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• Celebrating 60-year friendship with Malaysia

  The celebration, which involved ENZ, Tourism New Zealand and New Zealand Trade & Enterprise as well as the High Commission, was held over five days at the Pavilion Shopping Mall in Kuala Lumpur.

  The aim of the event was to bring New Zealand’s rich and varied culture, art, tourism, education, and food and beverage to Malaysia in a creative and engaging way.

  ENZ had a prominent spot at the event, attracting a number of visitors. ENZ delivered four presentations and held three Skype sessions with Malaysian undergraduate students currently studying at University of Canterbury and Victoria University of Wellington. A PhD researcher from the University of Canterbury also spoke online to prospective Malaysian students and parents in attendance.

  Margaret Low, ENZ Education Advisor based in Kuala Lumpur, said it was fantastic to be part of DANZ to celebrate bilateral relations with Malaysia as well as promote New Zealand’s education offering to local students.

  “The event provided us with an amazing platform to share the New Zealand education story to a huge audience,” said Margaret.

  “Our current Malaysian students also provided outstanding testimonials about their experiences in New Zealand and spoke glowingly about their unique study experience.”

  

  Visitors at the event enjoyed a virtual reality experience featuring beautiful New Zealand landscapes and the New Zealand education system as well as samples of top New Zealand food and beverage products.

• Korean celebrities promote New Zealand education

  The episode was broadcast in October and highlighted New Zealand’s future-focused education system.

  Jae Hee and In-kwon Kim are famous in Korea and China, having appeared in a number of Korean television shows. In September they visited Christchurch with their kids and a film crew to shoot Change the Class, a Korean TV programme that follows them as they visit schools in other countries to experience education and lifestyle abroad.

  Jae Hee was accompanied by his seven-year-old son Raon, while In-kwon Kim was joined by his two daughters Jayoung, 11, and Minkyung, nine.

  ChristchurchNZ International Education Programme Manager, Bree Loverich, said ChristchurchNZ hosted the families and crew while they attended Halswell Primary School to shoot eight episodes of the show.

  “The actors and their families got to experience first-hand the difference between Korea and New Zealand culture,” said Bree.

  “This was a great opportunity to showcase Christchurch’s education system, as well as the wonderful lifestyle our city offers to visitors and residents.”

  TVN, the broadcaster for the series, is famous all over Asia and has 28 million viewers, with the potential to translate the show into Chinese, Filipino, Malaysian, and Russian to name a few.

  “This is huge exposure for New Zealand in the Korea market – the interest this will generate about Christchurch and the wider region is invaluable,” said Bree.

  “Although the show’s purpose is not specifically to promote our international education sector, it is a fantastic bonus for us. The Korean and Chinese markets are important for international education, as well as to our visitor market in general.

  “Some of the communications about the show focus on how New Zealand is first in the world for future-focused education, with Halswell being an example of a modern learning primary school.”

  China is Canterbury’s largest international student market, and Korea its fourth. Both countries also contribute strongly to the region’s visitor economy, with more than 46,550 Chinese and 19,660 South Korean visitors for the y ear ending July 2017.

  “The support and advice of [ENZ Regional Director China and North Asia] Adele Bryant and [ENZ Business Development Manager] Richard Kyle was absolutely key to the successful hosting of a large film crew on a primary schools campus,” said Bree.

  The series consists of eight one-hour episodes. Click here for a clip of the students during a maths lesson.

  

  

• Victoria offering New Zealand’s first bicultural MOOC

  Developed as a series, New Zealand Landscape as Culture will explore how people express their culture through perspectives on the landscapes they live in. The course will incorporate mātauranga Māori and te reo Māori, and introduce ideas from both Māori and Pākehā cultures, exploring the geology, popular culture, politics, art and literature of landscape.

  Steven Warburton, Assistant Vice-Chancellor (Digital Futures) and director of VictoriaX, the university’s MOOC platform, said the new series shows the variety of courses that the university is able to share with students online.

  “Our MOOC programme is an important addition to the broad range of Victoria courses offered, as it gives domestic and international learners a high quality educational experience with our world-class academics,” he said.

  “This MOOC showcases Victoria’s role in enriching national culture, and is the latest in an exciting line-up of VictoriaX courses to be delivered.”

