Educators from New Zealand and Australia met with agents and exhibitors for the two-day ICEF Australia New Zealand Agent (ANZA) workshop in Queensland, New Zealand last month.
The Australasia-focused workshop provides agents with the opportunity to speak directly to education providers – including providers of work-travel programmes – such as gap years, internships, volunteer experiences and au pair placements.
“The agents were very professional. They had done their homework and knew about my school,” said Jenny Ellis, principal of New Plymouth Girls’ High School in New Zealand.
With 105 institutions, 12 work and travel organisations, 45 exhibitors and 149 ICEF-screened agents from 31 countries in attendance, it was said to be the largest ICEF event held in Australasia.
In addition to networking events, industry talks and courses on building successful relationships with agents, participants enjoyed ICEF-organised social activities in the city known as New Zealand’s “adventure capital”. Some delegates even braved a bungee jump, one of the adventure sports for which Queenstown is renowned.
“This was my first time in New Zealand and I think this is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to,” said Phan Minh Phong from Vietnamese agency AU UC My International Education Investment Joint Stock Company. “I was able to maximise each of my meetings and the contact I had with educators. I am sure I will send more Vietnamese students to New Zealand.”
ICEF is one of the largest companies representing international student recruitment globally. Its workshops are closed to the public and allow for pre-scheduled one-to-one business meetings between educators and agents.
The 2013 ANZA workshop will be held in Australia.
