CONFERENCE 2009 – “NEW TIMES. NEW CHALLENGES. COMING READY OR NOT!”
Conference 2009 is Go!
To be held in Wellington at the Duxton Hotel, New Zealand’s Annual International Education Conference has established itself as the premier annual industry event that looks at a wide variety of issues of interest and concern to the export education industry. About 400 delegates participate each year from all parts of the industry, representing a wide range of institutions along with other significant Government and industry stakeholders.
This year, in response to demand, we have managed to reduce the cost of registration from $800 (plus gst) to $568 (plus gst, earlybird) by concentrating the programme into an action-packed two day programme with plenty of interest for all sectors. Make this your networking/professional development priority this year!
THEME AND HIGHLIGHTS
The ‘New Times. New Challenges. Coming ready or not!’ theme recognises that the industry is operating in a highly fluid global and domestic environment. The new environment represents a range of challenges for the industry, but also a range of opportunities.
Highlights for 2009 include:
• Hon Anne Tolley, Minister of Education. This will be Hon Tolley’s first major speaking engagement specifically on international education since becoming Minister of Education, and will be an opportunity for the wider industry to hear her views on the role that international education plays in the New Zealand economy and education system.
• Hon Dr Jonathan Coleman, Minister of Immigration, Labour and Associate Tourism. Immigration policy and operational matters are absolutely critical to the education export industry. We will hear first hand from the Minister an update on a range of policy and operational matters, and have an opportunity to put questions to the Minister.
• Rob Stevens, ENZ’s CEO, will summarize the major international and domestic challenges and opportunities facing the industry. He will also outline current and forthcoming changes for the form, function and funding for ENZ.
• Tim Rogers (Director, International Education Consultants UK Ltd), the ever popular UK based marketing expert will offer insights into marketing in a recession, and present his ENZ commissioned research papers mapping New Zealand’s Masters programmes relative to our major competitors; and identifying multi-sector student loan, financial aid and scholarship schemes so that NZ's education institutions are aware of the range, restrictions, requirements and scope of such sources for international student funding.
• Rob Fyfe, CEO of Air New Zealand, will talk about marketing from the perspective of another service industry, and linkages between Air New Zealand, Education New Zealand and the wider export education industry.
• Dr Karen Poutasi, CEO of New Zealand Qualifications Authority, will provide an update on pan industry qualification issues, including offshore recognition of qualifications including NCEA and domestic quality issues.
• Dr Neil Kemp, widely respected UK-based international education consultant will present ENZ-commissioned research and talk about potential emerging markets for New Zealand’s education exporters.
• Tony McKittrick (Canadian High Commission in Australia); Duncan Hamshere (Barcelona Graduate School of Economics) and Dr Neil Kemp will offer insights and updates about New Zealand’s offshore competitors: the UK, Canada and the European Union.
• Leading international education schools personnel will present a range of practical workshops for schools – including best practice, marketing, Education Review Office, Department of Labour, Code of Practice, Exchanges, Damage Control and Drivers of Success.
• Prof Thorat, Chair of the Indian University Grants Committee, will offer insights into developments on the Indian tertiary scene.
• The latest ENZ research: Indian student perceptions of NZ; China in depth marketing research; Offshore Student Loans and Scholarship Schemes; as well as the previously highlighted Masters and market research.
• A wide range of other sessions on a variety of other topics including PTE quality issues; fraudulent documents; working with the web and PACE.
• A private evening function at one of Wellington’s coolest and most stylish bars (St John’s on the waterfront)
• Networking, social sessions, great food, refreshments, fantastic company….
ACTION PACKED TWO DAYS, WITH REDUCED REGISTRATION PRICING
In response to feedback from institutions on ENZ’s 2008/09 Roadshow, this year we have slightly modified the structure of the conference. While we believe the Wednesday workshops were positive, this needs to be balanced against the following feedback that we have received:
• $800 (plus gst) for three days inclusive of all food and entertainment was viewed by some in the sector as expensive. While it is worth noting that other conferences at similar venues are currently charging between $1,500 and $2,000, we are constantly mindful of the need to ensure that price is not a barrier to participation; and
• we also received some negative feedback that drawing out the conference for three days means institutions have to pay for two nights accommodation rather than just one night; and (if required) arrange for relieving staff for three full days.
We are also very cognisant of the impact that the wider economic situation is having upon some institutions and their internal budgets for staff professional development. As such, we have taken the decision (and this decision was not taken lightly) to concentrate the programme into two full days. As a result:
(i) we have lowered the conference registration by one-third from $800 to $568;
(ii) the sectoral streams will effectively be incorporated into the main conference, with sectoral suitability for sessions indicated on the programme;
(iii) delegates who previously would have attended for just the Wednesday will now have the opportunity to network with their peers in other sectors, and have the opportunity to hear from the interesting keynote plenary generic speakers and international leaders.
We believe this represents a good compromise for all parties and excellent value for money at $568 (plus gst, earlybird). This would simply not be possible if it were spread over three days.
SO HOW MUCH DOES THIS ALL COST?
With such a full programme there is bound to be times when you’ll want to be in more than one place at a time. To make it easier for you to send multiple delegates from your institution, without breaking the budget, we’ve put together a great conference rate package. Up until 11th July you can receive our special Earlybird rates:
| Earlybird Rates | Apply until 11th July 2009 |
| 2 Days | $568 +gst |
| Any 1 Day | $294 +gst |
And if you send multiple delegates to both days we have the following discounts available:
2nd Delegate 5% discount
3rd Delegate 15% discount
4th and subsequent Delegates 25% discount
For more information about special rates please see our conference website
If you have any questions about the conference please contact our Conference Convener.
Otherwise – Come and join us (ready or not!) and we will look forward to receiving your registration soon.
To view the draft programme please click HERE
E-news is a newsletter for the Export Education industry, compiled by Education New Zealand. You can access previous E-news newsletters on our website at www.educationnz.org.nz .
With Regards.
Education New Zealand
www.educationnz.org.nz