Industry Strategy a major step forward

Wednesday 18/08/04

Industry Strategy a major step forward for International Education

‘The completion and release of a national industry wide strategy is a giant leap for the International Education industry in New Zealand’ said Robert Stevens, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand. ‘The industry is speaking with one voice, united around a joint set of goals and objectives. The Strategy is both a keystone in the future development of international education, and a sure sign of an industry that has matured and evolved to meet the complex challenges of the global education environment’.

The Industry-Wide Strategy on International Education for New Zealand was launched by the Hon. David Caygill, Chairman of the Education New Zealand Trust, on the eve of the Education New Zealand Conference in Auckland. The strategy document sets out a vision for international education, and articulates a set of goals, objectives and actions that will lead to the realisation of that vision.

‘This Strategy is the culmination of a considerable amount of work by a committed team of industry representatives’ said Robert Stevens. ‘Highly experienced people from all sectors of the industry contributed to a series of workshops that developed a broad industry vision and worked through the ramifications of that. The process was an excellent example of cross sector co-operation and demonstrated an industry cohesiveness that bodes well for the future.’

‘The contributors were particularly keen that this strategy should be goal focussed, and have a set of actions and objectives’ said Robert Stevens. ‘There was no interest in a sterile document, or in a mass of verbiage that had no real focus or meaning. This strategy is an action strategy. It will both give guidance to institutions, and also inform Government and other vital industry stakeholders as to industries focus and priorities.’

‘This strategy represents both the end of one journey, and the beginning of another’ said Robert Stevens. ‘In an industry as dynamic as international education, any strategy must evolve to stay relevant and meet industry needs. Having started down this road, the industry will not be consigning the strategy to a dusty drawer. Instead, it will continually review, reappraise, and revitalise the strategy to meet the challenges of the future.’

ENDS

© Scoop Media