NEWS@TQIE
Issue#2 February 2021
Our newsletter this month is all about great events, staff survey, staff updates, and much more.
Denise’s Desk - A note from our General Manager
Greetings team and welcome to ‘News@TQIE”.
We have commenced the year with a real sense of optimism. Yes, the impact of COVID-19 is still very real, as evidenced by the continued disruption to domestic borders and international border closures. Of course, the pandemic is still raging globally with devastating consequences for many. A glimmer of hope is on the horizon with the roll out vaccine programs and with it perhaps we will see some relaxation of the borders sooner rather than later – this issue is front and centre for the international education industry.
The Council for International Education is working towards delivering the new International Education and Training Strategy by July 2021. Consultative sessions have already been held with all the major peak bodies across the industry. In the next month or so, workshops will be held across Australia and online to have input by all stakeholders (that means us!).
The State and Federal governments are not actively supporting Student Arrival Plans, regardless of the narrative. IEAA is working with all Peak Bodies to develop a communications strategy to achieve community support to bring international students back to Australia.
Janelle will represent TQ at an International Education Industry Roundtable for a Post COVID World. The outcomes that we wish to achieve include:
- Clear and accurate information based on evidence and data to be presented in a bi partisan non-political environment
- A post COVID-19 industry led narrative is agreed on
- Development of a strategy that forms an agreed path forward
- An industry-based post COVID-19 statement
Watch this space!
In the meantime, here at TAFE Queensland there has been a real spike in domestic enrolments with greater investment in training by government. The take of up of vocational places by international students has been much stronger than we had first predicted, only about 5% down on this time last year- thanks to all who have worked so hard to achieve this result. Other aspects of our work continue to be hard hit but not through lack of effort.
Our work in aid and development, sees APTC expanding to address the specific skills needs of Pacific Island countries, over and above the core program. For those who may not be overly familiar with APTC- TAFE Queensland manages the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) on behalf of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). APTC is an Australian Government development program established in 2007. (TAFE Queensland (TQ) has been involved one way or another from the beginning!) APTC works in partnership with industry, governments and selected Technical, Vocational Education and Training (TVET) institutions to assist the development of a more skilled, inclusive and productive workforce aligned with labour market requirements to enhance Pacific prosperity.
APTC is seen as part of TAFE Queensland, issuing Australian qualifications across the Pacific. TQ is the employer of the 230 APTC staff and students are enrolled with TQ. APTC is currently working hard to support the Pacific Island Countries to respond to the impacts of COVID-19. APTC has country offices established in Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG, Samoa and the Solomon Islands. The Country Offices are supported by a range of services provided from a regional office located in Suva, Fiji.
Employee Engagement Survey
As you can see from the table below – 96 % of the TQ International team responded to this survey- an amazing result! Of the factors below you can see the overall engagement score of 95%. This is outstanding. All scores demonstrate that we are a committed and professional group of people would are focussed on the customer and support each other. The lowest score- ‘Taking Responsibility’ @67% is still pretty amazing when you consider that 70% is a really good result. The element that perhaps contributed to this was the response to; “In my business unit there are consequences for people who don’t meet their work responsibilities”. This was scored quite low at 36%. It is important to know that the whole of TQ scored this element in much the same way. This can be due to the simple fact that most performance issues are dealt with in confidence.
Despite this fantastic result we will be working with you over coming weeks to form up action plans to address any for improvement. I encourage you to participate fully, your ideas are valued. Great levels of engagement like this flow onto our students and clients. Well done all.
HR Refresher
A reminder – this refresher is compulsory – at the moment our response is 88.7%. You know how we love to be 100% in all we do so can the remaining individuals (you know who you are!). CLICK HERE TO BEGIN THE REFRESHER TRAINING!
Lunar New Year
For those of us lucky to be at Southbank last week we were treated to a delicious lunch courtesy of our very own talented ‘chefs’ led by Lingyi. Thank you! We were reminded that this is the Year of the OX- associated with ‘yin’ – ‘stability and nourishment’ and a ‘hard working’ sign. Something we all can benefit from in these turbulent times.
