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Pathway Programme forging valuable connections with Capital students
The 2020 pilot programme saw graduate alumni working in the Greater Wellington region connect with tertiary students focused on pathways to employment. The 2021 programme now connects secondary students interested in further study with international tertiary students.
These tertiary students are trained in the fundamentals of mentoring leadership and active listening. They can offer valuable insights into tertiary life to help secondary students make informed choices.
Through catch ups, students will be able to share their journey including challenges, hints and tips, and a realistic view on transitioning into tertiary education. The connection can be online or face-to-face.
WellingtonNZ International Education Specialist Sarah Grant is excited to launch the Pathways Connect Programme and wants to see more secondary students take up the opportunity within the Greater Wellington region.
She says the programme recently had its first match and both mentor and mentee found it to be a rewarding experience.
“They were able to communicate freely and discussed studying tips for tertiary education, what it was like to study and how a tertiary education differed to secondary.”
Sarah says the programme has a great cohort of mentors waiting to meet and offer advice to students.
Keen to know more? Get in touch with sarah.grant@wellingtonnz.com and check out the website.
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Masterclass opportunity in Japan
Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education will be hosting a virtual study abroad event on 23 of September, connecting secondary school students in Tokyo and beyond with tertiary institutions from Australia and New Zealand.
This half-day event will feature lectures in an interactive format so providers can engage with Japanese students. Selected tertiary institutions will also have an opportunity to work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education to produce additional content introducing their institutions and programmes to prospective international students.
Recordings will be made for the virtual study abroad event and will be shared on the Tokyo English Channel website which will launch in June 2021.
“This is a great opportunity for Education New Zealand and New Zealand tertiary providers to work with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education to co-develop educational materials for the Japanese secondary school students. The content produced for the event will also be shared at future promotional events hosted by Education New Zealand and the New Zealand Embassy in Tokyo.” ENZ Director of Education – Japan, Misa Kitaoka, says.
Director at the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education, Yuki Sato, looks forward to receiving proposals from the New Zealand providers.
“We are excited to work with New Zealand tertiary institutions to showcase the virtual study abroad event offering Tokyo secondary school students an opportunity to connect with the world and enhance their communication skills in English. Students can expect of learn new ways of thinking from the lecturers and interact with other participants from around the world, including New Zealand.”
Education New Zealand signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education in 2017 to promote education exchange and cooperation between Tokyo and New Zealand. Since then, a range of projects have been initiated between the two parties including the co-development of online education material for intermediate English learners through the Tokyo Global Studio.
For further details on the opportunity, please download the proposal by the Tokyo Metropolitan Board of Education. Expression of interest is due on 25 of May and the selected provides will be contacted by Education New Zealand by the 31 of May.
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Indian Academic Masterclasses showcase a different side of New Zealand
Each masterclass invites academics and experts in their field to talk on an unusual theme within education, and how New Zealand has a strength in it.
“The academic masterclass series is a programme we’ve done for many years. We’ve had great success boosting the profile of Kiwi academics in India, and showcasing the breadth and depth of New Zealand research,” ENZ Country Manager – India, Jugnu Roy, says.
“This year, we’re very happy to be exploring areas of research to ensure the reputation of New Zealand researchers remains high in India while international travel remains limited.”
International education professionals in New Zealand and other stakeholders are welcome to attend at https://www.instagram.com/ttt_official - you can access this link on your computer, or search Terribly Tiny Tales on your mobile Instagram app.
The series was recently paused due to the COVID-19 situation in India. There are two sessions remaining for May and June.
Theme III: Careers in Climate Change
- 22 May: Masterclass with Professor Rosalind Archer (University of Auckland) and Associate Prof. Anita Wreford, Lincoln University.
Theme IV: Fashion and the Future: What it means to design for this decade
- 29 May: Instagram takeover with Sue Prescott (Massey University) and Hannah Goldblatt (Victoria University of Wellington).
- 5 June: Masterclass with Sue Prescott (Massey University) and Hannah Goldblatt (Victoria University of Wellington).
You can also watch Theme I: Investing Your Interest: Why should you pursue a career in Finance on the Terribly Tiny Tales Instagram profile.
