Regional partners’ workshop goes to Hawke’s Bay

The workshop is an initiative of ENZ’s Regional Partnership Programme (RPP), and drew a group of more than 20 regional coordinators from across the country. The RPP is a part of a strategic focus by ENZ to grow the value of international education across the whole of New Zealand as part of the effort to grow the industry’s value to $5 billion by 2025.

“The aim of the workshop was for participants to share experiences and receive professional development to increase their effectiveness in working with education providers in their regions,” said Greg Scott, ENZ’s Regional Partnership Programme Manager.

Topics included:

• Product development

• Inbound familiarisation planning

• The upcoming regional digital resource

• Increasing awareness of the value of international education in regional communities.

Participants enjoyed a range of presentations including lively show-and-tell sessions from Education Wellington and Education Hawke’s Bay, as well as an update from Karen Chalmers, NZQA’s Director International and Policy.

The day before the workshop, a smaller group of new regional coordinators came together at an ENZ-facilitated orientation session. They learned more about the RPP, contributed to an interactive business plan workshop, and heard some first-hand insights from Education Taranaki’s Rachael Berndt.

Greg said feedback about both days was extremely positive.  

“We've seen a good number of regions join the RPP over the last 12 months, and there is a significant increase in regional growth initiatives as a result of the formation and implementation of their strategies.”