HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST) has successfully concluded its 2nd AI Film Festival (AIFF), held recently at the Shaw Auditorium. As one of the key events celebrating HKUST’s 35th anniversary, the two-day Festival brought together industry leaders, filmmakers, scholars, students, and members of the public to explore how artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining cinematic creativity and production.

This year’s AIFF saw an overwhelming global response, with over 1,300 submissions—almost double that of last year—from nearly 80 countries and regions. Following a rigorous evaluation by an international jury, a number of outstanding works were recognized across key award categories*. The Best Film Award was presented to The Afterlife of Aphrodite by Gabriela Cardona WALTHER, a Mexican filmmaker whose work seamlessly blends personal memory and mythology to explore themes of identity, femininity, and transformation. The Best Debut AI Film Award went to NeoNature by Javier Gracia ALCAINE, a Spanish AI content creator who captures the beauty of natural world through cinematic, ultra-realistic wildlife documentaries with immersive storytelling.

In addition to these remarkable overseas works, local talent also shone at this year’s Festival. Hong Kong-based AI filmmaker KA TAM earned the Best Technical Innovation Award for Project J, a sci-fi action piece that demonstrates the pioneering use of AI in crafting a dystopian narrative set in a technologically controlled future. The Best Human AI Collaboration Award was presented to Ash Boat by OUYANG Mengke, a postgraduate student from HKUST’s Division of Arts and Machine Creativity (AMC). Her evocative short film explores the complexities of human grief, memory, and emotion through the story of a teenage girl assigned an AI guardian in a near-future society.

The Festival was graced by distinguished guests, including Ms. Edith SHIH, Vice Chairperson of the HKUST Council; Mr. Kevin WANG Xikai, Station Chief of the Hong Kong Reporter Station, National Radio and Television Administration; Prof. QU Huamin, Dean of the Academy of Interdisciplinary Studies (AIS) at HKUST; Prof. FU Hongbo, Acting head of AMC at HKUST, as well as other academic and industry representatives. Acclaimed local film director Mr. Stanley TONG also delivered a keynote speech, sharing insights into how AI offers new opportunities for Chinese film development by reducing trial‑and‑error costs and accelerating visual innovation, while underscoring that storytelling, human emotion, and cultural depth remain the irreplaceable core of filmmaking.

Alongside the screenings of shortlisted films, the Festival featured three thematic panels examining key issues in AI filmmaking. The panel titled “Future · AI Film · Production Technology” featuring Prof. RAO Anyi, Assistant Professor of AMC; Mr. Feynman LI, General Manager of the AI Content Creative Department at Tencent Online Video; Ms. Eddy CHEN, Chinese AI artist; as well as other industry representatives, addressed both the opportunities and challenges in areas such as creative control, visual consistency, and production efficiency, while also discussing how AI is accelerating content creation and empowering smaller creative teams.

Building on this discussion, the panel titled “Reshaping Light and Shadow: Film Aesthetics and Authorship in the AI Era,” featuring local film director and HKUST alumnus Mr. KA Sing-Fung; local film producer Ms. TO Chi-Long; Korean film director Prof. Chul HEO; and other academic representatives, explored how AI is reshaping cinematic aesthetics and authorship, highlighting the importance of integrating tools, performance, and storytelling while preserving creative originality. Another panel titled “Cultural Memories and Digital Heritage,” featuring Dr. Vennes CHENG, Lecturer of AMC; Mr. HO Rui-An, Singaporean artist and writer; and other experts, examined how AI can reconstruct and reinterpret historical materials while emphasizing ethical considerations in balancing preservation, interpretation, and authenticity.

Beyond the screenings and discussions, this year’s Festival introduced an exhibition gallery showcasing AI film materials and selected student projects from AMC in an immersive, installation-based format, featuring works such as interactive robotic arms and a facial-capture device. To further enhance real-world impact, AIFF also strengthened its industry engagement through strategic collaborations with leading AI enterprises, including Tencent, Kling, TapNow, and MiniMax, effectively bridging academic innovation with professional AI filmmaking practices.

As part of its commitment to nurturing future talent, HKUST further enriched its educational outreach for this year’s AIFF. A series of workshops and a 36-hour AI film hackathon for secondary school students were introduced in March to deepen their understanding of AI generated content and to empower the next generation of innovators. The winning student work premiered during the Festival’s opening screening, reinforcing the event’s role as a platform where education, industry, and creative practice meaningfully converge.

Prof. Qu Huamin, Dean of AIS at HKUST, said, “The HKUST AIFF is more than a celebration of digital creativity; it also bridges the gap between cutting-edge research and real-world practice, driving the development of art and technology in academia and industry. This flagship initiative demonstrates AIS’s ongoing commitment to fostering innovation and social impact through interdisciplinary collaboration, while nurturing versatile talent in our rapidly evolving world.”

Prof. Fu Hongbo, Acting Head of AMC at HKUST, expressed his gratitude for the contributions of AMC student teams who were actively involved in planning and organizing the AIFF. “At HKUST, we see AI film as a unique meeting point where creators, researchers, industry partners, and students unite to explore new possibilities in storytelling. This year’s AIFF continues to grow not only in scale but also in ambition. Through these efforts, we hope to foster a sustainable and dynamic ecosystem for AI‑driven creative practice.”

Having established Hong Kong’s first Division of Arts and Machine Creativity in 2024, HKUST continues to demonstrate its dedication to promoting AI integration in the creative industries and advancing art tech education and research through AIFF.

*The full list of awardees, together with their winning works, is available here.

Download photos here: https://hkust.edu.hk/news/hkust-2nd-ai-film-festival-concludes-successfully-showcasing-global-excellence-ai-creativity

Hashtag: #HKUST

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 19 May 2026 – In the rapidly evolving logistics landscape of 2026, precision and speed define the ultimate prerequisites for high-value essentials. Leveraging Hong Kong’s unparalleled “geographical superpower”, the ability to reach half the world’s population within a five-hour flight, Cathay Cargo is reinforcing the aviation gateway for the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and the global market through its specialized Cold Chain Logistics by integrating Cathay Fresh and Cathay Pharma solutions.

Cathay Fresh: Seamless Intermodal Connectivity

The Airport Authority Hong Kong’s Air-Land Fresh Lane (ALFL) initiative has enabled Cathay Cargo to create a seamless intermodal cold chain link for premium perishables, such as live seafood and seasonal fruits, into the Greater Bay Area. Under a single air waybill, these shipments travel seamlessly from overseas via HKIA directly to the GBA within a unified cold chain ecosystem.