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Around the world in five
New Zealand
NZ public positive on overseas student benefits and return
The report was commissioned by Education New Zealand to gauge public opinion in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic, and was conducted by research company TRA, based on a survey of 560 people as well as qualitative co-creation sessions.
United States
US begins processing student visas for Chinese students
Visa processing for Chinese students would resume this month, with plans to handle 2,000 applications a day by mid-May.
Canada
International grad stream reaches 40,000 limit in one day
Canada’s new pathway to residency for international graduates has reached its 40,000 application limit, just over one day after going live.
Global
Survey confirms that vaccination rollouts are influencing student choice
New QS global research indicates that the introduction of COVID vaccines is strengthening prospective international students’ resolve to study abroad, and that many students now want to begin their studies sooner than they had planned because of vaccine availability.
Latin America
If you are from a university, join the virtual THE Latin America Universities Summit 2021 free of charge to examine how the higher education sector across the region can develop strategies to build capacity, adapt to digitisation, increase strategic impact and improve public appreciation of universities’ role in progressing society as we look towards a new era post-pandemic.
Hosted in partnership with the University of São Paulo, this online summit will bring together leaders from across the region and their institutional partners around the world to set the agenda for the future of higher education in Latin America.
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ENZ-Enroller partnership looks to maintain capability of schools to host international students
ENZ is subsidising the cost of Enroller’s digital platform for schools for the remainder of 2021 and 2022. The funding will start with secondary schools.
“ENZ is aware that international student departments at schools are busier than ever, managing the increased pastoral care needs of students still in New Zealand,” ENZ General Manager – Partnerships & Marketing, Paul Irwin, says.
A report released by Edified in March showed that international recruitment and marketing in schools is in a state of flux. Due to a lack of travel, schools are relying more than ever on digital marketing – however, support and guidance is needed to support international departments to make the transition to digital.
“Our aim is to support more schools to continue digital marketing, managing enquiries and applications quickly and easily. This partnership will also help ensure that the schools sector is prepared for when international students return to New Zealand,” Irwin says.
ENZ and New Zealand company Enroller have worked together before on a research project that was completed in 2019.
That research indicated Enroller was incredibly useful to both schools and agents. 90 per cent of schools who participated said it was a more efficient way of processing student enrolments, saving them between two and three hours’ of work per student enrolment. Of the education agencies surveyed nearly 70 per cent said that Enroller made it easier to submit and manage applications to NZ schools.
The next step of that research project will continue with the 2021 partnership.
“We’re excited to be able to offer additional support to schools and continue the work that ENZ and Enroller began in 2018.” CEO and co-founder of Enroller, Michael Barry, says.
“The NZ school sector is hurting – It has been a long and uncertain 12 months for many. The extension of this research project will enable multi-tasking international departments, and their education agency partners, the additional digital capability and resource that they need to manage the rebuild of their international student roll, cost-effectively.”
Representatives from ENZ and Enroller are looking forward to sharing more on the partnership at Enroller’s upcoming virtual roadshow for current Enroller clients. The webinars will take place at 2:00pm on 25 May and 11:30am on 26 May.
Other interested schools can request a pack of information – please contact ENZ Business Development Manager Mary Camp (mary.camp@enz.govt.nz) for more information.
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From the Chief Executive
This letter summarises the first in-person meeting with the Minister and peak bodies since December last year. At the meeting, the Minister reiterated that the Government is committed to the international education sector, and acknowledged that it has endured many challenges over the past year. The letter also signalled a direction of travel through this period of uncertainty.
We know that much of the sector’s current uncertainty stems from the question of when New Zealand might open its borders. As the Minister says in his letter, there is likely to be limited re-engagement with countries in which we have high levels of trust and confidence, and those pursuing similar Elimination Strategies to New Zealand through most of 2021.
The Minister is currently revising the Government’s Recovery Plan for International Education. He wants to provide “as much direction and certainty as possible” by drawing up a roadmap for the sector’s rebuild. His office has also proactively released the sector’s feedback on the Strategic Recovery Plan for International Education.
One thing that remains true is the New Zealand International Education Strategy 2018 (NZIES) continues to be the overarching long-term strategy for New Zealand’s international education. The need for diversification, building a resilient industry and developing global citizenship continues to support the New Zealand Government’s goal for a more inclusive, sustainable and productive future.
