WITT welcomes international agents

A recent visit by three international agents is a promising sign of growing global interest in the Taranaki region and the local education sector, says Allie Hemara-Wahanui, Director of Demand Management.

The agents visited secondary and tertiary training institutions and spent two hours at WITT where they were officially welcomed with a pōwhiri by kaimahi and ākonga.

“It was especially touching during the pōwhiri when staff spoke to two of the agents in their indigenous language,” Allie says.

Kaimahi talked about the programmes, the superb teaching facilities and support WITT provides outside the classroom.  Two international ākonga from India, Jerin Reji and Suhail Walia, enrolled on the New Zealand Diploma in Construction (Quantity Surveying), shared their experiences of study at WITT and life in Taranaki.

The agents recruit ākonga for the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, France, Germany, the UK, and Brazil.

“Since the start of the pandemic, we’ve noticed an increase in German and Swiss families coming to Australia for sabbaticals and English language courses,” Katrin Hilberath, one of the agents said. “I believe the Whanganui and Taranaki region would be appealing to them as well due to the lower cost of living compared to larger cities, as well as the family-friendly environment and beautiful landscape.”

Lifestyle and local culture - as well as education and accommodation - were especially important for students, says Luana Silveira da Silva, another of the agents.

Venture Taranaki coordinated the visit, which included Pacific International Hotel Management School (PIHMS), New Plymouth Girls’ High School (NPGHS), and a tour of local areas as well as tasting the cuisine at Novotel and Okurukuru Winery.  

Caption:

Visiting international agents at WITT, (from left) Luana Silveira da Silva, Sean Markham (Venture Taranaki, Katrin Hilberath and Ben Ryan Ybanez.