The ALFL’s strategic brilliance lies in its simplified import process: by utilizing a specialized transshipment certificate, shipments bypass complex re-registration on the Chinese Mainland and access refrigerated Customs facilities in Zhuhai directly. This ecosystem ensures end-to-end integrity: products are protected by “Cool Dollies” on the tarmac before being transferred to GPS-tracked, temperature-controlled trucks. This streamlined process significantly accelerates delivery, ensuring nutrient density and food security for consumers.

Cathay Pharma: Technical Excellence in Life Sciences

As pharmaceutical products demand absolute thermal stability, Cathay Pharma offers a technical vanguard and sets the industry benchmark for life sciences. Operating the largest dedicated Pharma Handling Centre at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), Cathay Pharma supports four distinct temperature ranges (FRO, COL, CRT, ERT) and offers Asia’s most extensive selection of cool containers through six strategic partners.

The key to this reliability is Ultra Track, a near-real-time data-logging system that empowers shippers with full visibility into cargo status and enables proactive interventions. With over 70 qualified pharma handling stations globally, Cathay Pharma ensures that life-saving vaccines and biologics maintain their efficacy throughout the journey.

An Integrated Total Cold Chain Vision

Cathay Cargo offers a Total Cold Chain Solution tailored to distinct temperature-sensitive sectors. By applying IATA CEIV Fresh-assured protocols to perishables and utilizing world-class pharmaceutical facilities that meet IATA CEIV Pharma requirements for life sciences. Cathay Cargo ensures that every temperature-sensitive shipment, whether premium seafood or critical medicine, meets the highest global standards for safety and integrity.

Hashtag: #CathayCargo #ColdChainLogistics

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A major overhaul of the University of Auckland’s health programmes expands study options, creates flexibility and prepares graduates for the future health workforce.

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland has announced a major redesign of its undergraduate health programmes, creating clearer and more flexible pathways into a wide range of health careers and strengthening the foundations required for clinical health careers.
 
The changes, the most significant overhaul of the University’s undergraduate health offerings in decades, will take effect from 2027 and are designed to broaden student choice, improve equity and well-being, and ensure graduates are well prepared for the evolving needs of Aotearoa New Zealand’s health system.  

Strengthened undergraduate programmes

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At the close of the nomination period for the 2026 season, the VinFuture Prize, a global science and technology prize recorded 1,819 nominations from around the world, supported by a network of more than 17,000 nominators spanning 117 countries and territories.

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HONG KONG SAR – Media OutReach Newswire – 18 May 2026 – Sequencio Therapeutics, a subsidiary of CK Life Sciences Int’l., (Holdings) Inc. (“CK Life Sciences”, Stock Code: 0775) today announced the appointment of Emily Tan as Chief Operating Officer. A 30-year biopharmaceutical veteran, Ms Tan will oversee the company’s global operations and drive execution across its development pipeline.

Ms Tan joins Sequencio Therapeutics with an extensive track record across global pharmaceutical companies, leading contract research organisations, and innovative biotechnology companies, bringing deep expertise in clinical development, operations, quality, regulatory execution, and commercial strategy.

Ms Tan most recently served as Senior Vice President, Business Development at IQVIA, where she led commercial activities in Asia Pacific and supported clients in developing and executing global integrated go-to-market strategies.

Her career includes C-suite roles at China-based biotech startups Unixell Biotechnology, Bennu Biotherapeutics, and Oricell Therapeutics, where she scaled operations and led successful global Investigational New Drug (IND) and China Investigator-Initiated Trial (IIT) submissions. She previously held leadership positions at PAREXEL, Syneos and Pfizer.

“Emily brings a rare combination of operational excellence, clinical development experience, and regional and global leadership,” said Dr Melvin Toh, Vice President and Chief Scientific Officer of CK Life Sciences. “Her appointment strengthens Sequencio Therapeutics’ leadership team as we advance our pipeline and build the operational foundation to support our next stage of growth.”

“I am excited to join the Sequencio Therapeutics team at this important stage of its development,” said Ms Tan. “Building on the company’s strong scientific foundation, I look forward to strengthening operational capabilities and supporting the continued advancement of the pipeline.”

Ms Tan holds a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy (Honours) from the National University of Singapore and a Master of Science in Epidemiology from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

Hashtag: #CKLifeSciences #Sequencio #Therapeutics #COO #ChiefOperatingOfficer #CancerVaccines #R&D #Pharmaceutical #Biotechnology

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New Zealand’s new senior secondary qualifications will provide clearer, more credible recognition of student achievement, Education Minister Erica Stanford says.

“We want young people leaving school with qualifications that are clear, rigorous and widely understood by parents, employers, tertiary providers and students themselves,” Ms Stanford says.

“In March, we confirmed that NCEA would be replaced by a new subject-based qualification over two years. The new qualification will be the New Zealand Certificate of Education (NZCE) at Year 12 and the New Zealand Advanced Certificate of Education (NZACE) at Year 13. 

“Today we are confirming how students will achieve the qualifications, the new grading scale, compulsory subjects, and assessment requirements. These changes are designed to provide clearer pathways, stronger foundations and greater confidence in what student achievement means.

“Under the new system, students in Years 12 and 13 will study at least five subjects each year, with a minimum of three subjects required to achieve each qualification. Obtaining the new literacy and numeracy Foundational Award, benchmarked at Year 11, will be will be a requirement to gain the new qualification.”

Certificates will clearly show how many subjects a student has passed, along with the grade achieved in each subject, creating incentives for students to work hard and achieve success across more subjects.

Students who achieve excellent results across all five subjects will also be eligible for endorsement awards, recognising outstanding academic and vocational performance.

“The new qualifications will introduce a six-point grading scale from A+ to E for every subject, making achievement easier to understand for parents, employers, tertiary providers and students themselves.”

Every subject will include internal assessments and an examination, with the weighting of the examination varying depending on the curriculum area and the nature of the subject. The qualification changes are being developed alongside the new knowledge-rich senior secondary curriculum so that what students learn and how they are assessed are properly aligned.

From 2028, Science | Pūtaiao will also become a compulsory subject in Year 11 alongside English | Te Reo Rangatira and Mathematics | Pāngarau.

