Samoa outreach sparks surge in interest for Manaaki Scholarships
A strong turnout at a recent outreach visit to Samoa has positioned Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec for a potential rise in Manaaki Scholarship enrolments from the Pacific island nation.
Nearly 200 prospective students, educators and alumni attended an information session hosted by the Manaaki Scholarships team at the Tanoa Tusitala Hotel in Apia in March.
Interim Manager Student Support & Scholarships Sophie Aleke Fa’avae says it was the team’s first in-country recruitment visit and the response exceeded expectations.
“Our visit was part of a focused recruitment drive to connect directly with Samoan learners and educators, and we were blown away by the turnout and level of engagement,” Sophie says.
The session attracted a diverse audience, including secondary school principals, staff from National University of Samoa, foundation students and alumni—some of whom studied with the institution as far back as the 1990s.
A panel featuring Manaaki Scholar alumni Vaasiva Lemu Leniu–Pritchard (Masters of Applied Business), Francis Meredith (Bachelor of Applied Technology), and Guiliano Bryce (Bachelor of Construction) was highly engaging. Their firsthand accounts of studying in New Zealand and returning home to contribute to Samoa resonated strongly with attendees.
“Lived experience is incredibly powerful,” says NZ Scholarships & Youth Guarantee Lead Byron Iosia. “Hearing directly from alumni who have walked the same path helps prospective students see what’s possible and how they can bring those skills back to their communities.”
The visit was also an opportunity for our team to re-engage with key education partners including Samoa Public Service Commission who visited our Mt Albert Campus last year.
One of the highlights of the five-day visit was a tour of National University of Samoa where they met a carpentry class led by alumnus Guiliano Bryce—now a lecturer—demonstrating the long-term impact of the scholarship programme.
“Reconnecting with alumni was a key part of the visit,” Iosia says. “They are our strongest advocates and play an important role in inspiring the next generation.”
Early indicators suggest the visit is already generating momentum. “Since returning, we’ve received a significant number of enquiries from Samoa, which shows strong interest from those who attended,” says Fa’avae.
Funded by New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Manaaki New Zealand Scholarships provide around 40 Samoan citizens each year with fully-funded study opportunities aligned to Samoa’s skills needs. The scholarships cover tuition, living costs and travel, enabling recipients to gain qualifications abroad while maintaining close ties to home.
Timed to coincide with the scholarship application deadline on 10 April, the visit allowed the team to engage directly with prospective applicants at a critical decision-making stage.
As applications move through the selection process, we will be watching closely to see how the Samoa outreach translates into enrolments—potentially strengthening the pipeline of Pacific learners and reinforcing our role in regional development through education.
