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• Around the world in five

  Asia 

  More Tamil Nadu State students from middle class families plump for higher studies abroad  

  More students from India, including middle-class families, are now eager to study abroad as COVID-19 restrictions ease. Popular courses include engineering, management, and medicine, with countries like the UK, Canada, Russia, and Kazakhstan being preferred destinations. New visa rules in the UK have caused some concern, leading students to consider Australia and New Zealand as alternative options. 

   

  North America 

  Agent role to be reviewed in Canada’s new international education strategy 

  Global Affairs Canada is concerned about the vulnerability posed by education agents in Canada's international education sector, as they engage in unethical practices that could harm the country's reputation. The upcoming strategy will also prioritize diversification of programs, destinations, and source countries to spread economic benefits more equitably and reduce reliance on specific markets like India and China. 

   

  South America 

  Argentina's agency sector optimistic on future growth 

  Argentina's outbound study travel sector is optimistic about future growth, with 85% of ARSAA (Argentine Study Abroad Association) members expecting travel in the upcoming quarter. Challenges such as affordable flights, payments, and school communication highlight the need for improved solutions to support Argentine students studying abroad. 

   

  Europe 

  UK to block dependants from accompanying international students as of January 2024 
   
  The UK government plans to restrict dependents from accompanying international students, except for those pursuing postgraduate programs with a research focus, starting January 2024. This policy aimed at controlling net migration has sparked worries among prospective students planning to study in the UK. 

   

  Africa 

  South Africa's ELT schools hopeful after further recovery in 2022 

  Education South Africa (EduSA) schools saw a 44.2% increase in international students in 2022, but numbers remained below pre-pandemic levels. Saudi Arabia and Brazil were top source markets, while African markets showed promising growth. The association plans to focus on branding, marketing, and digital development in 2023 to further enhance their international profile.  

• Celebrating the 28 Pasifika graduates of the He Manawa Tītī Programme

  He Manawa Tītī was a 13-week bespoke training course for emerging Pacific leaders delivered between February and May 2023 under the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme (MNZSP). The name He Manawa Tītī stems from a Māori Whakataukī (proverb) meaning ‘stout of heart’ and the course formed part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) contribution to the suite of reparations for Pacific peoples announced in 2021 by the New Zealand Government. The press release announcing these scholarships is available here). 

  Emerging leaders (aged 25 – 35) from public, private, and voluntary sectors took part in the course combining academic and experiential training.  Scholars participated in several weeks of online learning from their home countries and spent nine weeks of the programme based in Te Whanganui-a-Tara Wellington. He Manawa Tītī included modules on good governance and public sector leadership, trade policy in the context of the Pacific, and explored Pasifika values as key tenets of modern leadership.    

  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) was involved in this kaupapa (programme of work) through its partnership with MFAT on the operational management of the MNZSP.   

  “It was fantastic to be able to celebrate these 28 inspiring young leaders as they completed this programme in Wellington last month. In true Pacific style, there was plenty of laughter, fun and colour, and it was a fitting celebration for all that these graduates have already achieved throughout their education and early careers,” said ENZ’s General Manager International, Lisa Futschek.   

  “The programme was designed by MFAT in collaboration with key Pasifika stakeholders and community members, highlighting Pasifika ways of learning and recognising the knowledge that is already held by Pasifika peoples. This collaboration also ensured opportunities for the scholars to build networks with Pasifika communities here in Aotearoa New Zealand, which connects them to our country now that they have returned home,” Lisa added. 

  The Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship Programme is part of the International Development Cooperation support that MFAT provides for developing partner countries across the globe. Manaaki alumni are well-known to be integral contributors to the development of their home countries.  

  “These Pacific emerging leaders are enthusiastic about returning home and putting into practice the leadership skills they have gained in Aotearoa,” said MFAT Lead Adviser, Alexandra Grace.  

  “While they have successfully completed this bespoke cohort course, real success will be demonstrated over coming years through what they achieve for their communities and countries. Scholars told me they won’t miss the weather (!) but will take with them enduring memories of the manaakitanga they experienced in our country.” 

• ENZ leads NZ university delegation to the Middle East

  From 29 April to 8 May, Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) led an education delegation, involving four New Zealand universities, to Oman, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Saudi Arabia. 

  Across the region, the delegation visit focused on engaging with government agencies to promote New Zealand as a study destination for scholarship students, as well as meeting with agents and presenting to self-funded students looking for opportunities to study abroad. In Dubai, New Zealand universities visited international schools that offer strong student recruitment opportunities with expatriate students. 

