Led by Kshitij Garg, founder of Estero Education Services – a New Zealand-based company promoting the country’s institutions to prospective students – in early December the delegation connected with five top universities including:
- The University of Auckland
- The University of Canterbury
- The University of Waikato
- The University of Otago
- Victoria University of Wellington.
Representatives from Indian institutions such as Parul University, Manav Rachna International Institute of Research and Studies, and Vidyalankar School of International Education connected with their peers from New Zealand on student and faculty mobility and internships.
As a marker of greater collaboration between the two countries, the group also met with representatives from both the New Zealand and Indian high commissions.
Dr Preeti Nair, director of international relations and research at Parul University, noted that the tour was a good way to highlight the best bits of New Zealand’s higher education institutions, as well as “opportunities for collaboration”.
“Engaging with university leaders, Education New Zealand, and the High Commissions was invaluable, and the cultural insights added a rich dimension to the visit,” he added.
Garg said the trip marked “an important step in our journey to create deeper connections between India and New Zealand”.
In the past year, Estero has helped Indian institutions connect with their global peers through over 30 articulation agreements, under which over 25 students are now studying in New Zealand.
“We are excited to advance these collaborations and create more opportunities for global education,” added Garg.
The students were highly satisfied with the quality of education and their experiences at these universities, which has made us feel more confident about student experiences in New Zealand
Shweta Apte, Vidyalankar Group of Educational Institutes
Shweta Apte, CEO of global pathway partners at the Vidyalankar Group of Educational Institutes, said that the trip was “a strategically valuable experience”.
“Meeting our students who transferred to the University of Canterbury, Victoria University of Wellington, and Waikato University through GCA agreements was especially rewarding,” she continued.
“The students were highly satisfied with the quality of education and their experiences at these universities, which has made us feel more confident about student experiences in New Zealand.”
The delegation’s trip aligns with India’s ongoing efforts under its National Education Policy, which seeks to position the country as a global hub for higher education and internationalisation.
