According to Education New Zealand (ENZ), as of the first 8 months of 2023, more than 1,000 Vietnamese students were studying in New Zealand. The majority are enrolled in universities, and nearly 300 students in secondary school. This indicates that Vietnam has become a potential destination for New Zealand to promote education and strengthen cooperation.

ENZ has been building a strategy to raise awareness of New Zealand's educational offerings here in Vietnam. Ben Burrowes said: “Recently, Vietnamese students can seek/explore opportunities through the New Zealand School Scholarships (NZSS). This government scholarship is co-funded by Education New Zealand and a selection of our New Zealand secondary schools. It is an initiative where Vietnamese students in grades 8 – 10 can apply for and receive 50% off their tuition fees in their first year of study. We chose Vietnam because we believe the country is an important partner for us, and we've seen tremendous success among Vietnamese students who studied in New Zealand.”

“We also have the Manaaki scholarships, which are at the postgraduate level. With this scholarship, Vietnamese students can come to New Zealand fully funded by New Zealand government and study in an area that Vietnam needs skilled workers and New Zealand can provide that skill,” he added.

One of the notable upcoming events about New Zealand education in Vietnam that ENZ mentioned is the annual New Zealand Education Day, which is scheduled for October this year. These fairs will be organized in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, featuring over 40 New Zealand education organizations who will speak directly to prospective students and their parents about the opportunities that are on offer in New Zealand. Students and parents attending the fairs will also have the opportunities to meet New Zealand alumni and hear about their first-hand experiences in New Zealand. Immigration New Zealand will be present to discuss policies on student visas as well as post-graduation opportunities.

“That's our big flagship initiative to promote New Zealand on a large scale. Additionally, we work closely with our education agents here in Vietnam. We have a dedicated group of education agents who have long promoted and maintained direct relationships with our schools, universities, and polytechnics. ENZ works with these education agents to update them with the latest information about studying in New Zealand”, said Ben Burrowes. “ENZ also partners with universities in Vietnam to deliver dual degrees. We also work with the Ministry of Education Training in Vietnam, the Department of Education and Training in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi to explore opportunities to help upskill Vietnamese learners in areas that New Zealand has expertise in.”

“We are currently developing a university sector strategy for Vietnam. Our individual universities are also investing more in Southeast Asia region, particularly Vietnam. For example, University of Otago has just announced their scholarships for 2025, including a brand-new scholarship worth up to 35,000 New Zealand dollars. This is the biggest scholarship ever offered by an individual university,” he added.

There are many compelling reasons for Vietnamese students to choose New Zealand as an oversea studying destination.

According to the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings (2024), New Zealand universities are ranked the first in the world for sustainability stewardship, and the second for sustainability outreach.

Doan Bao Chau, New Zealand alumna, Communications Manager at NGO "Room to Read", said: “New Zealand has valued sustainable education in this country for a long time. I started studying in New Zealand in 2015 after receiving the Manaaki scholarship. I chose to study for a master's degree in communication and social change at Unitec Institute of Technology because I wanted to contribute to community and social change. When I came to New Zealand, I had a wonderful experience filled with love and respect for nature here.”

Tran The Trung, Head of Learning & Development at Nutifood, said: “Studying in New Zealand was a great experience. The country supported me a lot during the time when I studied there, especially in terms of health support. More importantly, I encountered no discrimination in New Zealand as an international student.”

New Zealand really attracted Vietnamese students in a very unique and welcoming manner, making them feel right at home. With increasing awareness of New Zealand educational offerings, ENZ hopes to see more Vietnamese students coming to New Zealand for study at all levels.

“Hence, Vietnam is a vital partner for us, and this importance will only grow in the years coming,” Ben confirmed.