Reflecting on my first month at the University of Waikato, and attending New Zealand International Education Conference Ki Tua.

My mind has been blown away daily since joining the University of Waikato (the University) a month ago. I am overwhelmed by the passion of colleagues and hearing about the experiences of international students at the University.

I read Senior Lecturer Susan Olivia’s research on improving health outcomes in Indonesia, and explored Associate Professor Sonja Ellis’s research in the field of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Intersex, and Queer (LGBTIQ) Psychology. I attended a Te Aka Mātuatua (School of Science) morning tea to welcome postgraduate students, where I got to meet and hear about their work.

I engaged with Chinese and Vietnamese students who are at the University completing their degrees or are in short study abroad programmes. I also casually engaged with domestic students and heard about the value and connections they draw from engaging with international students and academics.

All engagements and conversations are invigorating, further igniting my motivation to collaborate with a range of people within the University to achieve greater connections and outcomes for all of us.

On 7 and 8 August, the University of Waikato attended the Aotearoa New Zealand International Education Conference (NZIEC) Ki Tua (To the Future) in Te Whanganui-a-Tara (Wellington). Presentations and workshops at NZIEC touched on student experience, transnational education, student recruitment, marketing, and transnational education. This year, the country of honour was India, and there was a big mic drop for conference delegates—keep reading.

It was very fitting that ten representatives from the University attended, each with their own perspective and desire to learn and innovate in international education. We individually and collectively engaged with our stakeholders from government agencies, education agents, EdTech companies, and peers from other universities and education institutions.

Senior Deputy Vice-Chancellor Alister Jones spoke on a panel on “New Zealand’s Path to Recovering and Thriving in China”. He reflected on the successes of our Transnational Education initiatives in China with the Joint Institute with Hangzhou City University, and our programme at Hainan University. He also commented on the value and perspectives that Chinese students bring to our university.

Prior to Covid, International Education was New Zealand’s fifth-largest export earner (NZ$3.9 billion) and supported 6,000 jobs. International students contributed to the order of $6 billion in the form of labour supply and productivity to New Zealand’s GDP in both 2019 and 2022. (

Conference speakers made sure to focus on what matters the most: the personal journey and experience of students. We were reminded of our collective responsibility to support their journey and ensure their future success, whether they go back home or stay on.

There are numerous inspiring international students’ stories at the University of Waikato. For example, Roberta Marcoli moved from Italy to complete her PhD in Biological Science, and Nathan Carrasco moved from India to complete his Bachelor of Management. Their experiences are a testament to our commitment to international education and global citizenship, which are cornerstones of more vibrant communities, innovative ideas, and the promise of a better tomorrow for New Zealand and the world.

I escaped one plenary session at NZIEC to attend an online meeting, and as the meeting started, I saw a sizable delegation of Indian officials going up the escalators. At the helm of the delegation was India’s President Droupadi Murmu, who was heading into the conference to deliver a keynote address. President Murmu was on a three-day state visit to New Zealand.

In her keynote address, President Murmu saluted the 8,000 Indian students who are in New Zealand seeking quality and innovative education. She also said that "The incorporation of Māori culture and language in the curriculum not only contributed to its preservation but also enriched the country's educational environment.” We can take pride in the University’s commitment to embedding Mātauranga Māori in the programmes we offer to students and our continued efforts to embed Te Tiriti o Waitangi Principles in the very fabric of the University.

Next year, it will be twenty years since I completed my Master’s with a one-year exchange programme at the Indian Institute of Management in Lucknow. My international education experience set me on the path that led to joining the University of Waikato team.

I feel a great deal of gratitude to have been given the opportunity to energetically and enthusiastically work towards the University’s goal to be increasingly connected to the world for the benefit of our students, our staff, and New Zealand.

I look forward to a continuous stream of enlightening meetings and conversations. I look forward to hearing your personal journey, your research, your work at the University, your relationships in New Zealand and overseas, your ambitions and passions, and how you enable yourself, your colleagues, and students to thrive.

He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!

What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, it is people, it is people

Feel free to reach out on Teams or email, and let’s kōrero.

[1] https://www.enz.govt.nz/news-and-research/ed-news/report-concludes-international-education-can-recover-and-grow