Live and learn in Kiwi land

Down under in the South Pacific Ocean, New Zealand opens door to education in the land of kiwis, mountains, rivers and lakes. The country offers students great outdoor activities varying from bungy jumping, skydiving, white water rafting, sailing, glacier walking, to trekking. Pao, 19, studying at University says " Many guided, non-guided bush walks and treks are truly unique. I love guided walks with a contemporary cultural emphasis. They're growing in popularity now. You learn about the history and spiritual significance of the place you're visiting such as the Whirinaki Rainforest walks."

With four million population, New Zealand has over 268,680 square kilometers of land southeast of Australia. It consists of two large islands - the North Island and the South Island - and a scattering of smaller islands.

The official languages of New Zealand are English and Maori. The majority of the population are the New Zealand Europeans or Pakeha and Maori. In the New Zealand education system, children start school in Year 1 when they are 5 years old. The first year of secondary study is Year 9, and the last year is Year 13. Learning is assessed using national standards which test the abilities of students in various topics such as mathematics, languages and science.

Piyolos Ngamvilaikorn

Piyolos Ngamvilaikorn, Business Development Manager for Education at the New Zealand Embassy says, "most secondary schools are state-owned and assured by the national qualification or what we call the National Certificate of Educational Achievement (NCEA)."

"There are three levels of NCEA. Students begin studying for their NCEAs in year 11 and continue through years 12 and 13," Piyolos explains. "NCEAs are recognised by employers and universities in New Zealand as well as overseas as national secondary school qualifications."

The NCEA process is distinct in that there is not pass or fail for traditional subjects. Instead, students are assessed against the standards for a subset of subjects. Schools can select a mix of standards for students to meet the school's requirements.

Students' academic records provide details about what students know and can achieve. For example, in science, students learn research skills that are consistent with academic learning. In each subject, there is an external assessment verified by examination; and, there is an internal assessment, whereby the school awards grades.

The national curriculum focuses on ensuring that students achieve in basic literacy and numeracy which are the fundamental building blocks for all learning.

"The aim of the national curriculum is to equip students to play a full part in their community and the world," Piyolos adds. "The curriculum includes seven areas of essential learning - physical education, arts, science, social science, technology, mathematics, and languages. It gives students the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills."

To attend school in New Zealand, a student needs to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or a test administered by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Most schools accept a score of 500-550 on TOEFL, or 5.5-6 for IELTS.

"A common problem Thai students face when they apply to a school in New Zealand is the basic education foundation. In Thailand secondary education ranges from year 1 to 12. But in New Zealand, there's a year 13. So Thai students must study one more year in a New Zealand high school before going off to college." Piyolos says.

New Zealand offers language institutes and polytechnic institutes, as well as universities. At polytechnic institutes and institutes of technology students can study for a certificate or degree. They also offer vocational and practical courses.

There are eight universities offering degrees ranging from bachelor to doctorate degrees in various fields. They are the Auckland University of Technology (Auckland); University of Auckland (Auckland); Lincoln University (Christchurch); Massey University (Palmerston North); University of Canterbury (Christchurch); University of Otago (Dunedin); University of Waikato (Hamilton); and Victoria University of Wellington (Wellington).

A bachelor degree requires three to four years of full time study. While a master's degree takes about two years, one each of coursework and another preparing the thesis, a doctorate degree requires three to seven years.

Dr Jutamas Wisansing

"PhD thesis requires a lot of effort. It's your major piece of original research. And it has to be approved by three examiners," says Dr Jutamas Wisansing, a tourism management programme director at Assumption University.

In New Zealand, PhD thesis is assessed by your school, one from another New Zealand University and one from overseas university on completion. For some PhDs like science, an oral examination will follow.

For Dr Jutamas, a tourism management scholar from Lincoln University, a PhD thesis demonstrates the candidate's ability to conduct independent research. Word length in a thesis varies according to the project. The typical number of words fall between 60,000 and 100,000.

"The thesis is a significant contribution to the knowledge or understanding of your field of study," Dr Jutamas explains. "It requires considerable amount of dedication and tenacity as well as intelligence and research aptitude."

More than 4,000 Thai students pursue their higher education in New Zealand this year. Aside from excellent education, low cost of living, currency rate of exchange and outdoor activities are the main attractions.

"You can live comfortably spending between Bt12,000 and Bt15,000 a month. That includes accommodation, meals and other daily expenses. A New Zealand dollar is relatively lower than other currencies ," Piyolos says.

Tuition fees are different according to education levels. One year at secondary can cost around Bt275,000, while Bt460,000 is for master's degree.

"What's interesting about New Zealand is," Piyolos adds, "there're varieties for outdoor activities you can take advantage of and have fun. You can go white water rafting in Queenstown, take a wine tour in Hawke's Bay, or try kiwifruit in Bay of Plenty." New Zealand's climate is maritime, rather than continental. The weather can change with rapidity and consequence. Winter starts from June to August and summer from December to February. Warmer months fall in the months of November through April.