Reflections on NZIEC 2017

Reflections on NZIEC 2017
Terry McGrath, Acting President, ISANA NZ

ISANA NZ was enlisted as a programme partner for NZIEC 2017 to provide eight breakout stream presentations to focus on issues that impact on the pastoral care and well-being of international students. ISANA NZ also set up an information booth to showcase the work of ISANA NZ and provide a connection point for delegates.

​NZIEC 2017, held on 22-23 August, was an excellent and a very well-organised conference with over 700 delegates drawn from all areas of international education in New Zealand. 500 or so of those delegates connected with ISANA NZ  in some way, mostly through attending a breakout session but also with discussions at the booth and with the ISANA executive committee and association members present in the conference. A lot of remarks were given in passing about the great backdrop picture we had chosen for our booth - happy international students enjoying the experience of study in NZ - which contrasted greatly with the information laden backdrops in many other booths.  ​

ISANA NZ execs Anne, Gabrielle and Viv against the backdrop of our booth, engaged in serious discussion: “Have you tried the ice cream they are giving away?”

This picture, I believe, encapsulated the point of difference characteristic of ISANA NZ’s contribution to international education in New Zealand. This difference is about ensuring those of us who work in the sector work well together to provide our international student body an excellent experience in their sojourn, learning, living and post-academic transitions. Post-academic transitions are especially important in preparing students for good outcomes in term of job satisfaction, readjusting back to their home countries, or preparing them to enter the New Zealand workforce. But beyond that, providing such support profiles New Zealand as a great destination for study. Many who come to study here go on in life as ambassadors for the experience of living and study in New Zealand.

The team of ISANA NZ connected with delegates at the booth, during sessions and over meals, but most visibly during the ISANA-led breakout sessions. The topics our breakout sessions covered included diversity, demographic trends, critical incidents, pastoral care, cross-cultural skills, and ensuring our campuses are truly internationalised and friendly spaces. Conversations afterwards not only touched these topics, but also reiterated the importance of ISANA NZ as a professional organisation. Delegates who dropped by our booth indicated their isolation in their jobs and shared their areas of need in terms of professional development. Many others gave us the thumbs up to our role and attested to the value ISANA NZ had provided them in earlier times and even now.

My main learning point from NZIEC 2017 was this: It is really great to be working closely with others to ensure we have a great international education industry. While it is rewarding to be involved in ISANA, we also need to continue to develop roles people play within the organisation. Looking forward into 2018, our mantra will be partnership for well-being.