students to use as an option to transfer money to cover their living costs to New Zealand. We are confident that the changes will make the FTS a more streamlined and flexible service.”
Visit the INZ website for more information on the FTS.
A factsheet with more information can be found here.
It is also available in Chinese here.
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PMSA scholar dances his way to Taiwan
My seven weeks in Taiwan has changed my life, inspired new career and life goals and given me tools to fuel my aspirations as a choreographer and diplomat. I had already been to Taiwan in 2017, when I was a visiting scholar doing research at the prestigious dance school within the Taipei National University of the Arts (TNUA). I did my thesis as part of my Postgraduate Diploma of Dance Studies for the University of Auckland.
My 2018 trip was focussed on learning and teaching indigenous dance and allowed me to reconnect with relationships I’d built the previous year, as well as build new ones with students, graduates and teachers of the TNUA department.
As a returning visitor to Taiwan, I felt it was important to attend the Amis Tribe harvest festival in Fengbin, Hualien County, to gain a deeper understanding of indigenous Taiwanese people. The Amis is the biggest indigenous tribe in Taiwan, and the harvest festival is one of the most important ceremonies of the tribe’s calendar year. They give thanks to ancestral spirits and celebrate their life and culture through dance, music, sports and unity.
Xavier with friends from the Amis Tribe.
As part of the celebrations, I helped choreograph a dance for some members of the tribe to perform for the chiefs and whole tribe. As they were only fluent in Mandarin Chinese, and I am only fluent in English, we had to communicate through hand gestures and facial expressions. By the end, I had become closer with the members of the group and understood more about their tribe, their culture and their personalities that transcends verbal communication.
I spent some time with Taiwan’s top indigenous contemporary dance company, Bularaeyang Dance Company, located in Taitung in the South-east of Taiwan. There, I took part in indigenous dance and music lessons, observed rehearsals and taught a movement class for the company members inspired by traditional Pacific dance styles fused with contemporary dance. I also taught Samoan sāsā, explaining the history and meaning behind sāsā and its significance in Samoa. I also taught Pacific and Pacific-Contemporary dance workshops at the TNUA Department of Dance, which is renowned for creating some of the world’s elite contemporary dance artists.
Though this was my second time in Taiwan, there were still some misunderstandings when speaking Mandarin Chinese. For example, when I would get thirsty during class I’d tell my classmates I needed a drink of water. Unfortunately, I always got my tone for the Chinese word for water, Shuǐ, mixed up with the word for sleep, Shuì, so people always thought I was tired or wanted to sleep during class!
“In Taiwan, I connected with fellow Kiwis working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Building these relationships was important as I hope to undertake a career in diplomacy in the future.”
I got to make further connections with top arts and dance festival producers, directors and curators at the Asia Discover Asia Meeting (ADAM), a festival and forum in Taipei where attendees from Australasia and the world come together to look at the future of arts and dance in Asia. It is an important event in which to collaborate, network and discuss project ideas for the future.
During my time in Taiwan, I connected with fellow Kiwis working for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Asia New Zealand Foundation. Building these relationships was important to me as I hope to undertake a career in diplomacy in the future alongside my choreographic and artistic career. One contact was a fellow Samoan and family friend, and she provided me with advice about a career in international diplomacy. She also put me forward for a life-changing experience – the Indigenous Austronesian Forum, which I attended and represented New Zealand and Samoa.
The two-day Forum was hosted by the Taiwanese government, the Council of Indigenous Peoples of Taiwan and the Centre for Indigenous Studies and held at the National Donghwa University. Delegates came from indigenous tribes across Taiwan and the Pacific to take part in cultural exchanges, performances, indigenous community outreaches and to learn about issues in the region. A declaration was proposed at the forum, to create an agreement and document that highlighted issues of indigenous Austronesian people and how to improve and advocate for issues within governments and institutions. I am now collating this document and have been in discussions with the forum to return to Taiwan next year as a facilitator.
I thank the PMSA for supporting my aspirations and my research project. I am extremely grateful to have been given the opportunity.
Xavier (bottom left) with Bularaeyang Dance Company members after teaching their class
Xavier with friends, some of them exchange students from Australia and the US.
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Future Proof 2.0
The campaign builds on the success of an earlier campaign in March 2018, which reached more than 33 million potential students and achieved 14 million social engagements.
We encourage New Zealand education providers to align their marketing activities with Future Proof 2.0 to increase and amplify impact.
About the campaign
Future Proof 2.0 is an integrated global campaign run across paid media, social media engagement, studyinnewzealand.govt.nz, email and PR.
The campaign, which began 8 October and runs for eight weeks, aims to attract high quality students from our key strategic markets by raising awareness of New Zealand’s education quality.
It integrates all of ENZ’s marketing channels, draws on behavioural data from our database marketing programme and leverages the one million-strong audience on our social channels (Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and, in China, WeChat).
The campaign will direct prospective students to a Future Proof 2.0 landing page and encourage them to join My StudyNZ, an online tool that helps them find the New Zealand study programmes that best suit their needs. Students can shortlist their favourite programmes, track their application progress and send enquiries to education providers.
Campaign messaging
Future Proof promotes a September 2017 report by The Economist Intelligence Unit ranking New Zealand as first out of 35 countries at preparing students for the future. Future Proof 2.0 continues the conversation by showcasing some of the exceptional teachers and academics who make New Zealand’s education system world leading.
The campaign’s central message is: Our teachers lead the world in preparing students for the future.
The key messages are:
1. Our teachers give you the skills to put your knowledge to work in the world.
- Students in New Zealand learn to think critically and creatively, work collaboratively and develop a global mindset, making them more prepared, and adaptable, for the future world of work.
2. Our teachers challenge you to reach your potential in an unlimited learning environment.
- Students in New Zealand gain practical, hands-on skills both inside and outside the classroom.
3. Our teachers are inspired by a society that encourages curiosity, new ideas and respect for the world around us.
- Students in New Zealand thrive in an open, welcoming society that embraces new ideas and innovative thinking.
Future Proof 2.0 will keep the same slogan as the previous campaign: Future Proof yourself in New Zealand.
We’ve created compelling content – videos, photos and written content – to share stories about New Zealand’s teachers with the world.
While Future Proof 2.0 will feature many great teachers, our three stars are:
Professor Kathleen Campbell, a geologist, paleoecologist and astrobiologist at the University of Auckland
With her expert credentials and involvement in the NASA 2020 Mars Rover Mission, Kathleen is a standout example of the high-quality academics that students can work with at New Zealand universities.
Mark Hanlen, a marine studies teacher at Whakatane High School
A favourite amongst his students, and with an infectious passion for his subject, Mark's story makes a great showcase for hands-on, real-world learning. He brings the concept of manaakitanga (mutual respect) into his teaching both inside and outside the classroom.
Dr Faith Kane, a senior lecturer in textiles at Massey University
Faith brings a creative element with a future focus to the campaign. Her work in laser processing textiles and textile design for sustainability speaks to New Zealand's innovation strengths and real-world problem solving.
How can Future Proof 2.0 help you?
You can increase the impact of your marketing by aligning your timings and activities with Future Proof 2.0. For example, you might like to highlight your region’s or institution’s teachers while the campaign is running.
Using our creative assets
Assets we’ve created for the campaign include videos, imagery and blog posts, quotes and other written content about our teachers and their students.
We will add all assets to The Brand Lab as they become available.
Useful resources
You can find advice on identifying audiences, channels and story ideas on the Skills Lab.
For example, there are practical tips on:
- Creating a digital marketing strategy
- Using social media to turn your followers into advocates
- Writing great blog posts
- How we use My StudyNZ to match students to institutions
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Scholarship takes engineering student to Chile
Madeline first fell in love with Chile six years ago during an exchange. Since then, she was looking for an opportunity to return when she came across the PMSLA programme and returned for an internship with Engineers Without Borders.
“It’s an international network of engineers who dedicate their time creating technologies for developing communities. We also develop training for Chilean engineering students so that communities are empowered into the future, long after the engineers leave.”
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Study Abroad NZ schools programme launched in US
ENZ Business Development Manager Mary Camp says this is a pilot project to test the waters in the US market.
“We’re thrilled to be partnering with AFS for this pilot – they are a trusted organisation with a long history of matching US students with life-changing education experiences.
“New Zealand schools have much to offer US students looking for a high-quality study abroad experience to give them a competitive advantage in the college application process.”
The programme includes nine New Zealand schools, each offering themed programmes for one semester in the fields of environmental studies, Māori culture, the arts, outdoor education and leadership.
Mary is hoping to see some more US students coming through in 2019 as a result of the pilot.
“Opening up new markets for the school sector will help us achieve sustainable growth, which of course is a focus of the International Education Strategy.
“If the pilot is successful, we’ll look to roll it out to more New Zealand schools.”
Check out the AFS web page for more information about the programme.
The schools involved are Rangitoto College, Western Springs College, Western Heights High School, Aotea College, Papanui High School, Hillmorton High School, Whanganui High School, Whakatane High School and Te Puke High School.
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Brazilian students look to New Zealand tertiary studies
Organised by Brazil agent FPP Edu-Media, ENZ attended the high school tour to introduce Brazilian students to the tertiary possibilities in New Zealand, particularly undergraduate qualifications.
The last BELTA SEAL Survey from March 2018 shows that 30% of the Brazilians who studied overseas in 2017 were in the 18 to 21 age group, and that their main motivation for international education is to stand out professionally.
Daniela Ronchetti, Director of Operations at FPP Edu-Media, says while short-term programmes have typically been the most popular overseas study for Brazilian students, there's a growing interest in undertaking full degrees overseas.
“Many of these students, fluent in English and with experience of overseas study via summer courses at a young age, are comfortable enrolling in international universities.
“With interest in the US and UK declining, Brazilian students are looking closer at New Zealand, Australia and Canada when considering a full degree abroad.”
Ana Azevedo, ENZ’s Senior Market Development Manager for Brazil, visited eight international secondary schools, from small boutique schools with 15 students per class to large education groups with thousands of students, which are all investing in pathways to international tertiary education.
ENZ’s Ana Azevedo with Marilda Bardal, International Relations Coordinator at International School Alphaville.
“These schools typically offer bilingual education, IB (International Baccalaureate) or the American diploma and academic counselling, so that by the time students complete high school, they are prepared for an international experience,” said Ana.
Also in attendance were government education organisations and universities from the US, Canada, Australia, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the UK – but Ana said New Zealand had an edge.
“It was a great experience to stand among our competitors at the opening of each event and present New Zealand as the country that best prepares students for the future – not an easy ranking to beat!”
“There is still work to be done on raising awareness of all that New Zealand has to offer to Brazilian students, particularly in tertiary education. It is a significant investment for a family so we need to be clear about the return of this investment.
“Showing students the variety of programmes they can find in New Zealand, the cultural diversity and welcoming environment – very few countries offer this combination. It is a full package!”
