Language skills can open the door to Asia
Kiwi businesses are falling behind rivals in Australia and Singapore when it comes to having the skills to succeed in Asia.
Professor Natasha HamiltonHart, new director of the New Zealand Asia Institute based at the University of Auckland, said the country was ‘‘behind the curve’’ in developing a workforce with the skills and knowledge required to do well, and needed to upskill quickly.
She said students and businesses could make a start by learning Asian languages, such as Indonesian, Vietnamese and Korean, and spending time studying how the business community in Asian countries worked.
‘‘Australia is way ahead educating for Asia engagement and even Singapore, which is at the heart of the region, has recognised since the 1980s that it needs to actively develop the skills and mindsets for expanding in the region,’’ she said.
Hamilton-Hart welcomed the $34.5m government funding announced earlier this year to set up new centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence, but said the cash injection was overdue.
She added: ‘‘We’ve increased sales to the region, but we can’t rely on the low-hanging fruit to grow in the longer term. And there are no quick fixes. Acquiring language skills for example takes time.’’
The professor said universities generally did not teach students about Asia about the diverse business systems used in Asian countries.
‘‘Text books are written either in the US or Australia, and students look to experience overseas culture in the US or the UK,’’ she said. ‘‘The New Zealand Asia Institute is working on translating academic work on Asian business into more accessible information which will be of practical benefit to students and businesses.
‘‘And our diverse population is a strength we can exploit.’’
Professor Hamilton-Hart will be speaking at the Asia Savvy Conference at the University of Auckland Business School on Saturday August 27.