Where are they now? 5 questions and answers with an Otago alumni.
There is no shortage of information on what universities can offer prospective international students in regards to programme choice, entrance requirements, accommodation and lifestyle, but once you have reached your goal and walked the stage to receive your hard earned degree or diploma, what next? Life doesn’t end when your course ends, it is just the beginning! We decided to catch up with University of Otago alumni Joyce Zhang to find out where she is, what she is doing, and her thoughts on what it is like to be an international student studying at Otago.
University of Otago alumni Joyce Zhang pictured outside our famous clocktower.
What did you study and why?
I studied English at the University of Otago Language Centre and Foundation Year UOLCFY and then studied telecommunication (Postgraduate Diploma in Science) in information science department which is on the ninth, tenth and eleventh floors of the Otago Business School building. It was the same major as my Bachelor degree, everyone in my bachelor class in China pursued a higher degree as we believe it will lead to better employability. I thought ‘why not improve my English along with a higher qualification’ so I decided to go overseas.
Where are you now?
I am working as a China Representative for the University of Otago and I am based in Guangzhou, China. I look after student recruitment and partnership engagement in the China market for the Otago University International Office (which I am very proud of – it is a dream for me to work for my university 😊).
Joyce Zhang pictured here with Regional Marketing Manager for China, Dan Prain at an Education NZ Fair in Beijing, China last month.
Fondest memory of Otago
My fondest memory of Otago was my international friendships – you never lose them even though you’re not in the same country. A Japanese girl I met in Language Centre helped me a lot to improve my oral English so I achieved IELTS 7 in speaking after only 1 month of my arrival in NZ. A Korean girl with a working holiday visa invited me to visit her in Seoul two years ago, and we went to Shanghai Disneyland this March. I also met a nice couple from Denmark who studied as exchange students and we visited the Dunedin Chinese Garden and went skiing together. I am so proud of all these friendships and value them as treasures in my life… I know that I will never forget them and that they will never forget me and we keep in touch on social media.
Joyce Zhang (pictured second from the left) at the Dunedin Chinese Garden with other postgraduate students she met and made friendships with whilst studying at Otago.
What advice would you provide for incoming international students about Otago?
Make friends and experience as much as you can. You might worry about your English, safety about travelling and all sorts of stuff, but please don’t stop exploring. Join in peer programmes, language exchange programmes, mentee and mentor programmes. There are many kinds of useful programmes designed for international students that will give you real engagement and help you become a true Otago student.
And just because we like to keep things a little bit light hearted, we thought we would throw in a random question…….
If you were on a deserted island and could only bring three things, what would you bring and why?
Hmmm water, food and… a boyfriend??!! Even if I was isolated, I can still be alive and enjoy every min as long as I can! 😊
If you want to maximise your employment opportunities with further study, want to improve your English speaking and make life long friendships, be like Joyce and find out more about studying at Otago!
Nicky Richardson is an International Marketing Coordinator at the University of Otago. With degrees in music and marketing, she is a recent graduate of Otago herself – she loves Otago so much she ended up getting a job here!
5 reasons why studying in NZ is a smart choice!
On a previous blog this month we discussed the 5 main reasons we believe Dunedin is an awesome place to be, but now we’re looking a little bit wider and we want to talk about our top 5 reasons that make New Zealand a great place to study and get qualified!
An Otago degree opens doors around the world, and graduation day is a day that Otago likes to celebrate.
When you choose New Zealand as your study destination you’re making a smart choice because you will receive a world-class education, and don’t just take our word for it! All eight of New Zealand’s universities including the University of Otago are in the top 3% in the world. Something that sets us apart here at Otago is the personalised and practical approach to learning and teaching. Students get hands on experience from research led teaching so the information they are receiving is the very latest, studying at Otago means you are always on the edge of what is known and what is being discovered. The other major point to make is that New Zealand university qualifications are recognised and respected globally meaning it can open career pathways and doors for you around the world.
Mountain biking high above the Otago Peninsula, Dunedin.
