Scholarships at NZ Universities for high achievers.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/tertiary-education/news/article.cfm?c_id=341&objectid=10912076

This is an intersting article by the NZ Herald about universities enticing high school students with high grades by offering a cash deposit of up to NZD $3,000. I think this this is an exciting approach by a small country that needs to keep producing highly skilled graduates to keep contributing to the economy of NZ.

Having said that, it seems to me that one of New Zealand's more successful exports is that of quality graduates who head off overseas for their big OE (overseas experience). Kiwi graduates are regarded as highly employable for their work ethic and their world class academic skills but also, importantly, their ability to think which is a the result of a deliberate approach to academic instruction which involves active participation by students as opposed to mindless fact feeding.

One hopes most of these students return to NZ with great memories and big-city experience to contribute once again to the NZ economy. But many don't and New Zealanders are proud to boast of kiwis who have succeeded in their chosen vocational fields overseas, as always punching above their weight. This creates the opportunity in New Zealand for potential migrants to come and study or to bring their work experience or academic skills and to fill the gap left by any net export of talent and skills.

Some who come to study will return home and hopefully their NZ tertiary qualifications will open doors to greater opportunities than home grown study. Others will come to NZ to study with a view to finding work here and remaining to start a new life journey.  Either way, NZ is proud to host foreign students and is a very open, inclusive society where most foreigners will find themselves welcome by either integrating into society or finding their nationality is well represented and they can socialise in their mother tongue.

While many kids choose not to pursue formal study in NZ and go on to trades in non academic career paths, it is exciting to see that the importance of good academic streams is still valued.