NZ Government taps into international education market

The New Zealand Government has announced it will be investing in new growth initiatives in the international education industry, including a number of education technology products for the US and Asian markets.

Steven Joyce, Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister, says the government will invest almost $450,000 in co-funding through Education New Zealand, towards 12 new growth initiatives in the international education industry.

Successful recipients for this fourth round of the International Education Growth Fund (IEGF) include South Pacific Press, who will build on its CSI Literacy resources by developing and marketing a new online solve-as-you read literacy series, and Biozone International, who will promote sales of new science resources for schools in the United States.

Joyce says, "Nearly half of the successful applications to this round of the fund are for initiatives involving education technology products and services for the United States and Asian markets.

"New Zealand is home to an innovative and talented ICT industry and teaming this expertise with our high-quality education is a key step towards further growing the value of international education for the country.

"While it is pleasing to see international student numbers are at the highest level they've been in four years, it is equally important we tap into the opportunities presented by delivering our expertise offshore," he says.

Joyce says a good example of this is Massey University's 'oiled wildlife emergency response training programme', which will be developed and exported through Massey Worldwide, the distance and online learning platform.

He says, "The international education sector is performing very strongly and while we need to maintain this momentum in key markets, we must also accelerate the export of our education technology and services expertise."

Education providers and business can apply for matched funding up to $50,000 from the International Education Growth Fund which is administered by Education New Zealand. In this latest round, 50 applications were received.

For more information on the International Education Growth Fund click here.