Over the year, many of us have had to adapt quickly to changing circumstances. While the short-term outlook around the border remains uncertain, we are committed to ensuring that international students will again be onshore when the time is right.
At ENZ, we continue to support the NZIES and will incorporate the outcomes of the Government’s Recovery Plan into our plans to ensure that we look to the future to create improvements for the sector.
International education is based on mutual benefit. It’s good for New Zealand providers, good for New Zealanders and good for our international partners and learners.
Wherever you are in the world, thank you for your continued commitment to international education and New Zealand. We appreciate all your hard work.
Ngā mihi,
Grant McPherson
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao
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From the CE: Coming together to offer a New Zealand Education online
Through this initiative, we’re bringing a New Zealand education to those who can’t be onshore due to COVID-19 restrictions. We’re also tapping into a wider audience of learners looking for online options, and developing a pipeline of learners seeking a pathway to study in New Zealand.
This initiative supports the Government’s Recovery Plan for our international education sector. Part 3 of the Plan led by Education New Zealand, Transforming to a more sustainable future state, has accelerated the diversification of products and services, one of three goals set out in the New Zealand International Education Strategy.
ENZ is supporting the international education sector through this initiative by facilitating engagement with a global audience online. Our partnership with FutureLearn lets us explore the value of promoting New Zealand content under a national online banner, as well as the benefits of partnering with third parties who have existing online audiences.
Some quick day-one statistics that I would like to share with you. We had close to 1,000 enrolments in a New Zealand-based course within the first 24 hours of launching. I expect to see very strong enrolment numbers once the promotional campaign funded by ENZ begins today (9 June).
FutureLearn host quality online courses that help learners build skills and upskill in areas of interest or need, from home – with potential to continue study in country (when border restrictions ease sufficiently) or continue online where available. The New Zealand collection collated for this initiative includes short courses from universities, English language and TESOL educators, vocational/institutes of technology and edtech educators including virtual reality developers and game designers. ENZ has funded the initial eight-week promotional campaign to celebrate the FutureLearn initiative’s launch.
We understand sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor in a student’s study choices. Research commissioned by ENZ in May 2021 indicated that 79 percent of responders showed interest in studying sustainability and climate change as a subject.
Moreover, the QS Environmental Concerns Survey in 2019 found 79 percent of prospective international students were “somewhat more likely” or “much more likely” to choose a degree if the content helped them to learn about reducing their environmental impact.
A survey undertaken by Times Higher Education in April 2021 on students, sustainability and study choices showed that 80 percent believe in living their lives as sustainable citizens.
To cater for this, more than half of the courses included in this initiative are themed around sustainability. Courses like teaching and learning for sustainable education, English language for sustainability, and growing a sustainable workforce. It’s a great demonstration to the world that we take our cultural value of kaitiakitanga seriously.
Let me take this opportunity to also thank the providers who took the leap and joined ENZ on this new and exciting journey.
If you’re worried about missing this opportunity, it’s not too late to be part of the action. Get in touch with Project Manager Tim Brown [tim.brown@enz.govt.nz] for more information on how you can be part of this 12-month initiative, and any future initiatives that spring from this.
And if you’re keen to make the most of the New Zealand education offerings on FutureLearn, visit the following link: futurelearn.com/courses/collections/study-new-zealand
Ngā mihi,
Grant McPherson
Chief Executive Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao -
Education New Zealand to boost global citizenship with expanded NZ Global Competency Certificate
ENZ has once again partnered with Massey University and AFS to help more New Zealanders grow their global cultural competence skills while our borders are closed.
Over the coming months, the course will be delivered to a wide range of learners both here and overseas, including teachers in indigenous communities in the Pacific Alliance; secondary school students in New Zealand regions alongside their counterparts in Asia; and high-achieving secondary school students in Korea, Vietnam and Thailand.
This time around, ENZ is also offering 100 NZ GCC scholarships to school students from lower socio-economic areas (deciles 1-5) in regions around New Zealand. The first cohort of scholarship recipients are from Whangarei, and will start their course alongside students in Japan next month.
The Ministry of Education has previously identified an area for improvement in New Zealand’s global citizenship in the opportunity-to-learn gap between students of socio-economically advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds.