Good news stories
Not sure if you are aware that ‘good news stories’ are collected continually throughout the year and reported to TQ Exec, the TQ Board and Minister? Please take the time to share your good news stories- it is one way we can showcase our amazing work..... the more the merrier!
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Finally….‘The winner is…….’ Thank you to all who nominated names for our newsletter. Mel Nair having the most votes wins ! (I tweaked it just a little). The prize - a lunch with me! |
All the best until next time.
Denise.
TQI Update
Gabrielle – Acting Executive Director, TQI
Well, it’s been quite a start for 2021.
As always, we pulled together and everyone invested some hard yards over recent weeks to maximise our student numbers for this semester.
Work continued with recruitment and admissions still enrolling well after start of study and admin are now busy with commencement, confirming all our students are where they should be!
Research and reporting have been working the stats for months now to ensure that we’re all as well informed as possible, agent management are in the midst of a review and our fabulous finance ladies will soon be head down with agent commissions!
While the student numbers will be fluid for the next couple of weeks, the picture is looking positive. The student numbers look as good as they do due to a fabulous team effort.
While in recent weeks the focus has been centred on maximising numbers for Sem 1 2021 and start of study activities, all teams have been actively involved with major projects and initiatives to improve the profile, positioning and efficiencies of TAFE Queensland International.
We farewelled Janelle and Russell over to a hot, humid and rainy Fiji with their very own welcome cyclone! Wishing them fair weather from here on in.
As I settle into the Acting Executive Director's role, it’s a great feeling to know I have the support of a very dedicated and professional team. Thank you!
Leanne – Manager, Research and Reporting
This month’s update provided by Anne Kivela while Leanne was on a road trip to Canberra
Happy New Year from the Research & Reporting Team!
After a lovely Christmas break, the year has commenced with the team (as do all of TQI) working hard to support our students on their new journeys and directions. It’s the beginning of the year and the beginning of great things for 2021!
The great thing about the Research and Reporting team is the variety of skills it brings to the table and the ability to adapt and contribute where needed.
So what are some of the new things we are doing?
In the pipeline we have some very necessary procedures and work instructions being created and soon to be completed by the Compliance team aka Michelle McBean (thanks Michelle). As we find new and better ways of doing things, there is an ongoing challenge of updating all the related documentation.
The Finance team are heads down currently checking and paying all the new invoices that are coming in from our agents. This isn’t an easy task as student accounts and studies need to be confirmed to ensure payments are correct but Kelly and Mirjana with their high skills and experience make the job look easy.
We have the Agent Management and Travel Team currently working alongside the Regional Managers to complete our Biannual Agent Review. New contracts will be sent out to agents in March. Not only that, the team has been supporting our TQI Administration team in various ways including student commencements. Travel support has been provided to our In-Country reps and new processes implemented have resulted in their expenses claims being processed in a more streamlined manner. Some domestic travel has been undertaken and hopefully this will continue without any hiccups.
Lingyi has been providing support not only to our team but also providing much needed help across the board. Lingyi along with a number of TQI staff have been busy and organised a “Lunar New Year brunch” which went down a treat.
Jodie has been providing executive support and completed the many jobs we don’t hear about that have required her expertise and experience. All this whilst facing the challenges of transitioning over to a new network!
The team is continuing to provide the PRISMS reports on a weekly basis as we are focusing on this new intake. This has been an extremely important especially as the TQI budget is being prepared. It has been a bit of a juggling act but as the team has pitched in, it has all come together.
I know as we start on the road to this New Year, we will look back at the end of the year and be amazed by all the new things we accomplished.
On behalf of the R & R team wishing you all a bright, happy and healthy 2021!
Diana (Admin) & Dragana (Admissions) - Operations
Admin:
The start of study has kicked off in usual style with over 2000 students commencing or re-commencing studies for the semester.
