Kiwi Scholars tour India

by Suman Gupta 

New Delhi, January 2017: India is currently playing host to recipients of New Zealand’s Prime Minister Scholarship for Asia (PMSA). Two groups of students, one comprising nine Ara Institute of Canterbury business students, and another 20 Fashion, Textile and Business students from Massey University, are spending four to six weeks in India as part of this scholarship. PMSA is a prestigious programme funded by the New Zealand government and administered by Education New Zealand (ENZ). Over 750 scholarships have been awarded for study across Asian countries since 2013. PMSA is designed to encourage New Zealand students to study in Asian countries and experience the benefits of international education for themselves.

Speaking about the awards, John Laxon, Regional Director – South South East Asia and Middle East says, “These scholarships reinforce the New Zealand Government’s commitment to India and our education relationship. Building on New Zealand’s status as a top destination for Indian students, these scholarships are creating partnerships with prestigious Indian education institutions and between the future leaders of both countries. We congratulate the institutions and students on the success of these tours.”

Education New Zealand hosted nine PMSA recipients from Ara Institute of Canterbury at the New Zealand High Commission last week for an interactive session that was chaired by Acting High Commissioner, Suzannah Jessep. Also present at the interaction were faculty members from Jaipuria and Ara Institute. The business school scholars from Ara are spending six weeks attending series of classroom lectures at their Indian partners Jaipuria Institute of Management in Noida and KCT Business School, Coimbatore to develop a better understanding of the business environment in India, focusing on aspects like entrepreneurship and the Indian rural economy amongst others. Whilst in India they will also be visiting local business establishments, including dairies, textile mills and start-ups.

Earlier this week ENZ also hosted a project presentation at the New Zealand High Commission showcasing creations by 20 Massey University PMSA awardees and 20 creative arts students from National Institute of Fashion Technology (NIFT), New Delhi. The project titled ‘Closing the Loop’ reflects the circular economy strategy to phase out land filling of recyclable materials by 2025. Thus, the collection highlighted initial growing and sourcing of organic fabrics and dyes through the process of fabric creation and finally creating a New Zealand inspired organically sourced Indian fashion outfit. 

For the presentation students from both institutions worked in groups of four, with each group comprising of a mix of textile, fashion and business students, to produce an outfit made from sustainable and organic materials sourced in India along with a sustainable ‘business plan’ for their respective outfits.

In attendance at the event were senior faculty from Massey University and NIFT, New Delhi. 

Speaking at the event Sue Prescott, Senior Lecturer and Major Coordinator for Fashion Design at Massey University said, “Through studies in fashion supply chain, traditional fashion industry methods are challenged through team design and production project where innovative and sustainable thinking       culminates in a mini collection of garments addressing real world issues such as over-consumption, global warming, ethical production processes, social enterprise and artisanal craft survival.” 

About Prime Minister’s Scholarships for Asia  

PMSA aims to:

Strengthen New Zealand’s ability to engage with key Asian trading partners

Improve the international skills of the New Zealand workforce

Improve the internationalisation of New Zealand tertiary institutions

Increase international understanding of the strength and quality of New Zealand's education system

Establish connections between New Zealand and other countries through participants building lifelong friendships and networks

Strengthen New Zealanders' understanding of Asian cultures

About Education New Zealand:

Education New Zealand (ENZ) is New Zealand’s government agency for international education. ENZ works to grow awareness of New Zealand as a study destination and to support New Zealand education providers and businesses to take their services and products abroad.