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Aminat chases sustainable energy dream for Nigeria
The former maths teacher and electrical engineering undergraduate has recently returned home to Nigeria after studying renewable energy at the University of Otago’s Energy Research Centre. She completed both a post-graduate Diploma and a Master’s of Science in Energy, Science, and Technology.
“It has always been my dream to study abroad, and New Zealand made my dream come true because I wanted to study renewable energy,” she says.
Manaaki scholarship key to education opportunity
“New Zealand is one of the top five countries in the world which excel at renewable electricity generation, and it is important to study in a country where you can get practical experience.”
Aminat says that the cost of international education overseas is beyond the reach of most people in developing countries, but that her experience was made possible through the Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships, funded by the New Zealand government. When she applied in 2018, she was one of only a small number of students accepted from Africa “so it was a big deal for me”.
And so was getting here. “It was my first experience travelling overseas, my first time on a plane, my first time in a new country.”
But she says she was grateful for the orientation programmes available and quickly felt at home both at university, and in Dunedin. “Just two months after I arrived, the Christchurch mosque shooting happened, and the support I got from my neighbours, my colleagues, and my lecturers was amazing.”
Energy poverty drives study choice
Aminat says she is motivated to study renewable energy because of where she comes from.
“I wanted to study something would allow me to improve my own country. Every economy depends on a reliable power supply and in Nigeria we have nationwide blackouts regularly. We need to buy petrol to run generators. Most people have generators in their homes, even in the cities.
“If you don’t have adequate reliable power, it holds back every aspect of the economy and makes it very difficult for businesses to succeed. It affects everything - manufacturing, schooling, farming. You can’t even freeze excess seasonal crops, so most of it goes to waste.”
A European Union report released last year titled “Time to make energy poverty in Africa a thing of the past”, backs up what Aminat says. It found that nearly 800 million people globally live without access to electricity, about 600 million of them in sub-Saharan Africa.
“In a world of deepening inequalities between the haves and have-nots, this is a glaring injustice, the report says. “Africa is the world’s premium location to harness solar energy and is already demonstrating that a cleaner path is possible.”
“Renewable energy is a passion for me,” Aminat says. “We need to talk about renewable energy for the future in Africa. And the future is now.”
By coming to New Zealand, Aminat says she saw the potential of what can be achieved with a reliable power supply.
Her research, supervised by Associate Professor Michael Jack, explored how to use domestic hot water cylinders for energy storage in microgrids comprised of clusters of households with solar photovoltaic supply. “It’s definitely achievable but needs more research and I’m very keen to take it further.”
International education more than classroom learning
Aminat says studying in New Zealand was “the best-ever experience”, with excellent university facilities and approachable staff always ready to offer help and support.
“Studying in New Zealand has given me a voice. It has expanded my horizons, made me more informed, and opened doors for me. People are keen to listen to you when you talk. When you’re looking for a job, an international education experience makes you stand out.”
“Studying in New Zealand has given me a voice" - New Zealand international student and Manaaki scholar Aminat Razaq
While the quality of education is essential, Aminat says it’s also about what you learn beyond the walls of a classroom. “You learn a different culture, and you are given the opportunity to explore your chosen field of study and gain another perspective. By offering scholarships, you are also helping the country the students come from.”
For any students considering New Zealand as a study destination, Aminat says “don’t think twice”.
“New Zealand is probably the most peaceful place in the world, it has all the facilities you need to study, the researchers are top notch, and the people are welcoming.”
While studying in New Zealand has fulfilled one of Aminat’s dreams, she is already working on another one. “My new dream is to set up my own energy consultancy company and I’m sure I will achieve it. All the positive experiences I have had in my education will take me there.”
And she hasn’t ruled out a return trip to New Zealand. “I am considering studying for my PhD. I loved everything about studying in New Zealand and would love to come back.”
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New Zealand-China Early Childhood Education Symposium to be hosted in New Zealand for the first time
The fifth annual New Zealand-China Early Childhood Education Symposium – themed around digital transformation in early childhood education – is set to take place at Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC) in Christchurch on 3 December.
This is the first time that the symposium will be hosted in New Zealand.
A 31-strong delegation from China across 21 universities, schools, kindergartens and government agencies will attend the event.
Co-organised by Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ), the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE) of the China Ministry of Education and UC, the symposium will see at least 25 presenters and 80 attendees from New Zealand and China present on a range of topics related to digital transformation in early childhood education. Audiences in New Zealand and China will also attend the symposium virtually.
Broad topics this year include emerging opportunities and challenges of artificial intelligence in teachers’ work in early childhood education, the use of digital technologies for early childhood education assessment, and digital transformation for communication and collaboration with families.
The event aims to foster academic exchanges and cooperation in early childhood education between New Zealand and China.
In June, during the visit by Chinese Premier Li Qiang and Education Minister Huai Jinpeng to New Zealand, UC signed a partnership agreement with the CCIPE at the New Zealand-China High-level Education Forum in Auckland. UC is also a current New Zealand-China Tripartite Partnership Programme recipient with two Chinese partners, Shanghai Normal University and Qufu Normal University, around early childhood education.
ENZ Acting General Manager International Ben Burrowes said the symposium highlights the long and fruitful bilateral engagement between New Zealand and China across a number of education areas.
“I am delighted to have New Zealand host the event for the first time. We have seen the symposium grow and go from strength to strength over the last five years and nurture relationships between our early childhood education providers.
“I look forward to hearing from presenters across the education landscape in both our countries sharing insights on digital transformation in early childhood education,” Burrowes said.
The University of Canterbury is honored to be the first tertiary institution in New Zealand to host the symposium, says Professor Joce Nuttall, Executive Dean of UC’s Faculty of Education Te Kaupeka Ako.
“As a university committed to future-focused education and the creation of meaningful local and global impact, the symposium is an invaluable opportunity for UC to engage in discussions with peers across New Zealand and China on the future of early childhood education between our two countries.”
Since 2020, the New Zealand-China Education Symposium has explored a rich range of themes and inspirational presentations on early childhood education, including exploring best practice for developing high-quality early childhood education teachers, and sustainable development in early childhood education and care.
For further information:
Justin Barnett | Director of Communications, Education New Zealand
+64 21 875 132
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ENZ launches digital Media Centre
ENZ Chief Executive Grant McPherson said the ENZ Media Centre will act as an entry point for international and New Zealand media to spark their interest and improve their understanding of the richness and breadth of New Zealand’s international education offering.
The Media Centre will start small but grow over time – helped by contributions from education providers. Their stories will range from profiles of their world-leading research and academics to innovative teaching programmes and unique courses.
“Each year, New Zealand attracts some 125,000 international students to our shores for the education experience of a lifetime. But the excellence, quality and diversity of these experiences is not widely understood.
“Through the Media Centre, we hope to broaden the discussions about what international education in New Zealand covers. For example, in addition to stories profiling international students in New Zealand, we will also share news about New Zealanders studying and interning offshore and the success of New Zealand education exports on the world stage.”
The content and design of the Media Centre is a result of consultation with ENZ’s international staff and PR agencies as well as discussion with education providers, regional economic development agencies and peak bodies. All content – written stories, listicles, think pieces, infographics and photography – is free to use.
“Telling the story about international education in New Zealand is an important part of ENZ's work. Last year, we worked with marketing and communication agencies in nine markets to generate more than 2,000 pieces of coverage. The Media Centre will support these efforts and help to lift the quality and quantity of coverage, including more up-to-date stories direct from our education providers,” said Grant.
Visit the Media Centre here: https://media.enz.govt.nz/
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