Page 23 - StudyTravel Magazine July 2014 Issue

secondary

SeCondary FoCuS nZ oUTDooR EDUCATion

outdoor education

in new Zealand

Secondary schools in New Zealand are becoming more attractive to international students due to their
outdoor education programmes. Bethan Norris finds out more.

nternational students of all ages often students have been specifically attracted to essential that we, as schools, offer outdoor
choose to study in New Zealand the skiing and snowboarding opportunities education courses as this is what that
because of the outdoor activities on offered on Mount Ruapehu as part of our particular market wants to experience,” she
i offer in their free time. For those outdoor education programme and ski says. “The most popular nationalities at our
studying at a secondary school in the training squads.” school are German and Korean. They have
country, however, participating in outdoor While secondary schools in New not changed recently but there has also been
activities also enables them to gain credits Zealand attract a wide range of student an increase in the Chinese market.”
towards their final high school qualification. nationalities, particularly from the Asian At Tauranga Boys’ College, outdoor
“Like English or mathematics, outdoor region, Murdoch believes that interest education takes the form of regular weekend
education is a subject in our high schools,” among students in European countries for trips where students can undertake activities
says the website for Outdoor Education New the outdoor activity programme is growing. such as kayaking, surfing, mountain biking,
Zealand (ODENZ) www.outdoorednz.co.nz “There is greater interest from Germany and bushcraft skills, skiing, snowboarding,
– a marketing group of secondary schools now Norway and Italy are also becoming scuba diving, caving and rafting. Roff
established to promote themselves as a emphasises that outdoor education is just one
destination for young international students “We are unique in provid- of the school’s selling points. “Our school
ing these opportunities
wanting to experience outdoor education. is extremely popular with international
“Outdoor education programmes… build students, not just because of our outdoor
self-confidence and resilience, enabling within curriculum time” education programme, but also because we
participants to develop an understanding focus on academic achievement,” she says.
of group dynamics, interpersonal more active. I believe this is due to the Kerri Doy, International Student
communication and leadership qualities.” maturing of the sector in these markets and Director at Geraldine High School www.
At Waimea College www.waimea. the unique package New Zealand has to geraldinehs.school.nz in Geraldine, points
school.nz in Nelson, international students offer,” she explains. out that a quarter of their international
can take part in outdoor activities such Gerry Fennessy, Director of students enrol at the school because of its
as sailing, mountain biking, kayaking, International Students at Roncalli College outdoor education programme. “Currently
orienteering, river crossing, rock climbing www.roncalli.school.nz in Timaru, agrees we have more Japanese students than any
and bush walking. Diana Murdoch, Director that demand for outdoor education is other [nationality]. Most of our students
of International Students at the school, widening. “The biggest recent change for us return home to continue their studies.”
believes that the outdoor programme is a has been the students arriving from Italy, For some students, studying at a New
major attraction. “International students love Austria, Denmark, Sweden and so on. The Zealand high school is part of a short-term
studying in the Nelson/Tasman region and cultural mix results in great interactions, life experience, rather than because they
particularly enjoy Waimea College. Many understanding and friendships.” have long term plans for further studies.
of our international students from Europe Annette Roff, Director of International Fennessy says that this is often dependent
and Scandinavia come to Waimea College Students at Tauranga Boys’ College www. on nationality. “Typically, the European
because of our excellent and varied outdoor tbc.school.nz in Tauranga, says that the students return home to school while the
education programme.” outdoor education aspect of their school is a Asian students generally go on to university
Chris Long from Taumarunui High key area of attraction for German students. in New Zealand, Australia, the UK or at
School www.taumarunuihighschool.co.nz “For certain markets like Germany, it is home,” he says. bethan@hothousemedia.com
says that outdoor education offers a unique
selling point for secondary schools in New
International marketing
Zealand. “We are unique in providing these
When it comes to explaining the concept of outdoor education to international agents, diana Murdoch
opportunities within curriculum time,” he
from Waimea College in nelson says that there is no substitute for personal experience. “the best way
PHotoS: tauranga BoyS’ College says. “We are unique in the world in being outdoor education and individual agents”.
is for agents to visit and experience the outdoors first hand,” she says. Murdoch adds that the school
is also a member of outdoor education new zealand (odenz), “an export network group focussing on
able to offer exposure to remote bush and
mountain environments, unspoilt beaches
Chris long from taumarunui High School agrees that face-to-face meetings with agents ensure
and magnificent wilderness adventures
that they have a thorough understanding of the nature of the outdoor education programme on offer at
– all on our doorstep.” The school has
the school. “Many of our long-term partners have a very solid understanding of what this entails,” he
says. the school is also a member of odenz and long believes that this is very helpful for marketing
only recently developed an international
purposes. “Being a member of odenz is an essential marketing tool as the agents we work with have a
programme and Long adds, “We currently
longstanding relationship with all of our schools and have a clear understanding of the outside education
have three Japanese students and will be
opportunities that we all offer,” he says.
taking our first Europeans in July. These
july 2014 | Study travel Magazine | 21