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• Contestable fund draws strong interest

  Applications exceeded the funds available.

  To date the Education New Zealand (ENZ) selection panel has approved matched funding of nearly $810,000 for 29 projects with a combined value, including the applicants’ contributions, of over $1.6 million.

  “The quality and diversity of the applications was impressive,” said ENZ Business Development Manager Adele Bryant. “The applications provided a window on the innovative approaches and products many educational institutions and businesses are taking to pursue the education export opportunities they have identified.” 

  The fund sees ENZ matching funding for projects with the capacity and capability to increase the value of New Zealand’s international education industry, ultimately leading to benefits for the New Zealand economy.

  The fund is designed to help New Zealand’s education providers achieve significant growth by making the most of international education opportunities.

  Applications were received from all sectors with the largest number lodged by education technology companies. This interest follows hot on the heels of the first “EdTech for Export” Conference sponsored by ENZ, Grow Wellington and Learning Media Ltd in April. Some 45 percent of applicants targeted Asian markets.

  A second funding round will be held in the third quarter of 2013 and will be advertised in e-news.

  

• Colombia signs Statement of Intent for greater collaboration

  A Statement of Intent was signed yesterday at a Bilateral Education Consultation meeting held in Wellington. The meeting involved a delegation of senior Colombian government and business representatives along with representatives from Education New Zealand, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Immigration New Zealand, as well as some New Zealand education providers.

  The statement reflects a commitment to developing joint initiatives in the internationalisation of higher education, technical and technological education, vocational training and innovation.

  Colombia’s Vice Minister of Education Patricia Martinez Barrios is leading the delegation for talks to build education connections between New Zealand and Colombia.

  The week-long visit, which began on Sunday 26 May, is a significant extension of the relationship between New Zealand and Colombia, strengthened during Prime Minister John Key’s recent trip to Latin America.

  “Education, along with agriculture, is one of two key strands in our bilateral relationship,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.

  “The number of fee paying Colombian students studying in New Zealand increased from 207 in 2007 to 727 in 2012, which would suggest Colombia has the potential to become a significant international education market for New Zealand.”

  Delegates will visit Auckland and Wellington, tour facilities such as Fonterra in Hamilton, Agricultural Services Ltd in Palmerston North and the National Trade Academy in Christchurch.

  “Tours like this are a great opportunity for New Zealand to showcase to Colombian education officials its skills and expertise in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector, and its links with industry and the labour market,” Mr Joyce says.

  He said the objective of the Bilateral Education Consultation meeting was to “help our education sector build a deeper understanding of Colombia’s education requirements and progress proposals for Colombian PhD students to study in New Zealand.

  “It will also allow Colombian education officials to develop an appreciation of New Zealand’s education system and see how New Zealand, as an excellent place in which to learn English, can support their government’s strategy to make English an official language in Colombia.”

• Help us thank New Zealand’s education partners in Japan

  As part of a programme to explore greater opportunities for the New Zealand education industry in Japan.

  The alumni networking function will acknowledge and show our appreciation for the informal “ambassadorial” role alumni undertake on behalf of New Zealand education. We will also be encouraging alumni to join the recently launched New Zealand Educated Alumni LinkedIn group where they will be able to network with fellow alumni and keep in touch with events and activities of interest.

  The agent seminars will recognise the work agents do on behalf of New Zealand education and show the agents our appreciation. The seminars will also inform agents of any immigration updates and changes (there will be someone from Immigration New Zealand in attendance) and let them know about the agent e-learning that will be launched in the next few months. A preview of this will be available at the event. 

  It is hoped that these activities will  further nignite agents’ interest in, and enthusiasm for, promoting New Zealand as an education destination.

  To ensure we reach the greatest number of agents and alumni, we would like your suggestions for who you would like us to invite.

  For the dates for each event, and a form where you can enter the names and contact information of those you’d like to be sent an invitation, click here.

  In completing this form, you will be assured of early notification of when registration opens for these events.