  The New Zealand Landscape as Culture series will begin with the four-week course, Islands (Ngā Motu), starting November 10, 2017.

  Victoria launched its debut MOOC in April this year, Antarctica: From Geology to Human History, which attracted more than 5000 enrolments.

  Victoria is the only New Zealand university to offer courses through the edX platform, founded by prestigious US universities Harvard and MIT in 2012. 

• New Zealand Tertiary College India celebrates graduates

  The ceremony was held in Mumbai on Sunday, 5 November, with NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox travelling from New Zealand to share in the festivities with graduates and their families.

  “This seventh NZTC India graduation is an extraordinary achievement for a New Zealand early childhood education college,” she said.

  “NZTC is committed to continuing to offer flexible, accessible, high quality early childhood curriculums and support to teachers of young children in India, and we are incredibly honoured to do so.”

  The college celebrated the expansion of its postgraduate offerings by honouring Helen Sharrock, the first graduate of the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (Leadership and Management). A number of special commendation awards were also presented to graduates who excelled in their studies, with the most outstanding student for the Certificate in Early Childhood Education (Level 5) awarded jointly to NZTC’s own staff member Sushma Nair and Sheeba Roshinkumar.

  Graduate speaker Karuna Mangharam shared her study journey with fellow graduates, pursuing a Bachelor of Education (ECE) to support her directing of a pre-primary school that she and her sister started in 2010. 

  “I found the NZTC degree to be most suitable for me because it was an international college with a local presence. I couldn’t have gone ahead course after course if I didn’t have the support from the NZTC support team,” said Mangharam.

  2017 was a big year for NZTC. It celebrated its 35-year anniversary, and expanded its programme offerings beyond early childhood teacher education to health and wellbeing programmes.

• Register for the China Mayoral Forum education session

  The forum theme is sustainable economies, and is an opportunity to strengthen relationships with regions of both countries. Fifteen mayors and vice-mayors from across China will attend alongside 33 mayors from across New Zealand, including smaller regional centres.

  Following introductory presentations by Sir Richard Taylor (WETA Group) and Maggie Zhou (Alibaba), the forum will discuss opportunities for trade, investment, education and developing mutually beneficial partnerships.

  The forum is being organised by Local Government New Zealand (LGNZ) and Wellington City Council, with support from ENZ.

  LGNZ President Dave Cull says the forum is an excellent opportunity to grow relationships with New Zealand’s largest trading partner.

  “There is much to be gained for our communities in developing a greater understanding and appreciation of how China operates,” said Mr Cull.

  “Face-to-face meetings provide the opportunity for the representatives of our cities, districts and regions to engage directly and look for mutually-beneficial economic development opportunities.”

  Sarah Gauthier, ENZ Regional Project Manager, said the education break-out session would be particularly relevant.

  “This will be an engaging panel discussion touching on key ideas and interactions with China on education, followed by a chance to engage with some of the Chinese representatives,” said Sarah.

  “We encourage education institutions, regional education organisations and other service providers to attend.” 

  Registration is free but spaces are limited. To register click here.

  For more information, contact Sarah Gauthier: sarah.gauthier@enz.govt.nz

• Giving students the right immigration advice

  Many international students say they have been promised a pathway to work or residence in New Zealand. However, education provider staff or agents need to be licensed to give advice on pathways to work visas or residence visas in New Zealand.

  A person is exempt from the licensing requirement if they are outside New Zealand and advise on student visas only.

  This means that when education providers and agents are offshore (such as at education fairs) they can advise on and assist with student visa applications. However, they cannot advise on any other visa type including guardian visas, visitor visas, working holiday visas, work visas or residence visas.

  However, there are other ways that education providers or agents can help international students with immigration matters.

  As an education provider or agent, you can:

  Provide publicly available information

  • Send a link or refer to information on Immigration New Zealand’s (INZ) webpage
  • Point out the requirements listed on a visa application form
  • Print out INZ’s checklists and refer to those

   Assist with completing a visa form

  • You can assist a student to complete a visa form, but only if the student directs you by providing the answers
  • You can’t advise them on the best answer if they ask you for help
  • If they ask a question, you can refer them to the answer if it is on the form or on the INZ website.