“In a very short time, the NZ GCC has gone from a small pilot to a very valuable part of ENZ’s global citizenship work,” ENZ Chief Executive, Grant McPherson, says.
“Global citizenship – or, put another way, broadening the horizons and understanding of New Zealanders – is the third pillar of the New Zealand International Education Strategy 2018. We really can’t underestimate the power of global citizenship skills in our rangatahi – it sets us all up for a more tolerant New Zealand and a more meaningfully connected world.”
Whangarei Girls’ High School student Kaye Pemid said the course helped push her out of her comfort zone.
“Thank you for this because I came out of my shell. And I have become more understanding of the emotions and actions of other cultures. I have gained more knowledge of the things about my identity, my culture and the things around me. I will continue to be a good role model to others and carry on the knowledge I have received and gained from this programme.”
If you’re interested in how your school can take part, contact ENZ Business Development Manager Mary Camp (mary.camp@enz.govt.nz).
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New Zealand Partners Week 2021
Partners from ten countries and territories will be on the invite list, including the People’s Republic of China, India, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.
“New Zealand Partners Week will give a platform to some of the korero that we haven’t been able to have over the past year,” ENZ Chief Executive, Grant McPherson, says.
“We are very happy to play our part in assisting the international education sector to thrive in this tough climate.”
The sessions across the week have been designed to give attendees in New Zealand and offshore the opportunity to open up collaboration and make new connections.
It will cover New Zealand updates and exclusive country-specific sessions, panel discussions, keynote presentations, professional development workshops, live Q&A sessions with experts, and virtual exhibitions. It will feature a range of fields including K-12 education, Education Technology, Higher Education, Vocational Training and work-based education, as well as the English training sector.
The event will be delivered via virtual platform OnAIR, and streamed to audiences from all ten countries, in six different languages (English, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean, Japanese and Bahasa Indonesian).
To register, visit the following link: http://bit.ly/NZPWWENG1
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NauMai NZ is 2
Since launch, NauMai NZ has had half a million page views and just under 300,000 users accessing practical resources on topics such as Visas and immigration, Personal wellbeing, Housing, and Working, not to mention learning about Māori culture, improving English language skills, making friends, living like a local or getting a part time job.
The platform has a bounce rate of just 15% and 11,500 students have joined the NauMai NZ database. ENZ’s AI chatbot Tohu sits on the platform, and the NauMai NZ WeChat mini programme launched late last year, ensures resources are delivered to the platform of choice for Chinese students.
One focus in 2020 was obviously how to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. An official COVID-19 page was launched, collating and curating trusted and relevant government information particular to international students. To accompany this page, a ‘Stay Well, Stay Connected’ page was launched, recognising the particular challenges that the pandemic brings around health and wellbeing. These pages have to date received over 90,000 views.
Throughout 2020, content that wasn’t COVID-19 specific was also developed. Through research, we identified and developed new topics including Managing your money, Sexual healthcare and Dating, relationships and sex.
As the 2020 academic year ended and borders remained closed, the ‘Summer in NZ’ microsite was launched, remaining live until April this year. The purpose was to inform and support students remaining in New Zealand over summer when they would normally return to their families and home country. The Student Experience team at ENZ was very aware that an unexpected summer in New Zealand may put stress on some students.
We pulled together information from multiple sources, including from tourism operators and regional development agencies. Summer partnerships with LinkedIn and AFS New Zealand were also promoted to proactively engage students with their skill development resources.
NauMai NZ is still growing and as 2021 moves at pace, ongoing content development continues alongside user journey review and improvement.
“NauMai NZ is a valuable resource enabling ENZ to communicate with and support international students – particularly during the pandemic,” ENZ Director – Student Experience & Global Citizens, Sahinde Pala, says.
“We look forward to evolving it to better serve students’ needs, both in New Zealand and offshore, in 2021 and beyond.”
2021 brings a complexity of challenges for students. The challenge for NauMai NZ is to meet and address those challenges - better supporting the many students who remain studying in New Zealand and the increasing numbers of those studying offshore with a New Zealand provider, and of course being ready to welcome students when they are able to travel here in the future.
But for now, happy birthday NauMai NZ, and a big thank you from us to everyone who has supported its development and use.
