Connecting our university to the world

Our university has five offshore representatives based around the world, and a sixth in India soon to be announced. These staff are responsible for engaging with past and future students of Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington.

five people in circular images smiling happily
Meet Fraka, Kelsey, Le Chi, Juan, and Xiaoyi—the staff who connect our future students in the Americas, China, and South-east Asia with study in Wellington.

Fraka Harmsen, Director, United States Engagement

Briefly, what does your role in California involve?

I am the University’s Director of Engagement for the United States. My role involves:

  • engaging alumni and providing meaningful opportunities for volunteerism, service, and professional development
  • marketing university programmes and recruiting students for Study Abroad and full degree programmes, and
  • facilitating university partnerships in research and/or teaching and learning.

What were your professional or personal highlights in 2022?

The major highlight for 2022 was the end of COVID-19 restrictions that allowed travel and engagement once more. This meant a team from the University could travel to NAFSA: Association of International Educators mid-year—we had a highly productive meeting. In October, a team representing strategic partnerships and engagement arrived from the University and we met with several existing partners, established connections with new private and public universities, and had the first ever alumni reunion in Los Angeles.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

With a new Vice-Chancellor at the helm, I look forward to development opportunities and increased engagement with alumni. At the same time, the New Zealand borders have reopened to international students, and this facilitates opportunities to engage and recruit students to study at Victoria University of Wellington.

Kelsey Jackson, International Recruitment Manager—the Americas

What does your role in Washington, DC involve?

I work to support and broaden our relationships in North, Latin, and South America to support the recruitment of full degree-seeking undergraduate and postgraduate, and study abroad students. My role involves a lot of travel around the Western hemisphere visiting partners, attending recruitment events, and connecting with potential partner institutions and prospective students. I also serve as an adviser for prospective students from this region on studying in New Zealand, life in Wellington, and study options at Victoria University of Wellington during their application phase up until they enrol in courses and begin study at our university.

What were your professional or personal highlights in 2022?

I started this position in 2022—so that was the biggest highlight! Getting to hit the road and visit with our partners and prospective students and share the things that make New Zealand and Victoria University of Wellington so incredible was amazing.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

In 2023, I’m looking forward to connecting more with our alumni here in the Americas and finding creative ways to connect them with prospective students to share their experiences. I also look forward to building awareness of New Zealand as a study destination here in the region and encouraging more students to consider New Zealand.

Le Chi Nguyen, Director, South-East Asia Engagement

Briefly, what does your role in Hanoi involve?  

I work closely with the University’s partners in Vietnam to promote the name of our university as well as its global reputation and position. Additionally, I work with scholarship bodies of the Vietnamese government to promote Victoria University of Wellington as a great destination for study and research.

What were your professional or personal highlights in 2022? In 2022 I made my first trip to New Zealand and met my University colleagues in person. I fell in love with New Zealand, making me even more confident about telling people about New Zealand, its natural beauty, and its friendly people.

We also negotiated several partnership agreements, with a new agreement with Ho Chi Minh City University of Education on the Bachelor of Arts in TESOL; a renewal of our agreement with the University of Economics, Ho Chi Minh City; and expansion into Vietnam’s central region with a new Master of TESOL with the University of Da Nang. Victoria University of Wellington’s collaborations can now be seen throughout Vietnam.

We welcomed the University’s Deputy Vice-Chancellor—Engagement Blair McRae in August 2022 at an alumni event in Ho Chi Minh City. I helped welcome a high-level delegation from Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training in New Zealand, accompanied by leaders of various universities. We organised a presentation showcasing the University, which made a good impression on the attendees. 

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

I will coordinate with my team in Wellington to progress two or three more joint teaching programmes in Vietnam and host alumni events. I envisage this year will see me engage with government organisations for PhD studies and short course training. Finally, I look forward to supporting academics and the recruitment team in promoting current and new programmes to recruit further students.

Juan Cao, Director, China Engagement

What does your role in Guanzhou involve?

As Victoria University of Wellington’s Director of China Engagement, based in Guangzhou, China, my role is to identify, develop, and manage our institutional partnerships with universities, government, international schools, and other organisations in China, and to raise awareness of Wellington in the China market.

What were your professional or personal highlights in 2022?

My 2022 highlights included the successful launch and student recruitment of a Sino-Foreign Joint Programme between Victoria University of Wellington and the Communication University of Zhejiang (in Hangzhou), to deliver a Bachelor’s degree in Communication. This is part of our work with Chinese universities to offer a wide range of courses for students that helps them explore more study opportunities in Wellington. We also established a Centre of Excellence with Capital Normal University to provide a platform for education research, staff and student exchange, and PhD studies.

What are you looking forward to in 2023?

I’m keen to explore new cooperation opportunities with Chinese universities, international schools, and other organisations, and engage more with Wellington’s alumni network here. International travel will resume in 2023 and we look forward to seeing more Chinese students able to return to Wellington to continue their study and experience the New Zealand lifestyle.

Xiaoyi Guan, Director, International Recruitment, China

Briefly, what does your role in Wuxi involve? My role is China Director, International Recruitment for Victoria University of Wellington. I look after all recruitment activities in mainland China. My key responsibility is to bring as many Chinese students as possible to study in our university.

What were your professional or personal highlights in 2022? As New Zealand borders opened to Chinese international students in 2022, we had a number of returning and new students head to the campus to study in person. I was involved in a lot of activities and events to help students to get ready. In addition, I worked with both Education New Zealand and Air New Zealand to promote discount ticket campaign to our students. I also hosted an event in Beijing for the University’s 125th anniversary. Due to the COVID-19 restriction policy that time, it was very challenging, but the event went really well. Our partners enjoyed it and felt appreciated.

What are you looking forward to in 2023? As China is now also lifting its travel restrictions, the interest in New Zealand universities is increasing. I’m looking forward to meeting more students in various events, including the Chinese International Education Expo in February 2023, which is the biggest event for international education. I hope to bring more students to Wellington soon.