New Zealand is insanely beautiful. Like, yes……RIDICULOUS…. The Lord of the Rings was filmed here. Need I say more. Of course, we still have some larger cities that aren’t quite as pristine, but you needn’t travel far geographically in New Zealand to find yourself in a picture book paradise. And alongside this, is the opportunity to get into the outdoors and experience a lifestyle that is truly freedom. And we aren’t all just paddocks and flocks of sheep, yes, you will definitely find that here, but we have become a lot more sophisticated over the last decade or so and developed our own unique New Zealand sense of café culture, art, food and fashion.
Students feel safe, with a sense of personal freedom as they walk around the Otago University campus.
We have always been a very safe country. In fact, we are the world’s second most peaceful country (Global Peace Index, 2017). And the concept of safety if you are a born and bred New Zealander is just something that we have taken for granted. We are used to feeling safe, and up until the digital age we were probably somewhat blissfully ignorant that many parts of the world are going through, and have been living in turmoil through war and unrest. So the decision to bring yourself to the other side of the world means you want to know that you are not coming into danger.
Lower cost of living and a perception that you are getting good value for money is a recurrent theme amongst international students.
Money! Having interviewed countless international students on their motivations to come and study at Otago University, it is clear for many that money and perceived value for money is a very important part of the decision making process. The international student recruitment market is a highly competitive one, and when it comes to cost New Zealand has lower living costs than many other countries. Also if you are a PhD student thinking of coming to study in New Zealand you will pay the same amount of fees as a domestic New Zealand student. Plus, if you choose to study in New Zealand there are opportunities for you to not only study, but work part-time as well.
We are a pretty friendly people…….smile and say ‘Kia Ora’ and see what happens.
We are generally a friendly bunch of people. Well, certainly down here in the South Island (Te Waipounamu). If you’re an international student it may seem strange that we say hello, Kia ora, smile or generally engage when we are out and about on campus, but that’s just what we do here. International students are always surprised by this friendliness, and once they feel confident enough to start saying ‘Kia ora’ which roughly translates to ‘good health to you’ in Māori, one of our three official languages, smile and start engaging, life will definitely start opening up. If you’re thinking about studying overseas consider these factors and get in touch if you’d like to know more.
Nicky Richardson is an International Marketing Coordinator at the University of Otago. With degrees in music and marketing, she is a recent graduate of Otago herself – she loves Otago so much she ended up getting a job here!
A Quest for Change – One Student’s Journey to Otago
Kia whakatōmuri te haere whakamua
My past is my present is my future
Miranda Livers with outgoing Otago student Barlow Anderson
“My name is Miranda Livers, but my name is Saw Saw. I am Cherokee.”
Miranda Livers knew very little of her heritage. She was never taught her native tongue, or the ways of her ancestors, she was never passed down the knowledge of the stories of her people. All Miranda Livers knew growing up as a young girl was that being native was censored, judged, stereotyped and policed. But Miranda was not prepared to accept this, and set her sights on change.
“A quest is defined as a long and arduous search for something, and my quest began – I was going to learn as much as I could about who I am. I learned that Native peoples are the largest group in the U.S. that has the highest poverty rates. Our drug and alcohol addiction rates are also highest in the nation. I learned that so many people believe Native Americans are all dead. When my high school graduation finally arrived, I graduated with a 4.0 grade point average in my last year and the knowledge I had beat the odds. Native students have one of the lowest graduation rates. I had ‘made it.’”
(L-R) Vice-Chancellor Professor Harlene Hayne, outgoing student Barlow Anderson, inbound student Miranda Livers and Office of Māori Development Director Tuari Potiki.
Miranda Livers is the very first inbound student of the unique exchange programme Turangawaewae Pokai Whenua which translates to “a place to stand, a world to explore.” This exchange is built on kanohi-ki-te-kanohi (face-to-face) relationships established between mana whenua and indigenous representatives of universities throughout the world.
“This programme is designed to integrate a native/indigenous student from another country into the Maori culture, while that student simultaneously teaches those involved about their own culture. It is a fantastic programme in its first year, but in the years to come it may help in keeping other cultures alive.”
Why did Miranda choose Otago over other universities in New Zealand and the rest of the world? “It was the only one that offered me an indigenous experience while abroad and I couldn’t be happier with Otago. Otago has exceeded my expectations. I knew that if I wanted to fully reconnect with my culture, then I needed this programme to give me that support and motivation. In other words, it was the push I needed.”
