Bringing together more than 50 New Zealand education providers and nearly 200 representatives from partner organisations across the two cities, the seminar provided a platform for direct engagement, supporting greater collaboration in student recruitment and facilitating the exchange of information on New Zealand’s education ecosystem. The event further reinforced education cooperation between New Zealand and Vietnam.
The Agent and Counsellor Seminar 2026 is the largest New Zealand education event of the year in Vietnam. It is dedicated to agents, school counsellors and leaders, and university admission officers in charge of joint and articulation programmes. This year’s seminar was also the first official visit to Vietnam by David Downs, ENZ’s Chief Executive. He was joined by Scott James, New Zealand Consul-General and Trade Commissioner, underscoring the importance of the events.
Growth across New Zealand’s education sectors
Vietnamese student enrolments in New Zealand rose by 14% in 2025, outpacing overall international student growth of 11%. Universities accounted for the largest share at 61%, with enrolments reaching their highest level in a decade. Bachelor’s programmes (47%) remained the most popular, followed by Master’s (24%) and Doctoral (7%), with strong demand in business and management, languages and literature, information systems, and economics and econometrics.
The secondary school sector is the second-largest sub-sector. This reflects a growing trend of Vietnamese students beginning their overseas education journey earlier and completing full secondary qualifications in New Zealand.
Beyond universities, other education subsectors also recorded strong growth. Private training establishments (+34%), English language schools (+25%), and institutes of technology and polytechnics (+10%) attracted learners in traditional fields and practical disciplines such as nursing and human welfare services. This shows that Vietnamese students are increasingly exploring diverse pathways aligned with career opportunities in New Zealand and globally.
Regional growth was widespread, with six out of ten New Zealand regions recording increases. Leading regions included Otago (+39%), Waikato (+26%) and Auckland (+21%).
Together, these figures highlight the diverse education needs of Vietnamese learners and the potential to expand collaboration across multiple sectors.
David Downs, ENZ Chief Executive, noted: "Vietnam remains one of ENZ’s priority growth markets, one of only two countries where all education sub-sectors are a focus. The recent State visit to New Zealand by His Excellency General Secretary and President Tô Lâm – the first in nearly 20 years – highlighted the strong momentum in our bilateral relationship and reaffirmed education as a central pillar of cooperation. For ENZ, growth is not simply about increasing numbers. It is about welcoming students who understand the value of a New Zealand education, who thrive while they are here, and who return home as lifelong ambassadors for New Zealand."
New Zealand remains one of the world’s leading education destinations, with all eight universities ranked in the global top 450 (QS World University Rankings 2027). It is also ranked first globally for work-life balance (Remote Global Life-Work Balance Index 2025), sustainability, and employment outcomes among higher education systems with three or more ranked universities, and second in the world for peace (Global Peace Index 2026).
New collaborations and partnerships announced
At the seminar, ENZ unveiled a series of new collaborations designed to strengthen New Zealand’s position as a leading international study destination in Vietnam.
Collaboration with Grok: ENZ will partner with Grok, a leading international education organisation, to connect with Vietnamese learners and school career counsellors, promote transnational education (TNE), and build a strong community of international country representatives (ICRs). Grok will also provide market intelligence and insights to help New Zealand institutions better understand trends and sharpen their competitiveness in student recruitment.
Collaboration with Pearson PTE: ENZ and Pearson PTE will expand access to New Zealand government-backed scholarships for Vietnamese students, while strengthening English-language capabilities for scholarship candidates. The partnership will also focus on equipping international students with the language skills, confidence and capabilities needed to succeed in global learning environments.
Partnerships with Master Agents: ENZ announced new partnerships with Adventus.io, Bright Can-Achieve (BCA), and Global Education Alliance (GEA). These collaborations will expand engagement with education agents nationwide, helping counsellors strengthen their professional knowledge and provide accurate, timely guidance to Vietnamese students and families choosing study pathways in New Zealand.
Mr. Ben Burrowes, Regional Director for North and Southeast Asia, remarked: "These new collaborations and partnerships not only expand study opportunities for Vietnamese students, but also reflect our vision for a connected and sustainable global learning community. With the support of our partners, New Zealand will continue to strengthen its position as a leading destination for world-class education, inspiring young people in Vietnam to pursue knowledge, nurture their ambitions and prepare to shape their future."
Looking ahead, ENZ will continue to promote New Zealand government-backed scholarships across all levels of study, while delivering new initiatives to connect with Vietnamese learners. These include the Alumni Talk in September 2026 – webinars featuring first-hand experiences from Vietnamese alumni who studied and worked in New Zealand – and the Master Class Series in November 2026, offering online taster classes led by New Zealand tertiary lecturers.
ENZ also plans to encourage more frequent visits by New Zealand education providers to Vietnam, further strengthening connections and collaboration with local partners.
