Shanghai Expo: New Zealand Education Week

Mica Yao
Client Relations Manager, New Zealand

Anyone in China will tell you that the biggest thing happening this year is easily the World Expo in Shanghai. As Client Relations Manager for New Zealand, I was fortunate enough to be able to recently attend the Expo for New Zealand Education Week.

In 2000, New Zealand’s international education industry grew significantly. These numbers have unfortunately slumped since 2004, but we are pleased to see that international student intake is once again increasing. This is largely because of the lifestyle and living opportunities available there. 

Over 100 industry specialists participated in New Zealand International Education Week, including institutions and recruiters, as well as other stakeholders, like Tourism New Zealand and Air New Zealand. Together we met and exchanged ideas about promoting New Zealand in the China market. Personally, I think that a study tour promoting areas of New Zealand outside of Auckland would be very successful. I would also like to see more Chinese attend high school in New Zealand, because I believe these state-organised schools provide an exceptional but affordable learning opportunity for young students.

I was very excited to get to attend a cocktail function, as well, hosted by the New Zealand Minister of Education Hon Anne Tolly and New Zealand’s Minister of Tertiary Education, Hon Steven Joyce. They started the evening off by sharing with us their strong belief in the future of New Zealand as a high-quality international education provider. Among these leaders and my peers at the Expo, it was clear that we’re all very confident New Zealand will continue to increase in success and visibility in a market often overshadowed by larger countries.