July 2020 Update

Asalha Puja (known as Asanha Bucha in Thailand) is a Theravada Buddhist festival which typically takes place in July, on the full moon of the month of Āsādha. It is celebrated in Cambodia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Laos, Myanmar and in countries with Theravada Buddhist populations

I hope everyone is well and back in the swing of things. While it’s been around four months since we got in touch with you through this newsletter, SEA CAPE programmes have not stopped and some have also found additional forms of engagement.

Several of our programmes have moved online for 2020: Te Hononga ā Kiwa and the ASEAN Forum 2020, both featured in this newsletter, are just two of them. We are also introducing an online Tertiary Market Readiness Programme for students across New Zealand, an extension of the Market Readiness Programme that we have been running over the past two years for businesses. Throughout the lockdown, our MRP workshops were delivered online for businesses nationwide, and we also added extra webinars around how Southeast Asian businesses are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic. Now at Level 1, you will see the programme gradually return to being run face-to-face across NZ. You will also come across our Cultural Acumen Tourism Training Programme in some cities in the next few months.

Last but not least, SEA CAPE was fortunate to complete the Tertiary Market Immersion Programme 2020 in January before COVID-19 created havoc. The four reports published on our website earlier this year are now also available in print form. I hope you will enjoy reading the work of the 16 TMIP students from universities across NZ.

It’s clear that the pandemic is disrupting some of our mobility plans, but it has not and should not stop us from staying abreast of what’s happening in Southeast Asia and how we can engage with the region. We have responded with some new forms of training and engagement within NZ, while waiting to go a step further with regional immersion activities. We will keep you posted on these and certainly hope for your participation and involvement.

Thank you for your continued support.

- Siah Hwee Ang, Southeast Asia CAPE Director

Te Hononga-ā-Kiwa

Applications close soon!

Māori tertiary students and Māori businesses across Aotearoa are invited to apply for this unique opportunity!

Te Hononga-ā-Kiwa 2020 introduces Māori tertiary students to the business landscape in Vietnam. Students are guided by Tuakana (mentors) and Māori businesses as they explore this dynamic market.

In light of current travel restrictions, the programme has been redesigned as an online offering that allows participants to connect with Vietnamese and New Zealand industry experts via a series of weekly workshops.

They will also take part in SEA CAPE’s Vietnam Market Readiness programme and attend a Cultural Acumen Tourism Training workshop (see below for more details).

Māori tertiary students from any New Zealand university, polytech or wānanga and Māori businesses registered in Aotearoa are invited to apply.

Applications close July 19th, 5 pm.

ASEAN Forum 2020

Secondary and tertiary students across New Zealand invited to apply!

SEA CAPE will fund a limited number of secondary and tertiary students to attend the 2020 ASEAN forum.

ASEAN Forum 2020, brought to you by the ASEAN New Zealand Business Council in partnership with SEA CAPE, explores how New Zealand businesses can accelerate and build on their engagement with ASEAN, an economic community of 660 million people.

This 100% Virtual forum (held via Whova and Zoom platforms) highlights the theme of: Resilience, Reinvention, Rejuvenation; and takes a snapshot of our relationship with ASEAN now, as well as looking to the possibilities of future potential and development as we bounce out of this extraordinary situation. 

Student applications close August 14th, 5 pm. 

Tertiary Market Readiness Programme

Opportunity for New Zealand tertiary students!

The Southeast Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (SEA CAPE) is offering the Tertiary Market Readiness Programme (TMRP) to a select number of students across New Zealand.

The TMRP is a free, half-day workshop, offered online through zoom with the first workshop taking place on August 25th.

In this workshop, which is an extension of our popular Market Readiness Programme, you will learn how to assess business environments in Southeast Asia and strengthen your knowledge about doing business with the region. The workshop also looks at customer and consumer demographics and expectations.

Students who complete the workshop will also receive a digital TMRP badge to display their newly acquired knowledge on their social channels.

Applications close August 18th, 5 pm.

Market Readiness Programme

New dates - online and in person!

We are excited to once again be delivering our Market Readiness workshops in person, starting with our Singapore Malaysia Module in Palmerston North and our ASEAN module in Hawke's Bay and Wellington.

These free, full day workshops will show attendees how to assess the business environment in these Southeast Asian markets. Come along and tap into the expert knowledge provided by international business experts and industry professionals.

We will also be delivering the ASEAN module nationwide, in a more concentrated half-day online workshop.

Keep an eye on our website and social channels where we will announce many more dates soon.

Don't forget, we now also offer digital badges for all attendees after each workshop to showcase your newly acquired ASEAN knowledge.

Register now via the link below. 

Cultural Acumen Tourism Training

Upcoming cultural workshops

Funded by the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence, the Cultural Acumen Tourism Training programme is established and managed at the University of Otago.

The project specifically focuses on providing cultural understandings related to visitors to New Zealand from Southeast Asia, North Asia, and Latin America. There is potential for the growth enjoyed by these markets to continue once the pandemic has passed.

The training programme will equip front line staff, managers and sales & marketing staff working in tourism and hospitality with cultural awareness to enhance the visitor experience.

The programme will be launched at a series of workshops in Dunedin, Queenstown, Wellington, Rotorua and Auckland in August and September. 

Anyone interested in participating should contact Dr. Ismail Shaheer.
ismail.shaheer@otago.ac.nz

TMIP 2020 Student Reports

Printed packs now available

During the Tertiary Market Immersion Programme (TMIP) in January of this year, sixteen New Zealand tertiary students worked in teams, guided by academic mentors, to develop a business idea for a New Zealand company or entrepreneur wanting to enter the Southeast Asia market.

These student projects are available to view and download on our website.

We now also have a limited number of printed copies available for our mailing list subscribers!

Please email seacape@vuw.ac.nz if you would like us to send you a pack.

SEA CAPE Spotlight 

Catching up with SEA CAPE friends and alumni

Francesco Giovanni Lopez, Age 10

What’s your name, how old are you, and where do you go to school?

My name is Francesco Giovanni Lopez. I am 10 years old and go to Boulcott School, New Zealand. 

How does it feel to have your work published in the special edition Toitoi?

I feel honored that my literary work has been selected and published into the Toi-Toi journal.This means a lot to me. Thank you! 

What’s your connection with Southeast Asia?

My roots originated from the Philippines, one of the Southeast Asian nations. Although I was born and still live in New Zealand, my family and I would often travel to the Philippines and visit Avila, Guimaras where my lovely grandmother lives. 

Tell us about your favourite Southeast Asia memory.

My favourite Asia memory was when we went island hopping through various Guimaras islets, went snorkeling and visited a cave full of Bats. It was indescribably exciting! 

New to the SEA CAPE mailing list? You can now access our past updates here.