  In Oman, the focus was on promoting the New Zealand education offering at the Global Higher Education Exhibition (GHEDEX) in Muscat. ENZ’s pavilion with the University of Otago, the University of Waikato, the University of Auckland, and Massey University attracted strong interest from well-qualified students and their parents, and government and institution representatives.  

  In Riyadh, the delegation visited Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University (PNU) with representatives from the University of Waikato and Massey University to explore institution partnerships. PNU is a women’s university with 50,000 students (57 percent studying STEM subjects) and its own metro system. The university is interested in broad cooperation agreements covering study abroad, joint programmes, exchange, and PhD, particularly in the areas of renewable energy, computer science, digital media, and sports.  

  

  The New Zealand delegation with the Director of International Cooperation and Director of Strategic Partnerships at Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University in Riyadh

  Saudia Arabia has a new Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques scholarship programme that aims to send 70,000 students to top-ranked universities by 2030. In the UAE, ENZ met with the Scholarships Office of the Presidential Court in Abu Dhabi to discuss New Zealand as a destination for this prestigious programme. Approval of New Zealand universities by government agencies in Saudia Arabia and the UAE would have a positive impact on New Zealand’s engagement with other government ministries and funding bodies in both these countries as well.  

  ENZ’s Regional Director Americas, Middle East & Europe, Amy Rutherford, said this delegation visit was a valuable opportunity to engage with senior education officials in Riyadh on this new scholarship programme as well as exploring institution-to-institution partnerships. 

  “We have emphasised to Saudi officials New Zealand universities’ areas of expertise that align with the subjects set out under the programme. However, getting New Zealand onto the Saudi Arabian government’s list for scholarships will take regular and persistent engagement from NZ Inc partners and education institutions,” Amy said.  

  “The approval of New Zealand education providers [on the list] would be an important signal of the high quality of New Zealand education and potentially support our involvement in other areas of government funding, such with the National Institute for Education and Professional Development, the Technical and Vocational Training Corporation (TVTC), or the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Tourism.” 

  ENZ’s Senior Advisor, Middle East and Europe, Bronwyn Shanks, said the delegation visit was a good opportunity to grow vocational education links and reengage with New Zealand alumni in the region. 

  “As Saudi Arabia works to diversify its economy and upskill its population in line with Vision 2030, there are clear opportunities for Te Pūkenga. There is a cooperation agreement on the table with TVTC, and the new Wa’ed scholarships pathway is focused on vocational education and training. 

  “We engaged with many New Zealand alumni who were very positive about their experiences in New Zealand and the opportunities a New Zealand education has created for them. The real excitement recently has been around Rayannah Barnawi, the first Arab woman to go into space, who is a University of Otago graduate,” Bronwyn said.  

  Read more about University of Otago graduate Rayannah Barnawi 

  

  The New Zealand delegation with Ambassador Richard Kay and Second Secretary Jess Minehan-Fitzgerald from the New Zealand Embassy in Abu Dhabi, with officials from the Scholarships Office at the UAE’s Presidential Court

• NAFSA 2023: Inspiring an inclusive future

  The theme for this year was ‘Inspiring an Inclusive Future’. The event provided opportunities for international education professionals to reconnect with key partners and discuss new opportunities for international exchanges, identifying indigenous engagement opportunities, developing new partnerships, expanding scholarship opportunities and progressing, diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. 

  University of Otago Director Te Whirika (International) Division of External Engagement Jason Cushen said, "The many conversations and meetings held during NAFSA underscored the range of possibilities and some of the challenges we all face coming out of the pandemic, being able to engage with dozens of partners and potential partners over a matter of days is of incalculable value."  

  NAFSA was held in Washington, D.C and is one of the largest events in the international events calendar. Around 8,500 registrants and 400 exhibitors signed up to learn about the latest innovations, proven strategies, and best practices in international education.  

  ENZ Education Counsellor and Regional Director Americas, Middle East and Europe Amy Rutherford said "The size and scale of NAFSA is difficult to appreciate if you haven't attended, but it demonstrates how competitive the international sector is across the world. The New Zealand presence at NAFSA plays an important part in promoting New Zealand's high-quality education offering on a world stage". 

  ENZ had a busy programme at the conference. ENZ Director of Engagement North America DuBois Jennings co-presented a session on Supporting Comprehensive Internationalisation: National Government Perspectives.  