Tūrangawaewae, Pōkai Whenua
A place to stand, A world to explore
5 reasons Dunedin is an awesome place to be
Dunedin’s population has surged past 130,000 people for the first time according to Stats NZ. So why are people choosing to come and live in this city on the east coast of New Zealand’s South Island? Dunedin has in the past, and still does have according to some media outlets the reputation of being cold, wet and miserable. But if you look at the statistics from NIWA Dunedin’s mean annual rainfall is 812 millimetres, compared to Auckland’s 1240 millimetres so that reputation isn’t really warranted is it? So what makes Dunedin such a great place to live, study and work in? Here are our top 5 USP’s (unique selling points) for our little city!
1. It’s so pretty. Yes, it really is as pretty as the pictures! And as recent as last month Dunedin was named the most beautiful city in NZ in the Keep New Zealand Beautiful Awards. The early Scottish settlers that mapped out the city’s footprint made sure that Dunedin had an array of beautiful parks, and areas of greenery throughout. An area known as the ‘Town Belt’ is literally a green belt of native and exotic trees that runs through the city, and even when you’re in the city just look above the buildings and Dunedin is surrounded by green hills. Plus, if you want to go a little off road, a 10-minute drive from the city centre and you will find yourself literally feeling like you are completely away from all forms of urban life. Mountain biking and trail walking and running tracks are all right on your doorstep.
2. Dunedin is a quirky, artistic and entrepreneurial city. We have a street art trail, where 30+ walls have been adorned with art from visiting artists from around the world and New Zealand. Dunedin is home to artists, musicians, internationally recognised fashion designers, an annual fashion festival week, and writers, in fact Dunedin was the first city in New Zealand to initiate a writer’s fellowship, and is now a UNESCO designated City of Literature where writers, books and literature thrive. Dunedin is also gaining a reputation as the perfect place for start-up businesses to thrive and collaborate. And in the deep of winter Dunedin celebrates as only Dunedin can by lighting up the city with a mid-winter carnival complete with fanciful, ethereal and elaborate costumes and lanterns.
3. The University of Otago. Dunedin is a University City which adds to its appeal in regards to the research, literature, culture and people that are attracted to come here to study, research and teach. Otago University is New Zealand’s first University and has a reputation for both academic excellence matched with an extraordinary lifestyle and balance.
4. Weekend travelling. Getaway in the weekends to some of the most untouched, natural scenery in the world and a range of outdoor pursuits. Dunedin is the gateway to some of the most ridiculously beautiful scenery you are likely to encounter. Fiordland National Park, Central Otago, including Queenstown, Wanaka and Arrowtown, or travel a couple of hours south of Dunedin and you enter the dramatic and wild Catlin’s area.
5. Dunedin is NZ’s wildlife capital. Yes, I know, that is a very big call to make, but we aren’t the only ones saying it. Sir David Attenborough from the BBC states: “Otago Peninsula and Taiaroa Head is a unique and very special place. It is a place that every visitor to Dunedin should see.” Dunedin is situated around a natural harbour and adjacent peninsula and it really is the jewel in our crown. We have the only mainland breeding grounds for Royal Albatross in the world, NZ fur seals, sea-lions, rare and endangered Yellow Eyed Penguins also choose to call the Otago Peninsula home. And because Dunedin people are the kind of people who care about the lives of our feathered and furry friends, we have a wildlife hospital. On the other side of the Peninsula is Orokonui Ecosanctuary a local initiative that saw a dream of creating a predator free area of native forest become a reality. Orokonui now houses some of NZ’s most precious living taonga (treasures) and is contributing to the conservation and regeneration of our endemic birds and reptiles.
Dunedin is an interesting little city with a warm heart and welcoming inhabitants. Almost anyone can find their little piece of happiness here. It it is also a place with mysterious secrets than only locals know…..but thats a story for another day.
Nicky Richardson is an International Marketing Coordinator at the University of Otago. With degrees in music and marketing, she is a recent graduate of Otago herself – she loves Otago so much she ended up getting a job here!