“Science gives young people important foundational knowledge in today’s modern world, paving the way for our future scientists, problem-solvers and innovators.

“In 2025 we confirmed the subject list being developed by the Ministry of Education. Examples of exciting new subjects that have been confirmed for the curriculum are ‘Civics, Politics and Philosophy’, ‘Journalism, Media and Communications’ and ‘Advanced Mathematics’.

“Also included are industry-led subjects being developed by Industry Skills Boards that will be included in the qualification with parity of esteem alongside the Ministry subjects. These include subjects like Building and Construction, Outdoor Education and Primary Industries. 

“This qualification rewards hard work and is designed to encourage young people to strive to do their very best, and ultimately to feel proud of what they achieved.

“Today’s Year 9 students will be the first cohort to progress through these changes, supported by a clearer curriculum and qualifications that properly recognise achievement and prepare them for the future.

“This is about ensuring every young New Zealander leaves school with qualifications that are credible, internationally comparable, and set them up for success.”

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The collaboration builds on Sea’s broader adoption of AI technologies across its engineering and development workflows. Through the regional hackathon series, participants will use Codex, a leading AI-powered coding solution, to explore how emerging AI tools can help developers experiment more quickly, improve workflows, and turn ideas into practical solutions for real-world needs.

Beginning in Singapore, the regional series will expand to additional markets across the region, including Indonesia, Taiwan, and Vietnam, bringing together local developer communities to explore practical applications of AI using OpenAI technologies.

“At Sea, we believe innovation grows stronger when communities can learn, experiment, and build together,” said David Chen, Chief Product Officer at Shopee. “As AI continues to shape the future of technology, it is important that more people across the region gain hands-on experience and contribute to how these technologies are applied to address real-world needs. By bringing together developers, ideas, and communities, initiatives like this can help nurture the growing AI ecosystem. It also provides a platform to bridge the gap between the potential of AI and practical solutions that create meaningful impact in people’s everyday lives.”

“Sea is one of Singapore’s leading global technology companies and one of our largest Codex customers in Asia. By adopting Codex across its internal software development workflows, Sea is putting AI-native engineering into practice at scale. That commitment, combined with our shared belief in Asia’s role in shaping the future of software development, creates a strong foundation for broader ecosystem impact. We’re excited to work alongside Sea for our first regional hackathon series to expand access to Codex across APAC and support the next generation of developers and builders in the region,” said Thibault Sottiaux, Head of Codex, OpenAI.

The hackathon series builds on Sea’s adoption of Codex across its engineering organization. Through this regional series, Sea and OpenAI will extend that hands-on experience to more developers across APAC, helping them explore AI-native engineering in practical ways.

The Sea x OpenAI Codex Hackathon will feature onsite support and guidance from global experts at OpenAI, as well as project showcases. Participants will work in teams to develop AI-driven applications and solutions addressing real-world needs across industries and communities. Winning teams will receive up to US$30,000 in OpenAI API credits, with additional prizes including ChatGPT Pro subscriptions for members of the top five teams.

Event Details:

Date: 6 June 2026

Time: 8:30am to 9:00pm

Venue: Shopee Building, 5 Science Park Drive, Singapore 118265

Registrations are now open and closes 28 May 2026, Thursday.

Sea and OpenAI invite developers, students, entrepreneurs, and AI enthusiasts to participate and contribute ideas that can help shape the future of AI-enabled innovation.

Hashtag: #Sea #OpenAI

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The Government is strengthening plant variety rights (PVR) to protect investments underpinning high‑value exports, regional jobs and global demand for New Zealand produce, Trade and Investment and Agriculture Minister Todd McClay and Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Cameron Brewer say.

“High‑value horticulture relies on years, often decades, of breeding, testing and commercialisation. Strengthening the Plant Variety Rights Act 2022 gives New Zealand the intellectual property settings it needs to compete internationally, protect our investment and grow export returns,” Mr Brewer says.

“From drought-resistant grass seed that benefits pastoral farmers, to higher-yielding and better-tasting produce for New Zealanders and our export markets, these changes will provide vital support for growers,” Mr McClay says.

“In 2024, 75 per cent of the $3.5 billion in export returns from kiwifruit and an estimated 55 per cent of the $979 million in export returns from apples came from plant variety rights‑protected varieties. This shows the vital contribution that new plant varieties make to growing export earnings and taking us closer to New Zealand’s ambitious goal of doubling the value of exports in 10 years.

“A successful sector means thriving communities, economic growth, secure jobs and a prosperous economy.”

“Zespri’s projections show that extending the PVR term by five years for SunGold Kiwifruit alone would mean additional revenue of around $1.8 billion over five years from the time of the extension, to the kiwifruit industry and the Biosecurity Science Institute,” Mr Brewer says.

“Growers will also benefit from additional returns as PVR varieties maintain their market value for longer, allowing growers to continue to build high value demand ahead of supply.

“Directly and indirectly we all benefit when our domestic growers are thriving. 

“Breeding and importing new varieties can be a long, expensive and uncertain process. Breeders and importers take a significant risk, and we need to ensure they are supported in this process.”

The Government is also restoring provisional protection, so breeders are covered from day one of their rights application instead of when it is granted.

“This means plant breeders can take immediate legal action if new varieties are stolen and commercially exploited during the application process, which can take up to five years and sometimes much longer,” Mr Brewer says.

“By providing greater certainty and support, we are empowering plant breeders to keep innovating – driving economic growth and ensuring New Zealand remains competitive on the world stage,” Mr McClay says.

“The National-led Government is fixing the basics and building the future by making common-sense changes for industry that help support more opportunities for New Zealanders.” Mr Brewer says.

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Climate Change Minister Simon Watts has released guidance and tools to help New Zealanders take part in voluntary nature and carbon markets with confidence.

“The Government wants to support the growth of voluntary markets that are trusted and able to deliver real benefits for nature, the climate and wider economy,” Mr Watts says. 

“Activities like restoring a wetland and planting natives are nature-based solutions that remove carbon from the atmosphere, protect our biodiversity and even reduce the impact of flooding.

“Businesses, corporates and philanthropists, here and overseas, want to invest in New Zealand’s projects because they value our reliable geopolitical landscape and strong environmental reputation.  

“Strong and credible voluntary markets can deliver real benefits for the climate, environment and economy. But investors must be able to trust they’re buying high quality credits and can make transparent claims, so they’re not accused of greenwashing.”

The refreshed guidance will help participants understand what high-quality, projects should look like. 

“Under the guidance, principles describe what qualities buyers should look for to be confident they are investing in projects that make solid environmental claims. Carbon activities must be additional, durable, real and measurable. They must also be transparent, not double-counted and respectful of rights,” Mr Watts says.

The release of the guidance and tools supports the Government’s approach to grow New Zealand’s voluntary nature and carbon markets announced earlier this week.

“The same principles underpin the Government’s endorsement of high-quality schemes and methodologies announced earlier in the week. This will make it easier for project suppliers – developers, farmers, landowners, iwi, conservationists and community groups – to build high integrity projects which will help them attract more funding,” Mr Watts says.

Also announced today are online guidance and a tool to help organisations explore other carbon removal options. This follows the Assessment Framework for Carbon Removals released last year.

“This tool supports businesses to prepare to submit an application for scientific assessment. It will help people understand whether an activity is scientifically robust, cutting out uncertainty,” Mr Watts says.

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A Māori-led methamphetamine recovery programme in Gisborne is being hailed as a global leader in addiction research and recovery.

He Haerenga ki te Whakaora, run by Mātai Medical Research, combined clinical science with mātauranga Māori to support people recovering from methamphetamine addiction.

The programme had successfully helped participants achieve sustained abstinence and Senior Research Associate Wendy Mohi said it’s the result of a collective commitment to embracing the knowledge of two worlds.

“Te ao Māori ensures wraparound support for the entire whānau and helps maintain a broader focus on physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.”

Participants were given access to advanced MRI imaging, psychometric testing and cognitive assessments administered by neurological, cardiological and psychological experts.

“With MRI scans whai ora (participants) see for themselves the impact meth use has on their brain and heart. There are specific areas of the brain impacted and there’s a kind of shading and deflation where the damage is. “

Mohi said access to such valuable technology and expertise also helps identify underlying health issues that need to be considered.

“As they continue on their abstinence journey, they can literally see the damaged areas of their brain and heart start to recover and it’s a huge motivation for them.”

Meth use remains high

The latest national data shows methamphetamine use in Aotearoa has risen sharply since 2024, with Māori disproportionately affected compared with non-Māori.

National wastewater testing data from police was released in March which estimated 34.7 kilograms of methamphetamine was consumed each week across the country during the final three months of 2025.

Mohi, a former police sergeant, said she saw firsthand the destruction methamphetamine caused and the gaps in long-term support.

“There are services out there, but not enough – and too many work in isolation. Rehab clinics get people clean, but they’re often sent back to the places and people that fostered their addiction with no ongoing support.”

‘World leading’ research

Sarah Helm, Executive Director of New Zealand Drug Foundation, said the research underpinning the programme is groundbreaking.

“It’s world leading – and it potentially turns how we view drug use and addiction on its head.”

Helm said the programme was attracting international attention not just for its results, but for the way it combined science with culture.

“To have a little kaupapa Māori research outfit in Gisborne leading the way globally is staggering.”

She said the programme’s strength lied in integrating clinical science with mātauranga Māori rather than treating them as competing approaches.

“It’s the combination that’s proving more effective.”

ADHD link emerging

Helm said the programme was also enhancing understanding of the impact undiagnosed or untreated ADHD could have on addiction treatment.

“Because they are treating the person, not just a condition, they’ve helped long term meth users with ADHD achieve sustained abstinence.”

Mohi said most whai ora in the programme’s initial cohort were diagnosed with ADHD

The ongoing study has found people without access to medication or diagnosis were often using meth to treat the symptoms they’re experiencing.

“They weren’t using meth to get high or get a buzz, they were using meth to maintain the energy to function normally.”

Helm says there is very little research available that explores ADHD and its potential connection to addiction.

“If there are health reasons for people using substances, we can offer them a better approach.”

Research from the first cohort showed sustained abstinence and stronger reconnection with iwi, whānau and the wider community.

Treaty partnership in practice

For those behind the programme, the outcomes reflect what meaningful partnership under Te Tiriti o Waitangi could achieve.

Both Mohi and Helm said systems designed without Māori partnership often miss critical aspects needed for long-term recovery.

Helm said community response to the programme had been overwhelming.

“We’ve been met with resounding confirmation – this makes sense to people.”

For Mohi, the programme’s impact goes beyond the data.

“Once they know who they are, there’s no stopping them.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The country’s largest education union is describing a delay in the introduction of the government’s new curriculum as a significant win for teachers and school leaders.

The Ministry of Education has announced it will not mandate its new national curriculum for Years 0-8 until 2029.

Previously, the government wanted schools teaching the new science, social sciences, and health and physical education curricula for years 0-10 from 2027, and arts, technology and languages from the start of 2028.

The new curriculum for years 9-10 will still stick to that timeline.

The Ministry of Education said its new science and social science curricula would still “need” to be taught from 2027, but Educational Institute Te Riu Roa (NZEI) national secretary Stephanie Mills told RNZ, despite what the ministry said, those curricula would not be mandated until 2029.

“They’re saying that schools can start looking at the curriculum, trying it out between 2027 and 2028, but it won’t be mandated until 2029.”

That same year, schools would begin rolling out the new curricula for health and physical education, the arts, technology and learning languages, NZEI said.

Principals and teachers across the country had united against the new curriculum’s criteria and timeline, and would be “very pleased” to see Education Minister Erica Stanford had listened to their concerns, Mills said.

“We’ve had submissions, we’ve had letters, we’ve had select committee hearings, we’ve had conversations with the minister and ministry for months now, so I think the fact that there’s been a back down is very belated, but welcome.”

The delay was significant, because it would give teachers more time to learn the curriculum themselves, before they had to teach it, she said.

“They need to learn things themselves in order to be able to teach well and that is a process. It can’t happen in six minutes or six months across six new learning areas.

“The fact that they’ve now got two years to unpack their curriculum, get to know it, work out how it works for the children and the year levels they teach, work out how to make it personalised to the children in front of them is really important.”

On it’s website, the Ministry of Education said the full and final curriculum would be available to schools from mid-2026.

“Schools that are ready to start using it earlier can do so then,” it said.

Mills hoped Stanford and the Ministry for Education would keep listening to the sector.

“There is still concern about the content of the curriculum,” she said. “It’s very Eurocentric, it’s very overstuffed with facts and is focused on instruction from the front of the class, rather than building children’s understanding of how the world works.”