  "As we continue to develop the Internationalisation Strategic Framework, the presentation was a great opportunity to share our progress with our partners and colleagues around the world. Doing this alongside the US Department of Education highlighted the similarities and differences of two country’s governments approach to Internationalisation," said DuBois.  

  "ENZ’s framework will be a first as it will inform how we bring New Zealand international education strengths to the world through a Māori cultural lens." he said. 

  The conference also was a time of increased connection for ENZ. Texas International Education Consortium (TIEC) made ENZ part of their Preferred Partner Network. TIEC is an association of Texas institutions focused on the development of Internationalisation and education abroad programming. ENZ and TIEC will work together to develop a range of activities that enhance the quality of education and promote cross-cultural understanding between Texas and New Zealand. 

  ENZ also hosted a networking function at Embassy of New Zealand. Over 300 people were invited from across the international education sector. New Zealand Ambassador to the United States of America Bede Corry and ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson delivered opening remarks, with University of Auckland Kaiarataki Pro Vice-Chancellor (Māori) Michael Steedman as MC for the evening.   

• Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships

• NZIEC KI TUA 2023 programme announced!

  The New Zealand International Education Conference 2023 brings together practitioners and leaders from across New Zealand’s international education sector to look to the future and explore strategies for growth.  

  Our keynote speakers include:  

  • Helen Souness: Pathway to the future 
  • Dr Hinemoa Elder: Māori stories for global learning and teaching  
  • Dr Stephen Holmes: Post-pandemic insights from international students and parents 
  • Yemi Penn: Igniting your rebellious curiosity 
  • Dr Paul Spoonley: International education in 30 years 
  • Bridget Williams: International education and the sustainable development goals 
  • Sharon Zollner: The national and global economic outlook for 2024 
  • Kaila Colbin: Future of education 

  The conference also includes a range of energising breakout sessions hosted by experts in the sector, centred on the themes of Marketing Smarts, Growing Global, Authentically Aotearoa and Fresh Offerings.  

  Breakouts include Excellent experiences – Spotlight on student experience insights hosted by Marie Clark and Ross Crosson, ChatGPT, now what? Pitfalls and opportunities of AI in student recruitment hosted by Audrey Voon, Ko wai koe? Building indigeneity into your internationalisation strategy hosted by Monique van Veen and The intersection of EdTech and traditional education hosted by an expert panel. 

  Check out the full programme here: https://www.nziec.co.nz/agenda  

  We look forward to seeing you at NZIEC KI TUA 2023, register today: https://www.nziec.co.nz/registration  

• Individual Prime Minister Scholarships for Asia and Latin America applications open 24 July

  The Prime Minister's Scholarships are funded by the New Zealand Government and administered by  Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) to support New Zealanders on learning experiences in Asia and Latin America. Flexible funding is available to support both short and long-term programmes including study abroad / exchange, internships, postgraduate study, and language programmes.  

  Prime Minister Scholarships are for all New Zealanders, and we welcome applicants from all walks of life and backgrounds. We're looking for New Zealanders who are passionate about global citizenship, can represent Aotearoa New Zealand overseas, and want to create positive change in their communities. 

  Information, alumni stories, resources and application instructions can be found on our scholarships website. The application site will go live from 24 July.  

  Specific enquiries or questions can also be emailed through to ENZ’s scholarship team – scholarship@enz.govt.nz or potential applicants can sign up on our scholarship page to stay updated about this scholarship round and to find out when future information sessions and workshops will be held. 

  Please pass these dates on to your networks.  

• July update from Immigration New Zealand

  Visa processing update (to 11 July 2023) 

  Since New Zealand’s international borders reopened in August 2022, Immigration New Zealand (INZ) has received 43,541 student visa applications from international students outside of New Zealand. We have completed 37,916 of these applications with 32,457 approved. 

  Our recent processing times for international student visa applications are published on our website. These are updated by month: Visa processing times for international students 

  Apply early 

  Unfortunately we have received many applications submitted only a few weeks before the student intends to commence study in New Zealand.  

  Students should apply for their visas around four months ahead of intended travel, and at least two months ahead of intended travel. We cannot prioritise late applications ahead of students who have applied in good time. Unfortunately, some students who apply late may miss their start date. 

  Please remember that students should not confirm travel bookings until the visa is granted. 

• New resources for practitioners and international students from ISANA NZ

  To achieve this work, ISANA NZ is delighted to be engaged in an International Student Wellbeing Strategy (ISWS) supported project with Studio C Design and Lift Education. Over the past few months, a series of resources has been developed to assist practitioners and promote a rich experience for international students in Aotearoa. These resources have been tailored to the needs of key sector stakeholders: international education practitioners and international students (primary, secondary and tertiary). 