Since the 1st January 2021 Admin have processed over 1000 tasks relating to a range of matters - course changes, deferrals, withdrawals (unfortunately yes), fees, letters, appeals, transfer requests and extension to studies…to name a few.
In the same period we have vetted and acted on 3000 emails via our generic mailboxes, taken 340 calls via the International phone queue and served around 470 in our service areas.
This week we are expecting Faculties from all Regions to report on student attendance in class to make sure none of our cherubs have gone astray. This is a significant undertaking and wouldn’t go smoothly if not for the great work of our Coordinator, Kat Hong and Anne Kivela, who is helping out. Thanks Anne!
Lollies and chocolates have been our weapon of choice, along with some good old fashioned hard work and team spirit.
Admissions:
This month’s update by Peter Hannigan.
As with any start of semester, the Admissions team has been extremely busy with processing new applications and COEs for all our students. This semester has been a particular challenge, as with all of the business, in that we also dealing with everything COVID-19 has brought including travel restrictions, border closures and uncertainty around this semester going ahead. However everyone has been working hard and we believe this has still been a very successful semester intake.
To put things into perspective, since January 4th our team has processed,
- 353 Applications (Compared to 339 last year)
- 258 CoEs (Compared to 223 last year)
- 3758 Emails
And in addition to this, our team has processed 211 Deferrals since October 2020 (when offshore applications for January 2021 were suspended).
So even though COVID-19 has brought its challenges, our team has been performing well.
Our focus at this time is Applications and Acceptances for Semester 2 2021.
Speaking of our team - we are still going strong - and we have a new addition! Phillipa Galvin has recently joined as an Offshore Admissions Officer who will process applications for the TQIE. Philippa is based in the UK and she has worked with TAFE Queensland previously as an ISSA and other roles with TAFE Queensland Brisbane before returning with family to the UK in 2016.
And speaking of returning team members - Steph Paul (Bleaken) will be returning to her role from 01st March from Maternity Leave. Woohoo :) She has been missed immensely and we cannot wait to have you back Steph. Quite a bit has changed, so she will need some time to re-adjust.
Finally, we wish to say thank you to everyone that has helped and contributed to our results but in particular we wish to say a big thank you to Jen Diaz, Emma Wang and Grace Park who have all helped process offers and applications along with their normal roles.
Thanks – DK, Poppi, Bleaken, Brent, Dermott, Cat, Pedro, Renee, Sinead and Philippa.
Caroline - Manager, Global Engagement:
As the new year is now upon us, Global Engagement is progressing with a number of opportunities and learning heaps of new skills in a quick timeframe….who knew tender writing would be the method for us to learn more about our own business, but that’s exactly what’s happening – Paul, Marion and Maxine have been writing extensive documents for some large tenders in Laos, Cambodia, Micronesia to name a few – we really hope that the good work pays off with a win :) .
In celebrating the New Lunar Year, we hope that the Year of the Ox brings everyone at TAFE Queensland International (and the broader TQ) good vibes as the Ox represents hard work, intelligence and reliability which I believe we all aspire to.
Carolyn - Manager, Sales:
Semester 1 2021 has kicked off to a strong start with 2293 new and continuing international students on PRISMS and over 630 new enquiries between December and January. The Sales team have been kept busy with a late January rush of over-the-counter applicants at each main campus. Requests for individual zoom consultations is proving popular with offshore candidates and likely to become the new ‘normal’.
January has also seen an increase in agent engagement and requests for online TQ presentations and agent training for our Indian, Nepalese, Vietnamese, Chinese and Filipino markets (amongst others). Regional Managers have completed a week-long bi-annual review of all TQI education agents’ performance, marketing compliance and future potential. At the same time, high performing agents with revenue in excess of $200,000 up to $3 million have been identified for incentives and recognition by way of certificates of appreciation.
In-person visits and on-campus tours have been on the increase since the start of the New Year with over 35 agents receiving much welcomed visits from our sales team and 18 personalised student campus tours conducted mainly for onshore working holiday and tourist visa holders. Filming is now underway at several campuses to capture new students enjoying their start of studies on various study areas. This will provide content for next month’s virtual webinar showcasing international courses for potential applicants both offshore and interstate. Members of the sales team will introduce students and teachers to talk up exciting aspects of their course in a simulated “live” TV magazine format.
