Message from the CEO
The thoughts and hearts of all of the Education New Zealand team go out to the people of Christchurch, and in particular the international students and export education industry people that have been affected by the earthquake. We are shocked and deeply saddened at the tragic loss of life from New Zealand’s international education community. Last week I visited Christchurch and met with institutions to offer Education New Zealand’s support at this terribly sad and distressing time. To those institutions - we stand with you at this time of great loss.
Kia kaha.
Rob Stevens
Earthquake updates
We are all beginning to absorb the terrible events of the February 22 earthquake in Christchurch, and to understand the effect it is having, and will continue to have, on the export education industry locally and throughout New Zealand.
Education New Zealand has been working over the past fortnight with government agencies and industry members to help facilitate communication and support the affected institutions, families and students in the immediate aftermath of the earthquake.
Looking forward, we have attended meetings with government and with industry members from Christchurch to look at ways in which we can continue to support the industry. One initiative is outlined in our PACE 2011 Update below. However, there will be further support needed which we are discussing both internally and externally.
Our industry website features a page of helpful links and information for industry and education agents, which we are updating as new information becomes available. The page is located HERE.
As an added resource for institutions wishing to review best practice in the event of a disaster, or looking for a reference for the current situation, we have made the Critical Incidents portion of our resources for Supporting International Students available HERE.
Immigration Benchmarking Report
Last year Education New Zealand commissioned an update to our 2008 Immigration Policy Benchmarking research by Martin Jenkins & Associates. With major changes in immigration policy in some of our main competitor countries (such as the UK and Australia) it was timely to take another look at how our own policies and settings compare with those of our competitors.
The full report is available on our Research & Resources website HERE (login required).
As noted in the 21 February E-News, the Department of Labour recently published a report regarding the settlement experiences of international students in New Zealand. The report is available HERE.PACE 2011 Update
To further our support of Christchurch institutions who wish to maintain an offshore marketing presence in the short to medium term, Education New Zealand is offering them to opportunity to participate in PACE events free of charge for the rest of 2011.
While we recognise than some institutions will prefer to focus on recovery for the next several months, others have expressed a desire to demonstrate that Christchurch will continue to welcome international students, and that many parts of the city are ready and able to host those students right now.
The full list of upcoming PACE events is available HERE.
New Zealand Education Fairs, Thailand, 9 – 13 June 2011
A flagship marketing event for 2011, the two fairs and the Networking Functions provide plenty of opportunities for marketers to raise their profile, recruit students, and develop relationships with active agents and relevant education officials in this important market. Last year’s New Zealand Education Fairs in Thailand were cancelled due to the unsettled political environment. In 2009 over 3,000 visitors attended the events, keen to check out options for studying in New Zealand. The dates for 2011 are:
Networking Function & Briefing (Bangkok) – Thursday 9 June
Networking Function (Chiang Mai) – Friday 10 June
New Zealand Education Fair, Chiang Mai – Saturday 11 June (only a few spaces left)
New Zealand Education Fair, Bangkok – Sunday 12 June
Places are booking up fast and booth space is limited in Chiang Mai, so we recommend registering as soon as possible.
Registrations close Friday 1 April 2011
To register and for further information please click HERE. The 2009 Final Event Report and the Thailand Market Profile are available HERE. (You will need to be logged into the site to access this information).
Alternatively, contact Rahael.
1. Those who are travelling to the New Zealand Education Fairs in Thailand may want to consider two agent run Fairs that are taking place the following weekend. The events detailed below are not part of the PACE Programme, so they won’t be coordinated by ENZ. Those interested would be best to contact the agents directly:The only Thai NZSA Agent based in Kohn Kaen, Excite Education, is organising an international Study Overseas Fair on Saturday 18 June 2011. Participants from Australia, USA, UK, Canada and New Zealand have been invited. Detailed information including full contact details can be downloaded HERE.
2. Cambodian based Agency, StudyPlus, is organising an International Education Exhibition at the National Institution of Education in Phnom Penh on Saturday 18 June, with a briefing session on Friday 17th. This event is likely to attract students that are interested in tertiary study, attendance is most relevant for universities or ITPs that have pathways to university courses. Detailed information and contact details can be downloaded HERE and HERE.
New Zealand Educated Brand Consultation – Final Report
In line with good brand practice, ENZ and brand advisers BRR Ltd held a series of brand workshops and interviews with the various educational sector groups to review the brand initiatives, check their current validity and determine whether any changes were justified. The Summary Report has just been completed and is available online HERE. A limited number of hard copies are available to those who participated, and can be sent out by request..
Although no significant recommendations for change were received via the consultation, a few minor adjustments to the brand are now underway and we hope to consider a project to improve accessibility and ease of industry brand use in the new financial year.
International Student of the Year Competition Extended
There’s still time to nominate your outstanding international students in our International Student of the Year competition. Due to events in Christchurch we have extended the nomination deadline to 21 April (just before Easter weekend.)
We’re looking for students in each sector who are:
-excelling in their studies
-participating in institution and community events and activities
-and really throwing themselves into Kiwi culture and experiences.
The winner from each sector will receive a fantastic trip with Flying Kiwi Adventure Tours and a winner’s certificate. And the Grand Prize winner chosen from all of the sector winners will also receive a fabulous Kiwi barbeque at their institution for up to 200 students and staff.
But there’s also something in it for you – each institution with a sector winner will receive on free registration to the 2011 New Zealand International Education Conference in Auckland.
Entries can be made on our website HERE and nominations will now close on April 21.
Spread the word to others at your institution by printing out this flyer.
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