  As well agents and alumni, we know that many New Zealand education institutions have active and fruitful partnerships with fellow institutions in Japan. We are hoping to host such people at a ‘thank you’ lunch where we can show our gratitude for the very important role they play in fostering a lively education exchange between our two countries. Details about the lunch will be provided at a later date.

  These events are a great opportunity for you to show how much you value your education partners and advocates in Japan.

  Thank you in advance for help make these events the best they can be.

• Assignment4U website down

  The outcome of the injunction hearing in the Auckland High Court today saw two of the defendants undertake to not engage in conduct that contravenes the Education Act.

  NZQA Chief Executive Dr Karen Poutasi said NZQA was pleased with the outcome of the injunction hearing.

  “The next step in this ongoing investigation is for the large amount of evidence and information collected to be analysed.

  “Today’s court proceedings are part of the strong NZQA action taken in response to allegations of cheating and assessment fraud. Where there is evidence of illegal activity under the Education Act, it is likely further legal action will be taken”.

  Education New Zealand (ENZ) is pleased to see that action has been taken against Assignment 4U in regard to the alleged cheating services.

  ENZ appreciates the efforts everyone in our industry makes to maintain New Zealand’s international reputation as provider of high quality education. The vast majority of education providers in New Zealand deliver great education outcomes for local and international students.

  This action signals both here and abroad how seriously New Zealand takes the integrity and credibility of its tertiary education and qualifications.

  ENZ will continue to work with its contacts in the Chinese education sector and Chinese education officials to manage New Zealand’s education reputation in relation to this issue. We will continue to keep them informed of the New Zealand Government’s response to this matter.

• NZIDRS scholarship students attend valuable workshop

  Apart from being a great opportunity for these students to get to know one another, and see a bit more of New Zealand, it was also a valuable opportunity for us to learn more about what motivated them to come to New Zealand and how the experience has matched up to their expectations. We also were able to provide them with answers to some of their questions, such as work rights and visa queries.
  
  The feedback is being collated and will be available through Universities New Zealand.
  
  ENZ has also unearthed some marketing gold amongst the group and will be keeping in touch with them so that they can tell their great personal stories about our education system in promotional material and at events.
  
  It was a productive and enjoyable day. One of the students surprised everyone with his impromptu viola performance of Bach and then invited all to watch him play in a jazz band in Wellington on Sunday night. Many took the opportunity to stay on for the weekend and some new friendships were made.
  
  ENZ plans to hold similar events every three years or so to ensure each student is contacted once during their tenure in New Zealand.

  

  Above: The group of international PhD students that participated in the NZDRS workshop (absent Justin Horn)

• Thank you for your help

  International students around the country are being photographed, videoed and interviewed to inform and update these materials which will be used online, at education fairs, during offshore school visits and more.

  Education New Zealand (ENZ) would like to thank the schools and institutions nationwide who have helped us by making available students and locations for new photography, for our new high schools campaign (to be run in Thailand, Viet Nam, South Korea and Japan) and for the Dragons documentary campaign in China.

  A marketing toolkit for education providers is also being developed as part of our revamp of marketing materials. The toolkit will include resources schools and institutions can use in their marketing (such as an image library) and collateral for outbound and inbound international visits, including a promotional DVD about studying in New Zealand.

  Institutions have also helped revamp the New Zealand Specialist Agents (NZSA) training programme, due to be launched in the next few months. ENZ has modernised the training programme for agents based on feedback from institutions, agents themselves and students. Training will be provided online through an interactive, seven-step e-learning programme that concentrates on the most important information agents need to sell a New Zealand education.

  Kathryn McCarrison, ENZ’s General Manager Marketing and Channel Development, says Education New Zealand appreciates how responsive and accommodating institutions have been to requests for help and information-checking over the past few months.

  “Despite being busy, you’ve taken the time to bring your best and brightest to our attention. We can’t create great marketing campaigns without your students’ stories, so thank you for your enthusiasm and cooperation.”

• Code Administrator transfer to take place in August

  On that date NZQA officially becomes the Code Administrator.

  Until 1 August, Code signatories should continue to contact the Code Office at the Ministry of Education for Code related matters. The NZQA will announce future arrangements for Code signatories, ahead of the transfer.