Marty – Manager, International Student Engagement:
In the world of Marketing:
2021 has kicked off, new projects have been identified and some great ideas are starting to transition from paper into action. So from the land of all things creative we have started working on the following:
- Work is underway to develop a new business to Customer CRM that will help with the lead generation of enquiries coming into TQ, the idea is to improve the enquiry to enrolment journey for students. TQI is involved in a way on how the new CRM will enhance our lead capture and enter the students into our nurture stream process (read further down about this).
- Another exciting project about to kick off – a revamp on the website. Recently TAFE Queensland went out to tender for a company to redo our website. Come September 2021 we should see a new and improved website.
- TQI Marketing and Corporate Marketing to discuss collaboration between the areas for 2021. TQI have submitted a marketing schedule to Corporate Marketing to see where both teams can collaborate on key campaigns across 2021.
- TAFE Queensland is currently undertaking a website refresh project. TQI has been involved in providing insight on functions and requirements to maintain an International presence for this website refresh.
- Another ICT project currently in the works is the redesign of SPOT and the regional intranets into one central Intranet platform. TQI is currently involved in making sure our information is transferred across and provides a central single point of truth for information such as our policies, procedures, forms, blogs and other TQIE information.
- Finally a new project which has been slowly worked on in the background is the development of a nurture stream system that will help engage and encourage the enquiries received to become applications and hopefully in turn converting to more enrolments.
On the student Support side
- We rolled out a new format of Orientation material and we had a shorter delivery of conducting the mix of F2F and ZOOM sessions.
Aid & Development Update
Janelle & Russell (in Fiji) & Ed (in PNG)
Well it has been just over two weeks since we (Janelle & Russell) have left the confines of South Bank campus. We’d like to say that quarantine was a positive experience…but that would be a lie - COVID tests are not fun at all.
14 days is a long time to be in one room. It was Day 7 before we were allowed out with military supervision for a 30 mins walk… Janelle was delighted to be able to walk in a straight line for more than 10 steps…amazing! Janelle’s sanity keepers were her boom box for music, Netflix and art work (read painting by numbers). For Russell it was all about the food. Sending multiple messages a day to check if food had been delivered. Janelle offered to start a food drive for him… given she does have some experience with this!
Friday last week was our first day in the Suva office and it was great to see people in more than one dimension. Our task list is very long for the next couple of months and focuses on change management, reviewing processes, evaluating systems and reviewing the structure to ensure that APTC is client focused. We have ‘hit’ the ground running and already implementing some changes to boost the overall performance of our important TAFE Queensland work.
From Janelle: “I hear that you have had your first delivery of scones, rocky road and cakes. Ken told me that I wasn’t missed at all as staff only wanted to see him…and his scones, rocky road and cakes!”
From Russell: “Where’s mine?”
Ed has kindly written below about the work he is focusing on at APTC – and this gives you an idea of the work we are undertaking across all nine countries we operate in.
...I’m currently engaged in PNG with APTC to implement a new and significant DFAT bilateral investment into PNG TVET titled the Skills for Sub-National Growth Investment (SNGI) program, developed in response to the PNG-Australia Partnership on Education identifying ‘Skills for Growth’ as one of three strategic priorities. The objective of the program is to build the capability and capacity of the sub national (regional) TVET sector to meet the skills needs of the PNG economy and prepare Papua New Guinea citizens for employment.
The program is being implemented with a number of TVET partners across Bougainville and Mount Hagen along with collaborating and providing training on Manus Island in collaboration with Australian Defence Force and the private sector, funding TQI for the delivery of a Cert IV in Project Management and providing meat worker preparation training for labour mobility opportunities delivered through TQ. In addition to direct capability development and training APTC will be implementing a range of other initiatives across regional TVET partners that includes solar power, housing for staff and providing a scholarship program for women and people living with disabilities.
