Mexico scholarship experience broadens student’s horizons

The students returned from Mexico in February after completing a study programme at partner institution Tecnológico de Monterrey through the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America (PMSLA), funded by Education New Zealand. 

Immersed daily in Spanish language classes and courses in Mexican and Indigenous cultures, the students embraced opportunities to build lifelong friendships and global connections. 

International Mobility and Relationship Manager Sharon Roopa says the experience was transformative for the group, many of whom were travelling to Latin America for the first time. 

“Since returning, the students have shared how much the experience challenged them, built their confidence, and broadened their perspectives both personally and professionally,” Sharon says. 

“They spoke about the friendships they formed with other international exchange students, the warmth of the local people, and the value of stepping outside their comfort zones.” 

The impact of the experience extended well beyond the classroom. 

Bachelor of Social Practice student Georgia Nicole Alofa says the experience was a powerful journey of self-discovery where she was able to explore connections between Indigenous knowledge systems and her own Pacific heritage. 

“As a Social Practice student, I wanted to see how my practice intersects with Indigenous practice over there and how it can merge with my own knowledge from Rarotonga and Samoa,” Georgia says. 

“This trip reinforced my ‘why.’ A huge takeaway for me was around my own identity and dealing with those imposter feelings of not even being worthy of the scholarship. To go overseas and then be able to authentically share my identity and culture and be accepted was really beautiful and super affirming.” 

Georgia says learning about the similarities between Mexican Indigenous communities and Pacific and Māori cultures, particularly around family-centred values, was especially meaningful. 

“Our lecturers and staff mentioned quite a lot of times that they weren’t used to participants in the exchange being so relational. It was really awesome being able to not only show who we are, but also bring our own cultures.” 

For Bachelor of Computing Systems student Trae McGregor, the scholarship reinforced the value of cultural exchange and broadened his future ambitions. 

“I’m proud of being Māori and sharing it with others is what I wanted to do in Mexico and to learn from them,” Trae says. 

“This trip showed me that once I finish my degree there is much more out there.” 

The students were equally inspired by Mexico’s rich history, architecture and cultural heritage. 

A visit to the ancient Teotihuacan pyramids was one of the programme’s most memorable experiences. 

“It was such a huge place, but I was amazed to find out that they have only discovered about eight per cent of the pyramids, with the rest still underground,” says Bachelor of Architectural Studies student Ian Ratusau. 

“What really moved all of us was the intentionality behind the architecture. Nothing was done for the sake of it. Everything had a design and it highlighted for me how knowledgeable the Indigenous people were.” 

Ian was grateful for the chance to share his Fijian-Rotuman heritage. 

“I was blessed with the opportunity to organise a kava ceremony as a way to introduce my culture to the other exchange students,” Mr Ratusau says. 

For final-year Bachelor of Construction student Ritisha Pratap, the trip provided valuable insights into architecture, sustainability and the preservation of historic buildings. 

“It was a privilege to go there and observe their building and sustainability practices,” Ritisha says. 

“I spent a lot of time looking at the buildings. We would literally stand in a museum built in the 1700s and think, ‘How could they preserve this so well?'” 

The experience also offered Ritisha a new perspective on privilege and opportunity. 

“Being exposed to poverty in Mexico gave me a different perspective. I felt grateful for what we have in New Zealand and the many opportunities I get in education.”

Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts – Contemporary Dance student Mikah BatachEl described the scholarship as life changing. 

“I’ve always wanted to travel and see the world, but due to financial barriers I couldn’t,” she says. 

“I was blown away by the dance culture there. They have dance parties in public places almost every weekend. It was amazing to see that joy of life.” 

The experience has also expanded her career aspirations. 

“The trip has opened my eyes to other places where I can have a career in dance. I have more confidence exploring these opportunities because this was my first time travelling outside New Zealand and now, I have all these new connections overseas.” 

Social Practice student Sahaam Al-Muhaisen says cultural immersion was central to his experience. 

“I wanted to learn another culture by immersing myself and bring back to New Zealand what it means to be a good social practitioner who is culturally competent.” 

Sharon says the students represented Manukau Institute of Technology & Unitec and New Zealand with pride throughout the programme. 

“What made us especially proud was the feedback we received from Tec de Monterrey, who said our students adapted beautifully to the culture and quickly became an important part of the international group, bringing people together through their openness and positive energy,” Sharon explains. 

Opportunities such as the Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America demonstrate the powerful role international experiences can play in developing confident, globally connected graduates. 

“Programmes like this highlight the importance of global mobility opportunities and the impact they can have on our students’ growth, aspirations and future careers.” 

For the six students, the scholarship strengthened their sense of identity, expanded their career horizons and gave them the confidence to embrace opportunities beyond New Zealand’s shores. 

The 2026 Prime Minister’s Scholarship for Latin America recipients were: Georgia Nicole Alofa (Bachelor of Social Practice), Ritisha Pratap (Bachelor of Construction), Sahaam Al-Muhaisen (Bachelor of Social Practice), Trae McGregor (Bachelor of Computing Systems), Ian Ratusau (Bachelor of Architectural Studies), and Mikah BatachEl (Bachelor of Performing and Screen Arts).