   Translate or interpret

  • You can translate or interpret INZ information or the client’s from one language to another
  • You can’t add your own views to this translation or interpretation.

   Work with a licensed immigration adviser

  • You can have a licensed immigration adviser on staff or a local licensed adviser you call on from time to time.

  Direct students to

  • The INZ website www.immigration.govt.nz
  • The IAA website to find a list of licensed advisers www.iaa.govt.nz
  • The New Zealand Law Society Website to find a lawyer www.lawsociety.org.nz
  • Community Law Centres www.communitylaw.org.nz
  • Citizens Advice Bureaux www.cab.org.nz

  The IAA can provide copies of its Guide to Licensed Immigration Advisers in English, Chinese, Korean, Samoan, Tongan, Hindi and Punjabi.

  For more information email info@iaa.govt.nz or visit www.iaa.govt.nz.

• Government starts its business

  Today marked the official opening of the new Parliament, when the Government laid out its priorities in the Speech from the Throne (available in full here).

  The speech noted that in order to help ease pressure on infrastructure, the Government would make sure the immigration settings are right. 

  Specifically, it said it would “cut down on low quality international education courses and will ensure work visas issued reflect genuine skill shortages”.

  These areas were flagged in the run-up to the election and in the subsequent coalition agreement.

  ENZ Acting Chief Executive John Goulter noted that in a media interview on Monday, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern described the possible reduction in overall immigration numbers as an estimate of 30,000 rather than a target.

  “Ms Ardern said the Minister of Immigration would be working through various proposals but she did not expect an announcement soon. Instead, the priorities for the Government’s first 100-day plan would be on areas such as housing and health.”

  Meanwhile, ENZ has worked with fellow agencies including Immigration New Zealand and Ministry of Education on a response to queries. This message is now posted on INZ’s website here, and we encourage you to read and share this widely. It is reproduced below:

  As we work with our ministers in the new Government, agencies will continue to provide information and services to the international education sector.

  We will advise students, education providers and agents of any developments in the sector that may impact them as soon as any decisions are made.

  In the meantime, there have been no changes made to immigration settings. Immigration NZ continues to process student visas and post-study work visas as usual.

• Bringing Sunshine to a Beijing winter

  The series was launched in Beijing on 3 November at a National Symposium on EFL Reading in Schools.

  Some 900 teachers from across China attended the two-day symposium, which included a demonstration English class using the books.

  Judy Stevenson, Educational Manager of Wendy Pye Publishing, and Adele Bryant, ENZ’s Regional Director for China & North Asia also attended, and were pleased by the response to the series.

  “The teachers were very positive about using the books in their classrooms and could see that the emphasis on creative language would be more engaging for their students,” said Judy. 

  

  Professor Wang Qiang, Director of the Centre for Foreign Language Education and Teacher Education at Beijing University endorses Sunshine Books at the China launch.

  “Students are encouraged to use their imaginations and have fun with language in a way which is new for Chinese education.”

  Adele said ENZ had supported Wendy Pye Publishing to pursue these export opportunities through an export growth programme, administered by the Publishers Association of New Zealand. 

  “Breaking into the huge educational publishing market of China is a milestone for a New Zealand publisher and comes after many years of commitment by Dame Wendy Pye and her team to developing the relationship with FLTRP,” said Adele.  

  The collaboration will see the Sunshine readers’ and teachers’ notes marketed to junior high schools throughout China.

   

• Meet the Dream New scholarship recipients

  ENZ received nearly 300 applications from across 20 EU countries. Candidates were chosen based on their fantastic academic results as well as creative motivational essays or videos.

  The winners begin their New Zealand adventure in February or July 2018, and as official ‘Kiwi Ambassadors’ will keep us updated throughout their time in New Zealand.

   Lisa Futschek, ENZ Regional Director – Americas and Europe said the 10 recipients reflect the growing number of high-quality European students that look to New Zealand for a unique study abroad experience.

  “European students immerse themselves into the Kiwi lifestyle very easily. They value the wide range of programmes our education providers offer and the accessibility of our professors and tutors – in their home countries, this relationship tends to be much more formal,” said Lisa.