It’ll be a very busy and exciting few months ahead to implement the program and I look forward to providing some photos for next months newsletter to better illustrate the work and profound impact this program will have to the people of Papua New Guinea.
Suva, Fiji - APTC Welcome Ceremony for Janelle Chapman, Russell Mckay & Christopher Gosling
In-Country Representative Feature
Each month we will feature an update from one of our In-Country Representatives. This month we hear from Shoichi Okawa, our In-Country Representative based in Japan.
Greetings from Tokyo Japan! My name is Shoichi Okawa. I have 20 years of experience of study abroad market and this is my 3rd year for TAFE Queensland! Working for TQIE is super exciting, because TQIE staff is all amazing and very professional! Although we’re facing difficult situation since last year, I’ve been connected with my lovely onshore team and other ICRs via online and warm heart.
The second reason is VET has received much attention in recent years as a market with high potential. Because Japanese recruit system in going to change from “membership-based system”, which is seen only in Japan to a job-based system same as Australia. Company need a professional employee, so VET is gathering attention.
Regarding COVID-19 situation in Japan, the government has made arrangement to extend the state of emergency for up to March 7th in Tokyo and other areas continuing to see a high number of infections. As vaccination will start in late February, I really hope things get back normal soon.
About sales activity, this is same as other ICRs, the opportunities to join the online event have been increasing. Ex.“Travel and Tourism Masterclass” collaborated with Austrade, “Queensland Hour” by TIQ and “Okayama Prefecture Study abroad Expo”. In 2021, I’m discussing about more virtual opportunities with agencies, TIQ and Austrade.
Lastly, I’d like to introduce my family :) My wife is a physical therapist and she has just got a qualification of an acupuncturist and moxa‐cauterizer as well. She is amazing!
My two-year-old son, Kensho loves train very much. Every weekend I take him for a walk to the near park where he can see the train. As he is a fast learner than me, sometimes he let me know the type of train.
Please stay safe everyone! Hopefully we could meet onshore in the near future!
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Photo Board/Events
Lunar New Year Morning Tea – Our Team and Their Traditions
CHINA:
Andrew –
Two long-standing traditions of the Chinese New Year in Beijing :
Colorful and lively Temple Fairs and bright and noisy Firecrackers.
There are lots happening everyday during the celebration throughout the whole city.
Annie –
Plum Blossom Festival during the New Year
Lantern Festival at Qinhuai River, which started from Ming Dynasty
Emma –
Wear new clothes
Put small coins in the dumplings and eat them at 12 am
Eat fish
Lingyi –
We celebrate for 15 days
(Almost) Everything in Red
Watching Spring Festival Gala
Family Mahjong gambling all night
Pay respect to the Food God & Fortune God.
KOREA:
Song-Yi & Grace–
Seollal: Korean Lunar New Year
Seollal 설날 is the most celebrated holiday in South Korea. It’s celebrated not only to mark the passage into a new year, but it is also a time for families to catch up with each other, pay respect to ancestors and to feast! Seollal’s celebration lasts for three days, starting the day before and ending the day after the Lunar New Year.
Gift Giving
During the week leading up to Seollal, Koreans shop for gifts to give family members. Gifts include fresh fruits, ginseng, honey, gift baskets (with tuna, spam, traditional sweets, dried fish) and cash.
Charye 차례 (Ancestral Rites)
Charye is a memorial service that prays for the peace and good health of the ancestors. Family members will dress up or wear a hanbok (the traditional Korean dress). Everyone will then gather in front of a table prepared for the ancestral rite. The ceremony will begin with deep bows to greet the ancestors. At the end of the rite, the ritual food, called eumbok, is shared; this passes the hopes and virtues of the ancestors to those who partake.
Sebae 세배 and Sebaetdon 세뱃돈
Sebae is an important part of the celebration. After the meal, the kids (or any young family member) perform a New Year’s bow (Sebae) to an elder family member in exchange for blessings and Sebaedon (cash). All the Sebaedon received is then put into a fortune pouch called a Bokjumeoni.
