NMIT welcomes more international learners

A successful programme in 2023 meant NMIT was chosen to welcome another cohort of IISMA (Indonesian International Student Mobility Awards) students to the Nelson/Tasman region.  

The Indonesian government runs IISMA for both undergraduate and vocational groups of students. The scheme is centrally managed by Directorate General of Higher Education, Research, and Technology (DGHERT) and the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology (MoECRT). 

16 IISMA scholars recently arrived at Nelson airport, ready to study in the Richmond and Nelson campuses until the end of the year. Eight will be undertaking horticulture programmes and eight are studying aquaculture. These programmes have a significant focus on sustainability, a concept which has been readily embraced by the Indonesian learners. 

They have all been provided homes with families around the region, where they receive homecooked meals and are immersed in New Zealand culture. 

NMIT is also incredibly grateful to our industry partners that have dedicated their time and allowed visits to their facilities for the IISMA scholars. 

Jenny North, horticulture tutor at the Richmond campus says the students are all so lovely and are settling in nicely. 

“We are really looking forward to our numerous field trips that are both informative and allow these students to see as much of our region as possible,” Jenny says.  

Chris Blake, aquaculture tutor at the Nelson campus, has already taken learners to the enchanting Nelson Lakes National Park and Wairau Valley.  

“We took the IISMA students on a field trip to the Fish and Game trout hatchery in the Wairau Valley. They learnt about aquaculture production systems and trout propagation,” Chris says. 

The team took freshly fertilized trout eggs back to NMIT to observe in the lab. 

“We were also able to stop at Lake Rotoiti to check out the eels and snap some pics,” Chris says.  

Last year’s scholarship winners, including Yusuf Rosidy(external link), took home memories to last a lifetime and many were keen to return to New Zealand to live and work.