   

  International education practitioners  

  Six micro-online learning modules have been developed to help international education staff provide the best possible support for their students. The modules build on the recently developed Capability Toolkit content that ISANA NZ produced with support from Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao in response to the impact of the prolonged border closure.  

  Micro-learning is an increasingly popular form of work-based learning, because it is delivered in more manageable chunks and enables learners to absorb and retain more information.  

  These interactive modules capture industry expertise and engage staff with six crucial topics: 

  1. Intercultural tools for supporting international learner mental health 
  2. Supporting the international learner transition 
  3. Methods for reviewing and improving your international services and products 
  4. Learning from critical incident case studies 
  5. Effectively supporting international learners’ social connectedness 
  6. Supporting international learner employability 

  To ISANA NZ’s knowledge, this is the first example of micro-learning for international education practitioners in Aotearoa, and it lays an important platform for sector-specific credentials development. 

   

  Primary and intermediate aged learners 

  An interactive activity sheet has been created for learners at primary/intermediate level to play with an adult. The game presents several activities for the student to participate in at home, in school, and in their local community. Learners can tick off each activity as they weave their way through the worksheet, and through their own community.  

  A series of tips for settling into New Zealand life can be found among the fun illustrations that cover the activity sheet. Both the primary learner resource and staff eLearning modules will be available on the ISANA NZ website at the end of this month. 

  
  Secondary school students 

  Five documentary style videos highlight international students Alan (from Mexico) and Carren (from China) who currently attend Wellington High School. The videos follow their day-to-day lives as they navigate challenges such as understanding a new culture, settling in and coping with being far away from family back home.  

  Each of the videos will have subtitles in Mandarin, Hindi, Vietnamese, Korean, and Bahasa Malaysian. 

  Watch along as Alan and Carren get to know other students and people in their community: 

  YouTube

   

  Tertiary students 

  For tertiary students, three podcast episodes have been produced. The podcasts feature panel host Vaelyn, an international student graduate and business owner, as they engage with panelists: 

  • Ami from India, studying a Bachelor of Nursing at Universal College of Learning (UCOL) Te Pūkenga, Palmerston North 
  • Pulak from Bangladesh, studying a Masters in teaching English as a second language at the University of Auckland 
  • Melanie from Malaysia, studying on the Foundation Programme at Up Education 

  The students share stories, anecdotes, challenges and vulnerabilities while they kōrero about topics such as being part of local communities, coping with stress, dealing with racism, taking positive wellbeing steps, and making most of their time in Aotearoa. 

  Listen to the students kōrero about life in Aotearoa here: https://www.podbean.com/eas/pb-hh6zn-14464ea  

  Each video and podcast is accompanied by a downloadable PDF detailing tips and tricks for students. You can find all these materials under the Student Resources page on the ISANA NZ website. 
   

• NauMai NZ has a brand-new look 

  We are excited to share that NauMai NZ, ENZ’s student experience digital platform, has undergone a refresh and has a new look and feel, bringing it in line with the wider ENZ brand family. Check out its new look here.

  NauMai NZ provides clear, timely information and advice about the things that international students want and need to know - arriving in New Zealand, study and education, health and wellbeing, New Zealand and Māori culture, exploring New Zealand, making friends, safety, money, work, and much more. It links to expert resources where appropriate and is designed to complement information provided by education providers. 

  NauMai NZ was launched four years ago and since then has had one million page views.  

  Student Experience Manager, Ross Crosson says the aims and objectives of NauMai NZ have not changed.  

  “NauMai NZ is still about providing trusted, accurate information to support student wellbeing, bridge the gap between expectation and reality, enable social connection, and improve student experience outcomes. The revamp is about being responsive to the needs of a wider range of students who are studying with New Zealand, not just in New Zealand” he adds. 

  Alongside the new look, new content has been added including, 

  • Life on campus (orientation, clubs, student associations)​ 
  • How to maximise your experience (goal setting and support options)​ 
  • Road safety​ 
  • Outdoor safety (including water safety, hiking and tramping, hunting/mahika kai)​ 
  • Online study for offshore students​ 
  • Global Pathways 

  “Just as we have over the past four years, we will continue to add new content to NauMai NZ to meet student need and expectation. The site is always evolving and feedback is welcome” Ross says.   

  Should you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Ross, ross.crosson@enz.govt.nz.