Pii-Tuulia Nikula

• PhD
• Associate Professor at Eastern Institute of Technology

This paper applies agency theory to explore the contractual relationship between higher education institutions (HEI) and HEI-contracted for-profit education agents in international student recruitment, bridging a gap in the existing literature by investigating the underlying issues surrounding these relationships. Building on insights and findings...

Australia and New Zealand have enacted legislation to protect international students’ rights and the long-term sustainability of their export education sectors. A pivotal, but under-researched, sub-domain of these legislative frameworks is education agent-based international student recruitment. The principal-agent relationships between governments...

This article explores voluntary climate mitigation by New Zealand firms. To meet global emission reduction targets, rapid decarbonisation is required. Hence, it is important to understand how and why firms engage in climate change mitigation, what results these mitigation efforts yield and the related tensions. This article explores the practices a...

Scholars and practitioners from around the globe come together in this volume to identify the role global student mobility plays in climate impact and identify promising practices that can be implemented to make change. Conveying both urgency, as well as a sense of hope and opportunity, this volume will help the field of education abroad familiariz...

With a focus on the growing number of institutions employing commercial agents to support international student recruitment, Student Recruitment Agents in International Higher Education provides an evidence-based exploration of this phenomenon, and will increase the reader’s understanding of the multiple dimensions of agent engagement, its contradi...

https://www.routledge.com/Student-Recruitment-Agents-in-International-Higher-Education-A-Multi-Stakeholder/Nikula-Raimo-West/p/book/9781032136059

https://www.routledge.com/Student-Recruitment-Agents-in-International-Higher-Education-A-Multi-Stakeholder/Nikula-Raimo-West/p/book/9781032136059

Free chapter preview: https://www.routledge.com/Student-Recruitment-Agents-in-International-Higher-Education-A-Multi-Stakeholder/Nikula-Raimo-West/p/book/9781032136059#googlePreviewContainer

You can read this chapter in Amazon preview for free: https://read.amazon.com/sample/B0C2WRR1GQ?f=1&l=en_US&r=dbc41aa3&rid=4SZVKGEKQW2F3T9N07A2&sid=136-2270478-4810647&ref_=litb_m

You can find the book description here: https://www.forumea.org/sustainable-education-abroad.html

This article applies cognitive dissonance theory to the internationalisation of higher education sector to comment on tensions experienced by practitioners associated with their work's climate impact. The existing literature and relevant climate action drivers and challenges within the sector are reviewed. A case study of a global grassroot initiat...

The intersection of international education practice/policy and the climate crisis is an area with many research gaps to fill. This includes both the carbon footprint of international education and the capacity of international education to create awareness about climate change and available solution. Another important aspect is the interplay betwe...

We all know that the international education sector must play its part in tackling the climate crisis, but how do we deal with the fact that climate goals are often in conflict with internationalisation ideals? We must make strategic choices that weigh both the benefits of internationalisation and the environmental costs.

Nikula, PT, & Gaalen, A. van (2021). Balancing International Education and its Carbon Footprint. Critical Voices 1(4). Critical Internationalization Studies Network. https://criticalinternationalization.net/2021/05/13/balancing-international-education-and-its-carbon-footprint/

International students arriving in New Zealand must acculturate to studying in a new academic environment. This article evaluates graduate and postgraduate level international students’ perceptions of their home and host environments and the benefits of offering an academic preparation course to support international students’ sense of academic sel...

This article examines the monitoring of third-party education agents employed in international student recruitment. Agency theory identifies comprehensive monitoring as one way to ensure that agents work in the principal’s best interest. By analyzing best practice guidelines, this article investigates the monitoring mechanisms proposed for educatio...

https://www.ieaa.org.au/blog/removing-the-mystery-from-the-education-agent-industry

Educational simulations can enhance teaching and learning in strategic marketing by providing students new opportunities to practice real-life decision-making and develop their content specific and soft skills. This paper examines tertiary student perceptions of participating in an online simulation. In particular, this paper explores whether parti...

It’s the global challenge everyone is talking about: climate change. Less frequently discussed is international education’s carbon footprint and how to reduce it. In order to be part of the solution, more research is needed on the overall impact of internationalisation on climate change and potential paths toward a carbonneutral future for the fiel...

This paper explores the realms of government regulation in export education marketing and information provision in Australia and New Zealand. The scope and sufficiency of government regulation is explored from the perspective of international students’ consumer rights. In addition, this paper evaluates governments’ abilities to observe education pr...

The rights and well-being of international students should be at the core of most institutional activities, covering areas such as marketing, teaching quality and support during studies. However, only a few countries have introduced codes of conduct to ensure consistency at the national level. In this session, participants will learn more about sim...

A presentation looking at the faculty pillar of comprehensive internationalisation through a green lens What strategies and techniques can international educators employ to aid the ‘greening’ of internationalisation? This fast-paced Ignite session will look at the six pillars of comprehensive internationalisation through a 'green lens', offering p...

With Andrew Galloway (MBIE) and Dan Smidt (ENZ) The Code of Practice for the Pastoral Care of International Students requires all New Zealand education providers to effectively monitor their contracted education agents. Effective monitoring can help protect the interests of students, providers and government, contributing to the sustainable growth...