Games
Yut-nori is a popular game that involves the use of 4 wooden sticks, tokens, and a simple game board. This strategy game has been a part of Seollal for hundreds of years. Some other common games played during this holiday are jegichagi (a hacky-sack type game), yeonnaligi (kite-flying), neolttwigi (see-saw) and paengi chigi (top-spinning).
CAMBODIA:
Dany–
Put on everything gold and red
No crying
No sad face
Keep rubbish indoors for 3 days
Family gambling.
MALAYSIA:
Mel–
Family Reunion
Eat Peanut Cookies
Eat Mandarins
Many Hong Baos.
INDONESIA:
Henny–
Bake a jar of cookies one month prior to the Lunar New Year day
Have open house for two weeks, where everyone welcome to come eat and drink with us
Visited family in the New Year day to pay our respect;
Pray and prepare special meal for family, who has pass away in the morning before sunset;
Cook a lot noodles and pork for the New Year Eve and New Year Day;
Dress up in RED to bring the luck and prosperity;
For excitement, receive and prepare the RED envelope.
Staff Spotlight
Name: Emma Wang
Role at TQIE: International Marketing Officer
How long have you worked at TAFE Queensland and in the international team? approx. 6 yrs
What do you like about where you work? What I like the most are the people I work with and the awesome working environment. I like helping students and seeing them succeed. Also, I get fed by my lovely colleagues around me all the time.
Hobbies: eating nice food, cooking, travel
Favourite movies: The Addams family, Journey to the West (TV), Havoc in Heaven, Nirvana in Fire (TV)
Favourite food: Dumplings, Hotpot, Icecream, seafood
Quotes: So it is that whenever Heaven invests a person with great responsibilities, it first tries his resolve, exhausts his muscles and bones, starves his body, leaves him destitute, and confound his every endeavor. In this way his patience and endurance are developed, and his weaknesses are overcome. - Mencius
Photo’s from Places Visited: This is a photo I took and would like to share from the Chengdu Research Base of Giant Panda Breeding, located in Chengdu Hutou Mountain, Sichuan, China. Here’s the link to the breeding centre if you’d like to have a look http://www.panda.org.cn/english/
The Important Bits (Our Students & Clients)
We have lots to celebrate.
First Destination Australia scholarship student graduated in Cairns!
Late last year the first of 41 Destination Australia scholarships students graduated from TAFE Queensland North Region including Adriana Meneses, a mature aged student from Ecuador. During her time at the Cairns campus Adriana completed the Diploma of Hospitality Management, was nominated as a student ambassador for Study Cairns and became a member of the Queensland International Student Advisory Panel. Adriana has since been offered a University placement and intends to continue to live in Cairns.
Adriana plans to use TAFE Queensland’s pathway to university option to continue her studies in Australia in the higher education sector. She aspires to become an entrepreneur in the future and help the international communities around Australia.
Laura’s TAFE Queensland journey
Laura’s TAFE Queensland journey… a Podcast covering an amazing story of one of our international alumni, Laura Miranda from Colombia. In this podcast, Laura shares how she came to Australia with a mission to achieve her dreams and her journey while studying with TAFE Queensland. Laura completed her Associate Degree in Civil Engineering in 2018 and is now studying the Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) - at QUT (Queensland University of Technology) using TAFE Queensland’s pathway to university option.
NRL Tipping 2021
As it is getting closer to kick off, Wendy King (Global Engagement Team) has kindly offered to organise the NRL Tipping again this year.
The finer details on how the competition will be run this year is still being worked out but it’s looking like the vote is $1.00 a week (25 weeks) towards a kitty for a little celebration at the end of the season.
It can get a little competitive (you know who you are!) but is a lot of fun. At the end, who knows, you may be the TQIE NRL Champion tipper for 2021!
First game is the 11 March 2021 so if you’d like to join in then contact [email protected] who’ll get you set up.