  “They are also quite adventurous, and in their free time they will use every opportunity to explore the beautiful New Zealand landscape and engage in outdoor pursuits they have heard so much about.”

  The scholarship was launched in December 2015 by Prime Minister John Key as part of the FTA campaigning in Europe. The scholarship offers EU students one study abroad semester in New Zealand (valued at up to $12,500 NZD), sending students to New Zealand universities and ITPs.

  Jaime Pérez Fernández (Spain)

  New Zealand is so far away from my home, there is no better place to find myself. I chose Victoria University because Wellington is the same size as my home city, and it is close to the South Island – ideal to explore as much of New Zealand as possible. July can’t come fast enough!

   

  Christoph Scholder (Germany)   

  I am really excited to start a new adventure on the other side of the globe! I am especially looking forward to the nature in New Zealand, and to see how Victoria University of Wellington differs from my home university and city. I’m sure I’m going to have an amazing time!

   

  Anna Stroh (Germany)

  I am excited to study anthropology and marine ecology at the beautiful campus of University of Otago. I can’t wait to explore the stunning landscape and I am looking forward to experience Māori culture and perform the haka. To study in New Zealand was my dream, and receiving the scholarship fulfilled it.

   

  Lars Tauer (Germany)   

  I chose the University of Otago in Dunedin for the nature, the friendly people and the university’s excellent reputation. I will be able to gain insights in fields of study I would not have been able to at my university in Germany. I cannot wait to start having the time of my life in New Zealand.

   

  Nadja Kampendonk (Germany)

  I am so excited to study abroad next year. I always dreamt of going to New Zealand and seeing all the unbelievable landscapes. I chose the University of Canterbury because it allows me to further my French studies while also taking an English course to improve my English writing skills.

   

  Lavinya Stennet (UK)   

  New Zealand is a true adventure – in the physical sense and in terms of being able to learn more. I chose University of Waikato for its Māori and Indigenous Studies courses, which is a privilege for me to learn about. I am ready to learn some Māori songs and explore the mountainous regions of New Zealand!

   

  Claudia Aybar (Spain)

  My love of adventure and travelling led me to apply for the Dream New Scholarship. Auckland University of Technology caught my attention for its modern and attractive campus and high-quality standards. New Zealand is the perfect destination to have an amazing experience and enhance my education. I am really looking forward to starting this adventure.

   

  Patricia Jahn (Germany)  

  I chose Lincoln University for its agriculture and environmental studies. I also imagine its population of 4000 students will be a unique experience, studying in small groups. I also want to explore the countryside including Mount Stokes, Abel Tasman National Park, Mount Cook and Lake Pukaki, as well as Akaroa.

   

  Marlene Braach (Germany)

  I have already started my first semester at Ara Institute of Canterbury, and will now stay for a second! New Zealand’s cultural diversity is what drew me here, and I got more involved in this by volunteering at the Contemporary Art Gallery. I’m glad to have the opportunity to study here and learn new things.

   

  Georg Zunhammer (Germany) 

  My goal has always been to spend a semester abroad, and Massey University in Auckland met all my criteria. As an avid runner and hiker I am fascinated by what the nature there has to offer. I look forward to experiencing a completely different culture, lifestyle and to meet lots of new people

• Changes to visa processing

  Celia Coombes, INZ Sector Manager (Education) advises that during consultation, INZ received a number of submissions from providers and education peak bodies. All feedback was analysed and incorporated into the decision making process, and resulted in some changes to the proposals, such as retaining the processing of Chinese student visas China and expanding the Risk and Verification function.

  “Rather than being processed geographically, visas will be processed by customer sector such as business, education and tourism,” said Celia.

  “This will enable INZ to enhance focus on its customers by delivering customer excellence in a digital world and to effectively leverage the investments INZ has made in technology and infrastructure.”

  INZ will be communicating with the education industry regularly over the next 18 months as it transitions to the new model.

  Immigration New Zealand (INZ) wishes to thank all those who provided feedback on its proposed operating model changes in September 2017.

  For more details, including indicative timeframes for INZ Office closures, please see the media release on INZ’s website: https://www.immigration.govt.nz/about-us/media-centre/media-releases/immigration-changes-will-result-in-more-staff-in-new-zealand