The economic profitability narrative has dominated the international student recruitment discussion. More recently, we have seen increasing focus on the ‘people’ aspect, emphasising the need to safeguard the interests of international students and domestic communities. However, the third ‘P’ of the Triple Bottom Line principle is yet to enter the m...

Climate change in New Zealand and how to take action

In the past 20 years, the Australian and New Zealand international education sectors have become more responsive to questions of social sustainability. But what about climate action? Retrieved from https://www.ieaa.org.au/blog/lets-lead-on-climate- international-educations-response-to-climate-emergency

Retrieved from https://www.universityworldnews.com/post.php?story=20190508081728122

Climate change is the defining challenge of our time; we need rapid action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees. To reduce carbon-related emission we need action from governments, industries and individuals across the globe. Full article available at https://blog.thepienews.com/2019/04/the-climate-clock-is-ticking-loud-is-the-international-educat...

New Zealand witnessed a radical change in its student funding policy approach in 2018. The new Labour led government decided to waive the cost of tuition for all domestic first year students without prior tertiary level study experience. This interactive session engages the audience in a small group discussion of the outcomes of this zero-fee polic...

This poster evaluates the inclusion of sustainability arguments in international education strategy and leadership documents published by the New Zealand Ministry of Education. The findings reveal the domination of economic considerations. Also visible is an increasing emphasis on social dimensions, in particular, international students’ wellbeing...

The Labour-led government recently announced the details of the Review of Vocational Education (RoVE), aimed at creating a more unified vocational education system. However, the proposal up for consultation seems to raise more questions than answers. The RoVE reform recommends that the existing 16 independent institutions of technology and polytec...

The new Labour led government implemented a fees free (hereafter: zero-fee) tertiary policy as part of its first 100-day plan to improve tertiary level participation in New Zealand and to reduce financial barriers. With the first cohort of eligible students enrolling in 2018, the benefits and limitations of this scheme have yet to be determined. Th...

A reliance on indirect service export in the form of offshore-based education agents is widespread across Australian and New Zealand tertiary education institutions. The control issues pertinent to the use of these type of third-party middle-men have been well documented in the international business and agency theory literatures. The urgency of un...

International students coming to New Zealand must acculturate quickly to studying and living in a new environment. The typical adjustment process has been described as one-directional: the responsibility lies with the students - not with the education provider (e.g. Campbell & Li, 2008; Guan & Glyndwr, 2011). However, this one-directional approach...

This presentation will evaluate the 2016 Education (Pastoral Care of International Students) Code of Practice to analyse the sufficiency of this legal framework in safeguarding the interests of international students coming to New Zealand. This discussion is warranted by the government’s continuing commitment to develop education as one of the key...

Australia and New Zealand have recently (2018/2016) released revised national codes, including various modifications to their education agent standards. This presentation will start by discussing the historical development of these two frameworks from the perspective of education provider/education agent relationships. The content of the existing a...

Educational computer simulations allow students to experience real-life scenarios that are often beyond traditional classroom activities. Simulations also lend themselves well to collaboration and student-centered learning. This Brown Bag seminar will discuss the findings of a two-year research project, evaluating the benefits of introducing online...

How to use digital tools, such as video and gamification, to enhance student engagement

Considerable academic attention has been placed on analysing whether, and to what extent, socioeconomic background affects higher education participation. However, the use of socioeconomic status (SES) is problematic as it may be constructed from various data sources. Similar issues can be inherent in study design-related operationalisation decisio...

The new Labour led government implemented its pre-election promise of zero-fee tertiary as part of its first 100-days plan. The fees free tertiary policy framework provides one year of free study, extended to two years in 2021, and three years in 2024. With the first cohort of students starting in 2018, the benefits and limitations of this scheme a...

This discussion paper is available at http://briefingpapers.co.nz/food-for-thought-free-of-charge-school-lunches/

This presentation examines international students’ reactions to and attitudes towards video presentations as a way of demonstrating their learning.

This paper discusses the key issues arising from the common New Zealand market entry strategy where third-party representatives, i.e. education agents, are used to recruit international students from offshore markets. Approximately half of all students coming to New Zealand for tertiary level study use the services of an education agent (OBHE, 2014...

How can we evolve the New Zealand learning environment to increase international student engagement, collaboration and real-life problem solving in order to improve student outcomes? This paper explores the outcomes of a collaborative online simulation that was integrated into a postgraduate-level (L8) management programme in New Zealand. Online si...

Published in Helsingin Sanomat. Retrieved from https://www.hs.fi/paivanlehti/16112017/art-2000005450233.html

Many international students have limited experience with a constructivist learning environment which emphasizes self-directed learning. Nevertheless, these students must successfully acculturate quickly to living and studying in a new and, typically, unfamiliar environment. Many tertiary institutions have implemented academic skills programmes to s...

Partnering with Education Agents: Tips and Techniques to Manage Agent Relationships

This thesis examines tertiary education student funding policies in regard to student-state cost-sharing in Finland and New Zealand. The main purpose of the study is to advance our understanding of the causes explaining the stability and change in the generosity of these programs. This thesis draws on the welfare state and higher education cost-sha...