  The Ministry of Education received 44 submissions on the proposal to transfer functions, including 37 from signatory providers (20 schools, 12 private training establishments, 1 ITP, and four universities), plus seven submissions from sector bodies.

  The majority of submissions supported the proposal, but some questions were raised around potential costs, NZQA’s jurisdiction and ongoing support that would be available to providers, especially schools.

  Potential costs associated with the transfer will be covered by the Ministry of Education and NZQA - there will be no cost to the Export Education Levy.

  The transfer will improve alignment between Code quality assurance and other wider quality assurance processes which NZQA has responsibility for in the non-university tertiary sector. Combining this work in one agency will improve efficiency and avoid duplication.

  As the Code Administrator, NZQA will develop relationships with the Education Review Office, and further its existing relationships with schools. Current arrangements with the Education Review Office and Universities New Zealand on Code-related quality assurance will remain the same, unless changes are discussed and agreed collectively by all parties.

  The Ministry of Education and NZQA are working closely to ensure that all Code signatories are well supported and all functions are carried out as usual during the transition period.

  Current arrangements through which students lodge complaints with the International Education Appeal Authority (IEAA) with decisions reached by the IEAA and Review Panel will continue for the time being.

  A formal notice on this change was published in the New Zealand Gazette on 30 May 2013.

  More information can be found at the Ministry of Education’s website here

• College of Creative Arts “foots it” with the world’s best

  The US National Association of Schools of Art and Design has granted the College “substantial equivalency”, the most comprehensive international benchmark of quality in art and design education in the world. The College now officially sits alongside such world-leading schools as Rhode Island School of Design, Cranbrook Academy of Art and CalArts.

  “The College of Creative Arts is another great example of a New Zealand education institution footing it with the world’s best,” says Kathryn McCarrison, Education New Zealand’s General Manager Marketing and Channel Development.

  “Based on what we know about how international students make their choices over where to study, the college’s substantial equivalency award is a potential game changer for them.

  “The key drivers of choice all relate to quality and reputation – does my institution choice advance my career prospects? How does it stack up quality wise? What’s its reputation and how does it rank internationally?

  “For this reason institutions need to make the most of any international recognition.”

  Kathryn says this type of recognition is also invaluable when it comes to Education New Zealand’s job of promoting New Zealand as a study destination.

  The College’s School of Design is already ranked top in Australasia by Red Dot, the global design award organization.

• Visa options checker live

  The options checker provides better information specific to student circumstances on the range of visas that applicants may be eligible for.
  
  The new Visa Options Check is easy to use. Users start by choosing one of four simple options: Visit, Study, Work or Live. From there, the navigation is straightforward.

  The new options checker is the first, small step in the rollout of Immigration New Zealand’s new technology platform, Immigration ONLINE.
  
  When fully implemented by the end of 2015, Immigration ONLINE will allow all visa applicants to apply online. Information entered into Visa Options Check will be used to pre-populate part of a customer’s application form. Many will be able to complete the entire process online, through to final decision and receiving their visa.
  
  Visa applicants, or advisers acting for them, will be able to complete and upload forms, supporting documents and photos, pay fees and ask questions online.
  
  Online visa applications will start later this year with students and some temporary workers. By mid-2014, full online student visa processing will be possible through to final decision, and advisers will be able to view appropriate details of their clients’ applications online.

• NZSA e-learning pilot starts

  A variety of agents and stakeholders from different locations around the world were chosen to test the revamped programme ahead of its wider launch in July and August. The launch date is still dependent on the feedback received during the two-week global pilot.

  
  The new e-learning programme is flexible and accessible. Agents can train at a time and place convenient to them and Education New Zealand (ENZ) can easily update and distribute new information to agents. Providing training online will also allow ENZ to better capture agent information.
  Agents have been kept informed of the changes through Channel Development Manager Kaye Le Gros’ monthly newsletters and at a various meetings in New Zealand and offshore.

  Here are a couple of screen shots from the new e-learning programme: