Enhancing the International Education Interface

Education New Zealand Press Release

25/08/04

Enhancing the International Education Interface

Free training for those in the community and businesses interacting with international students is being offered through the "4Winds: Connecting International Students with New Zealand" project. This project is funded through the International Export Education levy, and involves developing training materials and making them freely available to training managers within a large variety of organizations throughout the country.

"The tens of thousand of international students who study each year in New Zealand have a huge impact on services, community groups, sports clubs, and businesses. It is only sensible that the education industry give something back to the community by helping them better work with these students and adapt their services to better meet the needs of these international clients" said Rob Stevens, Chief Executive of Education New Zealand.

International students contribute over $2bn to New Zealand's economy every year, and contribute about 5% of consumer spending. Businesses, community groups and services everywhere have noticed the presence of these students. The 4Winds training material provides nearly six hours of workshop material to help these groups improve their services and broaden their client base.

"This really is a win-win situation” says Dr John Pickering, a director of the company, ie Limited, that has developed the material. “Students are better understood and catered for and businesses and services will have more, and more satisfied, clients and customers. And for those who believe that there is no such thing as a free lunch - well, they even get a free lunch with this!”

John Pickering concludes: “All that is needed is for the training managers to register for a no-cost one day course to introduce them to the material - but they better be quick as there are limited places."

Registrations can be made on www.ie-nz.com/4Winds.html or email 4Winds@ie-nz.com for more information.

ENDS

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