Page 17 - ELG1801 Jan Issue 453

FEATURES & COMMENT

Not just

a pretty face

Hawaii longs to become the destination of choice for English language and
university students - not just honeymooners, writes Claudia Civinini

he problem with Hawaii is that it has but indication based on the Open Doors students already in Hawaii. The association
sold itself as a leisure destination way report shows that applications are down, so is also hoping to engage the private sector,
too effectively, Study Hawaii president we may be feeling this now. The US is in for asking businesses such as Hawaiian airlines
TJoel Weaver thinks. ‘When parents a big shock as a whole, I think, as a result to become associate members. Weaver says
hear about Hawaii, they know it as a sunny, of government policies.’ Weaver adds that the group is also hoping to build a more
beautiful place, but don’t think of it as a safe, ‘other states like California, Texas and New productive relationship with agents. ‘In the
culturally welcoming place where their son York have put considerable resources into last decade this has been a really big turning
or daughter could have a great educational this effort, and we have been limping along point. American universities and colleges
experience,’ Weaver tells the Gazette. with very minimal amount of support.’ As a are becoming aware that agents are not
The frustration with this perception led comparison, other destinations such as South unethical, and there are ways to work with
Weaver and others to create the Study Australia had a budget of AU$ 9.9 million agents well, like Australia, Canada, the UK,
Hawaii Educational Consortium back in over four years, while New Zealand received New Zealand have been doing for years – and
2006 with the help of the Department of NZ$ 6.8 million over four years in the 2017 eating our lunch in terms of English language
Business and Economic Development and budget. To fund the vision, the consortium education,’ says Weaver. But how long will it
Tourism (DBEDT). ‘The DBEDT were has been lobbying state legislators. Weaver take for the international education industry
open to the idea that education is a service says the association is hoping to receive to disentangle itself from the tourism industry?
export, something that would fall under their $200–250K in funding soon to start projects Weaver is realistic. ‘I don’t anticipate us
umbrella,’ Weaver said. With some funding such as a welcome desk at the airport and an challenging the primacy of the tourism sector
from this agency – around $25,000–30,000 a ongoing support network for international even in ten years,’ he says.
year – the consortium started operating, and
eventually gained non-profit status in 2011.
‘It’s a private entity, but our funding has
been primarily through the state government,’ Make a song and dance
Weaver explains. about it Claudia Civinini
But now the consortium has decided to
ramp up its efforts – and additional support While kinaesthetic learning is certainly
will be needed. ‘A couple of years ago I not a thing, dancing on the notes of the
approached StudentMarketing with the traditional Hawaiian Hula music is proving
encouragement of DBEDT, who said that what a valuable extracurricular activity for
legislators would really respond to is a clear international ESL students at the University
strategic plan,’ Weaver says. of Hawaii at Manoa. ‘Students learn new
The ambitious 10-year plan aims to double Hawaiian and English vocabulary, and I
the number of international students in the think the motions help them remember
Aloha State by 2026, taking revenue from what they’re dancing about,’ course
tuition fees from $142 million to $300 million. teacher Brianna Weaver told the Gazette.
This would generate an extra 8,234 jobs on But vocabulary is not what all this
top of the current 7,590 positions supported is about. The class, which has been
by the international education industry, running for a long time as part of the
according to StudentMarketing. Hawaii English Language Programme
The plan comes at a challenging time for (HELP) at UH Manoa, aims at introducing
the US international education industry. international students to Hawaii’s culture. International students
‘All of us since October 2016 have been ‘I always start the term with an overview performing at the opening
nervously awaiting the “Trump effect”,’ says of modern Hawaiian history,’ Ms Weaver ceremony of international
Weaver. ‘We didn’t have it last academic year, told the Gazette. education week
editorial@elgazette.com 35