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• Government's response to Productivity Commission report

  The Commission’s report highlighted a number of constraints and challenges across the tertiary education system. The response outlines the Government’s consideration of the report and the opportunities for improvement that have arisen from it. It lays out the Government’s plan for a world-class higher education system that promotes greater innovation, flexibility and responsiveness, while safeguarding our strong international reputation.

  In its response, Government has set out its plan for action through four inter-related areas of focus that span the tertiary education system:

  • Creating a more student-centred system
  • Meeting the needs of industry through relevant, responsive, and supportive teaching
  • Improving performance across the system
  • Enabling and encouraging innovative new models and providers.

  The work-plan signals potential opportunity for the international education sector. It sets out a plan for work to ensure the tertiary education system is open to new ideas and new ways of doing things. This will include consideration of potential changes to funding, regulatory and quality assurance arrangements, where this will lead to benefits for learners and for New Zealand. 

  ENZ has contributed to the development of the Government’s response on behalf of the sector, and continues to work with other government agencies to ensure international education remains a key part of the resulting work plan.

  This will be a significant undertaking. The Government will work with providers, employers, students and other stakeholders as it progresses the work. Engagement will begin soon, including through the development of a new Tertiary Education Strategy in 2018.

• Chinese students gather for Youth summit

  The summit was arranged by Global Engagement Institute and hosted at the University of Auckland Business School. The three-day summit was followed by a week of special topic days on leadership. 

  Fifteen New Zealand students from Auckland, Tauranga and Christchurch joined the 34 Chinese students to learn about leadership opportunities in a global context, based on cultural understanding, respect, trust and diplomacy. 

  Representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Asia New Zealand Foundation, the University of Auckland and Fonterra, amongst others, gave presentations providing insights and advice to guide the students in the future. Students also participated in a speech competition, with the top three Chinese students winning scholarships to study English at Languages International in Auckland.

  Greg Scott, ENZ General Manager, Industry Development said the summit was a great initiative to support future leaders from both New Zealand and China.

  “It provided a valuable platform for students from China and New Zealand to share their perspectives and culture.

  “From day one, these young people demonstrated what is required to be future global citizens.” 

  The students were joined by Lin Lin Zhai, a representative from the Qingdao Education Bureau, who announced that the 2018 summit would be held in Qingdao, providing Kiwi students the opportunity to travel to China.

  The summit is then expected to return to New Zealand in 2019.

  ENZ was the premier sponsor of the event, alongside additional sponsors including the Asia New Zealand Foundation and New Zealand China Council.

  

• International students affected by bank changes

  As a result of the Global Tax Information Reporting and Anti Money Laundering campaign, all banks in New Zealand, as well as other financial institutions, are required by law to collect additional information from a foreign tax resident before they can open an account in New Zealand. As part of these changes, banks also require a certified copy of (or, in some cases, the original) the student’s passport (bio-page) and proof of current residential address. Those who apply to open a bank account while outside New Zealand will be required to provide proof of their current overseas residential address, and to present themselves at the bank to activate the account when they arrive in New Zealand.

  The same changes are being implemented in other countries that are part of this global initiative.

  These changes also apply to international students who intend to use INZ’s Funds Transfer Scheme (FTS) to transfer their funds to New Zealand. Note the FTS is only available to international students from certain countries.

  FTS information

  If applying for an account under the FTS in the near future, ANZ, the New Zealand bank that operates the FTS, may contact the student to complete additional forms to ensure they capture the additional information they require. These forms include questions around the student's tax information, and the student themselves will need to complete and sign these forms (not their agent).

  For FTS accounts only, acceptable proof of residential address includes:

  • utility bill (e.g. landline telephone and power only)
  • rates bill (e.g. property tax document)
  • tax certificate
  • insurance policy document

  The document(s) listed above must be less than three months old and must state the student's name and their residential address. Where the student is living with their parents and the document states their parents' name(s), a parent whose name appears on the document must provide a letter stating that the student lives with them.

  Note there may be some delays visa application processing while Immigration New Zealand and ANZ work through these changes. 

• Meet Up at NZIEC

  Meet Up sessions are informal opportunities to connect with delegates during the networking breaks on particular issues or topics.

  How do they work? Simply suggest a topic or topics you’d like to discuss. We’ll collate the responses and coordinate the Meet Up topics and times. It will be over to you to strike up the connections and the conversations.

  If you have a burning topic you’d like to talk to others about, let us know. Perhaps it’s homestay management, using technology in back of house operations or you’re in a sole charge position and want to connect with colleagues in a similar situation.
  
  Whatever the topic, just let us know and we’ll do our best to include it.

  We’ll publish a list of Meet Up sessions through the Conference App when it is launched next week.

  Email your Meet Up topic suggestions to nziec@verve.co.nz

  Please note: Registration closes on Friday 11 August. If you have not yet registered for NZIEC, please secure your place as soon as possible by visiting the NZIEC website.

