Wellington has become the destination of choice for smart, agile and creative students from around the world. New Zealand’s ‘coolest little capital’ is a haven for students seeking an authentic Kiwi experience, great employment prospects and a great lifestyle. The city is small enough to encompass the warm hospitality New Zealand is well-known for, but also embodies a vibrant, energetic city feel with plenty of events, activities and opportunities. And now more and more international students are landing their dream jobs in Wellington after coming there to study. Top jobs Wellington boasts the highest average salaries of all New Zealand…

Science and Innovation Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced the winners of New Zealand’s most valuable and prestigious annual science awards, the Prime Minister’s Science Prizes. “The Prime Minister’s Science Prizes celebrate scientific achievement, highlight the impact science has on New Zealanders’ lives, and aim to attract more young people into science careers,” Mr Goldsmith says. “The awards were introduced to raise the profile and prestige of science careers and previous winners have become excellent ambassadors for science here in New Zealand and overseas. “A prominent part of the Government’s science strategy is encouraging more engagement with science and technology…

  Finance Minister Steven Joyce, and Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith have welcomed the release of the Productivity Commission’s report New models of tertiary education. “We would like to acknowledge the Commission’s time and effort in considering this issue, and the wide engagement of the tertiary sector in the inquiry,” Mr Joyce says. “We share the Commission’s commitment to further improving the way that tertiary education delivers relevant skills for New Zealanders, and will review the recommendations and opportunities identified in the report.” “The Government will carefully consider the Commission’s recommendations over the coming months. We have…

The University of Auckland and Victoria University of Wellington have been successful in their bids to host new Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs), Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has announced today at an event at Victoria University. The CAPEs will be cross-institutional centres of excellence specialising in the language, culture, politics and economics of countries or groups of countries within the Asia-Pacific region. “They are an important and strategic investment in New Zealand’s future. So much of our trade, tourism and migration is focused on the Asia-Pacific region. It makes sense to deepen our understanding of it,”…

British engineer and inventor James Dyson has announced he is increasing his brand's UK presence tenfold with the opening of a second campus. Dyson made the announcement today at the company's global headquarters on the outskirts of Malmesbury, a historic market town in Wiltshire, southwest England. The new campus will sit on 517 acres of space nearby, on former Ministry of Defence land at Hullavington. Dyson has said this will expand the company's UK footprint tenfold. "After 25 years of UK growth, and continuing expansion globally, we are fast outgrowing our Malmesbury Campus," said James Dyson. "The 517 acre Hullavington…

Nominations are now open for the 2017 New Zealand Youth Awards, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today. “These awards recognise and celebrate young New Zealanders who have achieved outstanding results, as well as those who have made a significant contribution towards supporting young people in their communities,” says Ms Kaye. Up to 50 people and organisations across eight different award categories will be recognised in 2017. “The categories this year celebrate qualities such as leadership, giving back and being a change maker, as well as young people who have supported youth activities in areas such as the arts, culture, sport…

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister, Paul Goldsmith, has today introduced the Education (Tertiary Education and Other Matters) Amendment Bill to Parliament. The Bill is designed to update legislation that affects the everyday running of tertiary education organisations. “This Bill will allow for more flexibility in the tertiary funding framework, and improve accountability in return,” Mr Goldsmith says. “The government has already improved the monitoring of tertiary organisations in response to recent investigations, and the proposals in this Bill will allow for better information collection and oversight of providers.” A number of changes are also being made to expand student…

An investment of over $270,000 in the technology mentoring programme Shadow Tech Days will help it inspire more young women into technology related careers, Youth Minister Nikki Kaye announced today. “This programme, run by NZ Tech, connects participants with women working in the tech sector, as well as women studying technology at a tertiary level,” says Ms Kaye. “By spending a day in the workforce, participants get to experience first-hand what it’s like to work in a technology role. “Ongoing mentoring and advice is also provided through contact with a tertiary student, to help participants progress their studies towards a…

Vacuum and electronics giant Dyson is expanding its pool of software engineers, with the "majority" of its recruits set to work in the UK. The company is on the hunt for 110 new staff as part of plans to hire an additional 3,000 engineers globally by 2021. A Dyson spokesman confirmed the "majority" of the 110 positions will be based in Britain at its Malmesbury campus in Wiltshire and the Dyson software hub in Bristol. Others will be recruited to Dyson's operations in Singapore, the spokesman said. To help in its hiring spree, the company is launching a "pop-up" in…

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today announced the latest round of successful recipients of the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Asia (PMSA). A total of 156 New Zealand students have been selected to study, carry out internships or conduct research at top institutions throughout Asia as part of the first 2016/17 scholarship round. Successful applications came from universities, institutes of technology and polytechnics, and private training establishments. “The PMSA is designed to encourage New Zealand students to study in Asian countries and experience the benefits of international education for themselves. “Since the establishment of the PMSA programme…

Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Paul Goldsmith has today named the first students to receive a Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America (PMSLA). Thirty seven top students from across New Zealand have been chosen for the first round of 2016/17 scholarships, with a total value of $250,000. “The new scholarships aim to introduce more young New Zealanders to Latin American countries and cultures, as well as build connections that will benefit New Zealand into the future. “Latin America is becoming increasingly important to our nation from a trade and enterprise perspective. International education experiences help young Kiwis develop cultural…