She was concerned that the framework of Te Tiriti o Waitangi had been “erased” from the new documents.

Where the old curriculum had asked students to “know, understand and do”, the new curriculum had dropped the “understand”, she said.

“The really critical things we need to develop in our students is the ability to analyse, to critique, to question… so that they’re questioning whether it’s AI, whether it’s legitimate, whether it’s valid information, whether they can triangulate it with what they know already.”

The Ministry for Education declined to comment, when approached by RNZ.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

With AI+ at its core and the vision to bring positive impact to local industries and societal wellbeing, PolyU IFC 2026 strategically focuses on five industry domains: Life Sciences and Healthcare, Advanced Manufacturing and Microelectronics, Digital Economy and FinTech, Smart City and Green Living, as well as Aerospace and Aviation Technology. The focus domains of each competition region are outlined as follows:

Hashtag: #PolyU

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Explainer – The weather is getting colder and the sneezes are getting louder – which means it’s influenza season.

This year’s season has seen warnings it might be more severe thanks to the H3N2 Subclade K or “super-k” flu strain, which saw flu season in places like the UK ending up particularly brutal this year.

“It is difficult to predict the severity of this year’s influenza season in New Zealand, but we do know that vaccination is the most effective means to reduce hospitalisations and severe outcomes from influenza,” said Dr Joan Ingram, medical advisor for the Immunisation Advisory Centre at the University of Auckland.

There has been a disruption of normal seasonal respiratory virus patterns following the Covid-19 pandemic, University of Otago Professor and Head of Department of Paediatrics and Child Health Peter McIntyre recently told RNZ.

“Covid is with us all year round, although more so in the winter, and the way that flu strains work during the year has changed a bit from the predictable winter peak with not much going on in the rest of the year to a lot more unpredictability with late and early seasons.”

The flu vaccine campaign is now underway – here’s what you need to know about it and how ‘super-k’ factors into it.

Why do we need a new vaccine every year?

Influenza changes a little bit every year, and vaccines are modified each year to match prevailing new strains.

“Everyone from 6 months of age, who is eligible for a funded vaccine and those who can afford a flu vaccine if not already funded, should have one,” Ingram said.

More than 1 million influenza vaccines are administered in New Zealand each year.

Typically around 500 people die each year from the flu, Health New Zealand said.

“For those at higher risk of complications from the flu, which is anyone over the age of 65, and particularly those over the age of 75 or 80, then it’s a very good idea to get in right now with your flu vaccine,” McIntyre said.

This year’s goal is to vaccinate 75 percent of the population over 65 years old.

“It would be wonderful if our flu vaccine uptake was higher,” Ingram said.

“All people 65 years and over are eligible for funded flu vaccine, but last year only around 60 percent had one – so cost is not the only barrier.”

New Zealand’s flu season usually runs from May to October, and the immunisation programme runs from 1 April to 31 December.

In both 2024 and 2025, flu cases saw a later than usual peak towards the end of August, the Immunisation Advisory Centre said.

This year’s funded vaccine is Influvac Tetra, which is free for those who meet certain conditions (see below).

There are also three unfunded flu vaccines available – Flucelvax, Fluzone and Fluad. More on those in a minute.

How do you book a flu shot?

You can make an appointment through Book My Vaccine or by ringing 0800 28 29 26 from 8.30am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

You can also contact your GP for a vaccination, and most pharmacies will also be offering the vaccine – check with your local.

Who gets it for free?

The flu vaccine is free for those who are at the highest risk of getting very sick. This includes:

• people aged 65 years and over
• people aged 6 months and over who have a long-term medical condition like diabetes, asthma or a heart condition
• pregnant people
• children aged 4 years and under who have been hospitalised for respiratory illness, or have a history of significant respiratory illness
• people with mental health conditions, including schizophrenia, major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder
• people who are currently accessing secondary or tertiary mental health and addiction services

Anyone who doesn’t fit into those categories will likely have to pay.

So how much does it cost?

The price for the vaccine is variable, but a check of multiple pharmacies showed it typically runs between $25 to $40 for the funded vaccine Influvac Tetra.

The three unfunded vaccines will cost more – ask your provider for details.

What happens when I get the jab?

You’ll typically be asked to wait for 15 minutes after getting the vaccine to ensure there’s no adverse reactions.

Vaccines can cause mild reactions, like a slight fever or pain where the needle went in.

Serious allergic reactions are rare and should be closely monitored at vaccination sites. They can also be reported online to the Centre for Adverse Reactions Monitoring, CARM.

For those concerned about vaccines, the Health New Zealand flu kit notes that “The flu vaccine has been around for many decades and has a great safety record. The vaccine does not contain live influenza viruses and cannot cause influenza.”

The vaccine doesn’t guarantee you’ll never catch the flu, but it does substantially lower the risk of serious illness or hospitalisation, health authorities say.

The government research organisation PHF Science said that in 2025, those vaccinated had about a 69 percent lower chance of being infected than those unvaccinated.

For now, you’re going to have to just grit your teeth and deal with the needle, but nasal spray flu vaccines are in development and may come here in the near future.

What is this ‘super-k’ influenza strain and why is it a worry?

Subclade K or H3N2 Subclade K is a strain of influenza that “has spread earlier and faster than typical seasonal influenza,” Australia’s science agency CSIRO said.

While it’s led to a more severe flu season in parts of the world, vaccines still work against it.

And New Zealand is fortunate, as vaccines have been changed for our part of the world to better deal with super-k.

“It is expected that all the flu vaccines in use in New Zealand this winter will provide protection against the K variant,” Ingram said.

“One of the strains in each vaccine is expected to provide protection against the K variant and was not included in the northern hemisphere vaccines – so we should have better protection.”

“It’s a good deal better than what they had in the Northern Hemisphere so hopefully that’s going to help us,” McIntyre said.

The super-k is not a new virus, but has undergone mutations in one of its key proteins that affect how it behaves and spreads. CSIRO said “the current best evidence suggests subclade K does not cause more severe disease.”

When it hit the UK last December, it led to record hospitalisations. The NHS’s national medical director called it a “worst-case scenario for this time of year.”

It has already arrived in this part of the world, McIntyre said.

“It turned up actually early in both Australia and New Zealand at the end of last year which was the reason why there was more flu around than would usually be the case in October and November.”

What other flu vaccines are there?

Pharmac funds the Influvac Tetra vaccine for those eligible, but three other flu vaccines are also offered at extra cost. Each is manufactured in a slightly different way.

“Influvac Tetra (funded vaccine) and Fluzone are very similar,” Ingram said, with Influvac containing an extra strain but not one that makes a “meaningful difference” to effectiveness against current strains.

Flucelvax, on the other hand, is a cell-based vaccine using cultured mammalian cells rather than the other, egg-based vaccines that are created in embryonated chicken eggs.

That “can be more effective than egg-based flu vaccines,” Ingram said. “The difference in benefit varies from season to season.”

“Over multiple seasons, Flucelvax was 8 percent more effective than egg-based vaccines. In one Northern Hemisphere season, it reached almost 20 percent more effectiveness in children and adults aged under 65 years.”

The fourth vaccine, Fluad, is free for adults over 65 in Australia, but not in New Zealand, even though McIntyre said there is evidence it’s even more effective for the elderly.

Here, Fluad is only approved for adults over age 50.

“As the name suggests it’s got this added bit in it, which is a thing called an adjuvant, which basically helps kick the immune system along to produce a stronger response,” McIntyre said.

Fluad “provides the greatest additional benefit for older adults aged 75 years and over, and those with multiple health problems,” Ingram said.

As it’s not funded, it will typically run around $50 to get Fluad, McIntyre said.

“In New Zealand, unfortunately, if you want that vaccine … you’ll have to pay for it.”

McIntrye said there are “good arguments” in favour of funding it for over 65s.

Should more vaccines be free?

Cost and access are still factors keeping flu vaccine takeup from being higher.

Ingram said on behalf of the Immunisation Advisory Centre that “we do wish that the flu vaccine was funded for all children under 5 and that older adults could have a funded enhanced vaccine.”

Last year, only 5 percent of children had a flu vaccine despite around 20 percent being eligible for a free vaccine because of health conditions.

“Funding it for all children would improve uptake and reduce sickness, hospitalisations, complications, antibiotic use and transmission in families and communities,” Ingram said.

If you’re making a flu vaccine appointment, it’s worth considering getting other vaccines done too, she said.

“When getting a flu vaccine, it is sensible to also have a dose of the updated Covid-19 vaccine if you are older or have health conditions that will increase your risk of severe Covid-19.”

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

The flotilla departs tomorrow with 54 boats and nearly 500 participants from 45 countries on the eve of Nakba Day.

MARMARIS – The Global Sumud Flotilla (GSF) issued a definitive declaration today from the port of Marmaris, confirming that its nonviolent mission to break Israel’s illegal siege of Gaza will proceed. The fleet departs tomorrow, joining forces with the Freedom Flotilla Coalition to launch 54 boats carrying nearly 500 participants from 45 countries. As the world mobilizes after 78 years of Palestinian dispossession, occupation, and erasure, the flotilla will be at sea, sailing toward Gaza, maintaining that commemoration without action is no longer enough.

Four New Zealanders are set to continue on this mission to break Israel’s illegal siege. These individuals are Samuel Leason, Hāhona Ormsby, Mousa Taher, and Julien Blondel.

After a month defined by maritime violence, illegal abductions, and the documented torture of international human rights defenders by the israeli Occupation Forces (IOF), our fleet has regrouped and expanded in preparation for the final leg of its journey to the shores of Gaza where they will deliver food and aid to Palestinian children and families continuing to live under israel’s brutal occupation.

The Strategic Mandate for Action

The decision to proceed is grounded in visceral mandates. While Gaza’s healthcare system continues to face total collapse, the Flotilla’s medical fleet serves as a direct, civilian-led humanitarian intervention. GSF organizers emphasized that as the Israeli regime attempts to make the blockade the permanent status quo, the strategic risk of inaction has become far greater than the risks of sailing.

This determination follows the return of Steering Committee members Saif Abukeshek and Thiago Ávila, who were released on May 10 after ten days of illegal detention and systemic abuse and torture at the hands of the israeli state as well as the beating and sexual abuse of flotilla volunteers who were illegally intercepted and detained in European international waters on 29 April. Their return is a testament to international mobilization, yet their release does not constitute true freedom while over 9,500 Palestinians remain trapped in a system of torture and impunity.

For the Flotilla, the moral imperative of direct action against the israeli regime far outweighs the risks of remaining silent in the face of ongoing genocide and ethnic cleansing. In parallel with the maritime departure, a land convoy is currently staging in North Africa. Comprised of dozens of trucks and hundreds of participants from over 30 countries, this overland mission is moving through Libya toward the Rafah border crossing.

Defying the Machinery of Impunity

The mission has further evolved into a universal struggle for liberation. Representatives from the Rohingya community and other oppressed peoples have joined the fleet, framing Gaza as the tip of the spear in a global uprising against genocide.

A Direct Challenge to Global Complicity and State Piracy

Flotilla organizers explicitly condemned the complicity of the Greek government, the European Union, and other flag states whose silence allowed the IOF to carry out abductions in international waters, over 1,000 km from Gaza, with total impunity.

Parallel to technical preparations, international legal experts finalized a global accountability strategy at a legal symposium held last week. This includes immediate legal prosecution and potential proceedings at the International Criminal Court against the israeli state and governments providing diplomatic and logistical cover for these crimes; exploring legal actions in more than 30 countries; and continued demands for sanctions against and reparations from the israeli state for its ongoing genocide of the Palestinian people.

GSF continues to demand formal accountability for the violence and sexual abuse inflicted on participants. GSF maintains that civilian maritime missions are firmly protected under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), a framework the Israeli state and its allies are currently dismantling.

A Direct Challenge to Political Cowardice

The mission stands as a direct challenge to world leaders who have offered only calibrated statements and letters while witnessing the continued genocide and starvation of Gaza. While 14 UN Special Rapporteurs, the Prime Ministers of Spain and Brazil, and 19 members of the U.S. Congress have spoken out, the U.S. State Department has issued threats against its own citizens rather than defending them from attacks in international waters. This response is being documented as a legal and political fact.

In the absence of state intervention, people of conscience are acting as the physical barrier between military brutality and Palestinian lives. As the flotilla sets sail, movement and Palestinian civil society leaders are coordinating global protests on land, with over 400 actions planned across 47 countries on May 15 and 16. The horizon is not negotiable.

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

MIL OSI

SINGAPORE- Media OutReach Newswire – 14 May 2026 – Beyond academic rankings and programme offerings, students today are placing increasing emphasis on campus life, wellbeing support, and a sense of belonging when choosing where to pursue higher education.

This shift reflects a broader trend across the sector, where institutions are being evaluated not only on academic outcomes, but also on their ability to provide holistic student experiences that support mental wellbeing, social integration, and career readiness.

At the Singapore Institute of Management (SIM), student engagement has become a central pillar of the learning experience, with a wide network of student led clubs and communities designed to support both personal and professional development.

A Growing Priority: Belonging and Wellbeing

Industry observations indicate that students, particularly those transitioning from secondary education or arriving from overseas, often face challenges such as social isolation, cultural adjustment, and limited peer support networks. Research also highlights that being away from familiar support systems and adapting to a new cultural and academic environment can be an isolating process, contributing to increased stress, anxiety, and reduced perceived social support

To address this, SIM has developed a structured student life ecosystem supported by its Student Development initiatives and programmes such as Project1095, which emphasises learning beyond the classroom and holistic growth. With close to 80 student clubs and co-curricular activities available, students are provided with multiple avenues to build connections and integrate into campus life.

From Co-Curricular Activities to Career Readiness

Student clubs are increasingly seen as more than recreational clubs, playing a meaningful role in preparing students for the workforce. Participation in such communities enables students to develop transferable skills aligned with employer expectations, including leadership, collaboration, and communication.

At SIM, student led initiatives span a broad spectrum, from arts and cultural groups that foster creativity and teamwork through performances and events, to sports and wellness communities that promote physical resilience and discipline. Leadership platforms such as student councils provide opportunities for students to organise initiatives and represent the student body, while international student communities support cultural integration and inclusivity.

In addition, special interest and professional clubs offer exposure to industry trends and peer led learning. Collectively, these platforms provide practical experiences that complement academic programmes and contribute to graduates’ overall employability.

Reflecting a Broader Shift in Higher Education

The increasing importance placed on student life reflects a wider evolution in higher education, where institutions are expected to support both academic achievement and personal development.

By investing in student communities and engagement, institutions like SIM are responding to this shift, providing environments where students can not only gain qualifications, but also build networks, resilience, and a strong sense of identity.

As prospective students weigh their options, the availability of vibrant campus communities and support systems is likely to remain a key differentiator in the higher education landscape.

Reference:

1. The experience of loneliness among international students participating in the BBC Loneliness Experiment: Thematic analysis of qualitative survey data – https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666518223000189?
2. Mental health concerns and needs of international students in higher education settings: A scoping review protocol – https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12334020/
3. SIM CCA – https://www.sim.edu.sg/degrees-diplomas/life-at-sim/co-curricular-activities
4. SIM Project 1095 – https://project1095.simge.edu.sg/

https://www.sim.edu.sg/

Hashtag: #SIMGlobalEducation #SIMGE #GlobalEducation #InternationalDegree #CareerReady #FutureSkills

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

– Published and distributed with permission of Media-Outreach.com.

Date:  14 May 2026

The Department of Conservation has been working with pest control developer, Connovation, to develop and register a ready-made bait containing the toxin PAPP (para-aminopropiophenone), to which stoats are especially susceptible.

Stoats are relentless killers of native birds, bats and other wildlife, and the key cause of kiwi population decline on the mainland. They are on the target list for removal in New Zealand’s Predator Free 2050 programme.

DOC Principal Science Advisor Elaine Murphy, who has led the PAPP sausage bait development over nine years, says the recent field trials were very successful.

“Over the past three years we’ve carried out two hand-laid trials and two aerial trials using PAPP sausage baits in the Borland valley in Fiordland National Park, which regularly has high stoat numbers but few rats.

“All the trials were very successful. Stoat detection was reduced by more than 95 per cent in the treatment areas following the hand-laid bait application and no stoats were detected in the treatment areas after the two aerial trials.

“This is an amazing result considering we only used one bait per 4-8 ha in the hand-laid trials and one bait per hectare in the aerial trials.”

The first two trials involved hand-laying baits over about 1000 ha in the forest. A prefeed of non-toxic baits to prime the stoats was followed by two rounds of PAPP bait, a week apart.

The later aerial trials covered 2,000-4,800 ha with one non-toxic prefeed and a single application of PAPP bait. Stoats were monitored before and after the operations and in non-treatment areas using trail cameras and tracking tunnels.

Current stoat control methods are limited to labour-intensive trapping and aerial 1080 predator control operations that rely on stoats eating poisoned rodents.

New tools are needed to target stoats in environments where there are few rodents and when they invade pest-free islands, says Elaine Murphy.

“It’s taken many years to develop and test this sausage bait but it’s now showing great promise. New tools like this are key to achieving Predator Free 2050 and supporting native wildlife to thrive.”

DOC will apply to register the PAPP sausage bait for stoats with the EPA (Environmental Protection Authority) and MPI (Ministry for Primary Industries) once research is complete later this year.

An application will also be made for another sausage bait containing small amounts of the toxin 1080 (sodium fluoroacetate), which has been extensively trialled over the past few years, targeting feral cats, mustelids and hedgehogs.

DOC is also planning field trials with a higher dose PAPP sausage bait for feral cats and ferrets after earlier trials showed promise.

PAPP was registered for use in New Zealand for stoats and feral cats in a paste form in 2011, but its use has been limited because it needs to be inserted in hand-made minced meat baits, which is impractical.

Carnivores such as stoats are particularly sensitive to PAPP but most birds and other mammals are less so. The potential risk to native birds from PAPP baits is considered very limited due to very low application rates in the environment and general low susceptibility.

Background information

PAPP is considered more humane than most other toxins used to control vertebrates. It causes low blood oxygen levels, rapid unconsciousness and death, typically within two hours. There is low risk of other animals being poisoned from eating dead stoats and there is an antidote.

Non-lethal testing of PAPP to assess risk for native birds has shown a range of responses. Kea and black-backed gulls are highly tolerant, while pūkeko and takahē are more susceptible, although they wouldn’t be affected if they ate a single bait. Kiwi and weka are potentially more sensitive but kiwi have shown no interest in the meat baits in trials to date. A further trial with weka is planned to gauge their susceptibility to PAPP sausage baits.

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MIL OSI

Does having a degree pay off?

The government wants to redirect some of the funding it has been using for the ‘fees-free’ university scheme into trades training.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon told Morning Report the scheme had been “quite a failure” and the government needed to make sure it was growing the economy.

At the moment, only about 6 percent of young people go into apprenticeships when they leave school, while about a third go into a degree.

But would encouraging more into the trades improve outcomes, for them or for the economy?

The income

Data from the Tertiary Education Commission shows that at a high level, tradespeople earn more straight after graduation than degree-holders, but those with degrees pull away over time.

Focusing on those who are under 25 at the start of their working life, licensed tradespeople, such as electricians and plumbers, are the exception and match or beat the average degree-holder.

As a whole, those with university degrees, including arts, commerce, engineering and health, are starting work on a median $62,000 a year which rises to $95,000 after nine years.

Electricians earn $84,000 a year out of training and almost $100,000 at year nine.

Plumbers start at $79,000 and rise to $94,000.

Carpenters start at $73,000 and rise to $80,000 but are overtaken by degrees at year 5.

Auto mechanics follow a similar pattern.

“Electricians and plumbers are licensed and regulated, harder to qualify into, and supply is constrained. That scarcity translates into durable earnings. Carpentry and mechanics have no such barrier and their earnings flatten fast,” said Simplicity chief economist Shamubeel Eaqub.

Stats NZ data shows that overall, the average hourly wage for a technician or trade worker in New Zealand is $36.27 an hour for men and $31.95 for women.

Many tradespeople start their own businesses, which may make their income harder to track, Eaqub said, particularly from about year five.

There is also significant variation within degrees. Medical graduates had a $116,000 median income when qualified.

At graduation, engineering and building related technologies was second-highest-paying and management and commerce third.

After five years, health was still the highest paying sector but engineering picked up and IT jumped strongly.

University of Otago associate professor Lynnaire Sheridan said OECD data indicated tertiary educated workers earned twice as much as those who only finished secondary school.

Paying to study or being paid

Another key aspect to account for is time spent studying.

Most university students fund their own studies, which can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Research published almost a decade ago found that at that point about half of medical students had a loan of more than $90,000.

In comparison, apprentices pay a much smaller fee and earn at the same time.

Plumbing World said apprentices would usually earn between $24 an hour in their first year and $39 in their fourth year.

The commission said level four to seven qualifications had a 56 percent or 57 percent completion rate, depending on whether the programme was work-based, and degree-level qualifications had a completion rate of 60 percent.

What does it mean?

Census data also shows that the higher the qualification a person had, in general, the more they would earn.

But University of Otago economist Murat Ungor said there were some caveats to keep in mind when looking at it.

“First, correlation does not necessarily imply causation. Degree holders may also have higher average ability, greater family support, stronger motivation, or better access to professional networks, all of which can increase earnings independently of education itself.

“Second, the field of study may matter enormously. Degrees in medicine, engineering, economics, or finance are likely to generate much higher average earnings than degrees in some other disciplines, even when both are at the same qualification level.

“Third, not everyone requires a university degree to achieve a relatively high income. Some trades and vocational qualifications also produce strong earnings outcomes. For example, individuals with Level 5 diplomas have a median income of approximately $51,100, well above the median income of those with no qualifications.

“Finally, it is worth noting the position of overseas secondary school qualifications. People with this credential earn a median of $35,700 per year, which performs better than having no qualification but worse than most New Zealand level 2 certificates and above. This may reflect issues with qualification recognition, differences in curriculum standards, or demographic factors such as recent migration and lower English proficiency among some holders.”

He said one interpretation was the university students received considerable private financial returns from their education and should contribute more to the cost.

“However, there is also a strong counterargument that tertiary education generates broad social benefits, including higher productivity, innovation, tax revenue, and social mobility, which provide an economic justification for continued public support.”

He said access to education was not evenly distributed, either. “Financial barriers, family background, school quality, and social inequality all continue to shape educational participation and outcomes.”

Sheridan said there was also evidence of disproportionate unemployment among more highly educated people. “You get a degree and then you tend to be looking for the right role.”

The commission’s data showed that 1 percent of degree-holders are on Jobseeker benefits, compared to 9 percent of people with level one to three qualifications, which are usually obtained at school.

She said both degree-holders and tradespeople were affected by the economy but there was longer-term resilience from higher education.

“It’s more likely you’re able to weather more economic cycles across your entire life.

“Initially yes you have the debt and the cost but longer-term across your career you’ve got greater stability because you’re basing your education on really highly transferable skills like critical thinking and analytical skills.

“That gives you greater reliance, particularly at the moment where there’s such a challenge in terms of what future work will look like. We can’t even predict the jobs that will exist 20 years from now.

“When the economy is really hot, everyone will be doing renovations, building houses, needing that plumber now versus when times are tougher being able to fall back on this other skill set can actually help you create work and generate work within economies not as flush with cash.

“I would say whatever you’re studying and doing, you want to be the best version of that career. A really good plumber will always have a work. A really amazing accountant will always have work. Someone with a university education can pivot.”

Getting out what you put in

Hayley Pickard, managing director of recruitment firm Fortitude Group, said qualifications ended to only be one piece of the puzzle.

“Certain qualifications can absolutely help someone start on a higher salary for example, someone who spends four years at university may enter the workforce on a stronger graduate package because of the qualification they’ve earned.

“But equally, someone who entered the workforce four years earlier may already have built practical experience, developed industry knowledge, and progressed up the pay scale during that same period. In many industries, hands-on experience and proven performance can carry just as much weight as formal education.

“It’s also important to recognise that university or formal qualifications don’t suit everyone. Some people thrive in practical, hands-on environments and build highly successful careers through experience, apprenticeships, trades, or on-the-job learning. That’s why it’s important to look at the bigger picture, rather than judging someone purely on the grades they achieved in education.”

She said earning potential was shaped by education, experience, demand, performance, attitude and willingness to continue to learn.

Robert Walters chief executive Shay Peters said employers were likely to place less emphasis on degrees in future.

“A lot of the grunt work will be done by AI. Recent graduates are finding it tough to get jobs because AI is taking over their roles they’ve got to work through an education provider that’s going to give them practical experience.

“Employers are looking for pretty instantaneous output and productivity.”

He said people who were doing well were those with good human skills, who could work on relationships while technology did the work in the background.

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– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand

– Published by EveningReport.nz and AsiaPacificReport.nz, see: MIL OSI in partnership with Radio New Zealand