• Summerland Primary joins SIEBA

  The programme, supported by ENZ, helps to grow international programmes at smaller schools that don’t have the resources and capabilities to do it on their own.

  By centralising administration of international programmes, schools can focus on the educational and pastoral aspects.

  Barb Dysart, a Co-Principal of Summerland Primary, said as a school new to the sector, creating networks, administering programmes and managing all the paperwork on their own was a challenge.

  “We had no time to market our school and we were reliant on ‘word of mouth’ or agents to bring international students.” 

  Barb says working with SIEBA made it easy to enrol prospective students, and provided clarity and good practice around the policies and procedures.

  “With SIEBA’s involvement, we’ve seen a large increase in international students attending our school – in part because of our confidence and ease in the process.

  “If we are unsure of any situation, SIEBA is an email away. With their advice and support, we are able to focus on what we do best – teaching.”

  Richard Kyle, ENZ Business Development Manager, said for many schools the work load of managing an international programme often fell on already busy principals or senior staff. This was a barrier to get more actively involved.

  “SIEBA already has the insight and expertise so reaching out to them saves schools from having to reinvent the wheel,” said Richard.

  “Welcoming international students to your school is a big commitment, and to make it sustainable and as stress-free as possible, peak bodies such as SIEBA can be a big help.”

  To find out more about SIEBA’s primary schools programme, please contact Robbie Pickford, Project Manager: robbie@sieba.nz

• Service strategy for international Chinese students

  With growing numbers of Chinese students studying abroad and at an earlier age, students and their parents are now looking for a wider range of customised services of support both during and after the study abroad experience.   

  Agents are now expected to advise students graduating from an overseas high school on choosing a major at university, as well as how to find a job after graduation. These types of services are called ‘after-study-abroad services’ in China.

  Adele Bryant, ENZ Regional Director – China and North Asia, welcomes JJL’s initiative. 

  “It responds to student demand for more personalised services and provides an opportunity for agents to add value to the student experience, as well as increase revenue from individual students.”

  “In addition, expectations for educational providers to provide similar services will rise.”

  As part of its strategy, JJL opened its first overseas branch office in Vancouver, Canada in July. JJL expects to open branches in other popular destinations for Chinese students in the future.

• Five steps to studying in New Zealand

  Lucia Alarcon, ENZ International Digital Project Manager, says the tool was developed to better support prospective international students, who often find it hard to know where to begin.

  “Choosing to study abroad is a big decision, so we want to make it easier for students to start the process by breaking the study abroad journey into five easy steps.

  “Research tells us that breaking down a decision into steps makes people more likely to start the process. User testing has shown our 5 Steps guide is a compelling way to encourage students to get started on their New Zealand study adventure.”

  Using appealing graphics and simple language, the five steps cover study options, budgeting, applying for a course, applying for a visa and departure.

  Each step guides students to relevant content on the SiNZ website, leading them to a wider range of pages. It also directs students to content added to SiNZ in recent months, such as the Cost of Living and Explore NZ pages.

• Consultation to further strengthen the Code of Practice

  The consultation is part of efforts to continue supporting education providers to deliver quality education to international students.

  The Code requires all schools and tertiary providers enrolling international students to take all reasonable steps to protect international students and provide a positive experience that supports their educational achievement.

  Since the new Code of Practice took effect on 1 July 2016, some Code signatories and sector bodies have provided feedback on certain matters.

  The Ministry wants to hear from schools, tertiary organisations, sector peak bodies and international students and their families on these issues and possible ways to address them.

  Consultation will end on 29 August. All submissions will be reviewed and recommendations made to improve the Code.

  Click here for further information about the consultation process and to make a submission, or email international.division@education.govt.nz with questions.

• Immigration New Zealand closes Hamilton public counter

  This is part of Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) move to phase out paper applications in favour of online applications.

  The Hamilton office and public counter (level 5 Westpac House, Cnr Victoria and Alma Streets) closed on Friday 11 August 2017. INZ is encouraging students to use its online services.

  However, paper applications can still be sent directly to the addresses provided on the INZ website here.

  For any enquiries or urgent assistance, students should contact the INZ contact centre on 0508 55 88 55. The centre has qualified staff who can help with enquiries, including staff with language skills to help where English is a second language.

  In instances where a face-to-face service is necessary, INZ will arrange an appointment with an Immigration Officer.

  Please note that an INZ counter in Palmerston North is also set to close in early September.

• ENZ event activities for 2018

  There are two key student recruitment seasons. Depending on the market, these are March/April and September/October.

  Confirmed events and dates will be published on the ENZ event calendar on 31 October. Event registration will open shortly after for events taking place during the first six months of 2018.

  Please note: This is an overview and is subject to change. As such, it should only be used to help with high-level planning.

  

  Global conferences/other major events: