academyEX Appoints Students Herald to Lead Southeast Asia Marketing Initiatives Ahead of Upcoming Intake

A strategic regional move signals a shift toward targeted engagement with experienced professionals across Southeast Asia

As global demand for future-ready leadership continues to evolve, New Zealand-based postgraduate provider academyEX has formally entrusted Students Herald with the responsibility of leading its marketing and regional engagement initiatives across Southeast Asia and the MiddleEast.

The move occurs at a crucial moment as academyEX gets ready for its upcoming intake which is attracting more interest from mid-career professionals, business leaders, and individuals managing the challenges of a swiftly evolving AI-driven global workforce.

In the interim, Ms. Kharissa, Regional Director of Students Herald, will oversee the initiative directly while the institution progresses with the hiring of a dedicated Regional Marketing Manager for Southeast Asia.

A Timely Response to Market Readiness

With application cycles now active, the decision reflects more than operational alignment and signals a deliberate shift toward precision-led recruitment and regional presence.

“Timing is critical,” Kharissa noted. Applicants today are not only exploring study options but also assessing their long-term positioning, which includes career relevance, global exposure, and the role of education in that strategy.

Her presence in the region will extend beyond digital campaigns. Kharissa is scheduled to travel to the Philippines in May, where she will engage directly with education agents, partners, and prospective applicants through a series of programme discussions, strategy sessions, and student preview events.

Programmes Designed for a Different Type of Applicant

Unlike traditional postgraduate pathways, academyEX offers a suite of Level 9 master’s programmes that are intentionally structured for experienced professionals, not fresh graduates.

The institution’s portfolio includes:

• Master of Technological Futures

• Master of Change and Organisational Resilience

• Master of Contemporary Education

While the programme titles may appear unconventional at first glance, Kharissa emphasises that their foundation remains grounded in management education, redefined through the lens of technology, systems thinking, and real-world application.

“These are not traditional MBA formats,” she explained. “But at their core, they address management, just in a way that reflects how industries actually operate today.”

She describes the offering as “not your ordinary management programme”, highlighting its relevance for professionals who recognise the need to adapt, reposition, and remain competitive within AI and technology-influenced environments.

Category 1 Provider: Quality and Outcomes

AcademyEX operates as a Category 1 education provider in New Zealand, the highest rating under the country’s quality assurance framework. This classification reflects strong academic delivery, consistent student outcomes, and institutional confidence from regulatory bodies.

For applicants, this translates into more than academic credibility, but a learning environment aligned with industry expectations, where programme structure, faculty engagement, and applied outcomes are closely integrated.

From Promotion to Presence

The partnership with Students Herald is expected to extend more than traditional marketing.

Rather than focusing solely on visibility, the approach centres on regional presence, access to information, and informed decision-making, particularly for professionals who are balancing career progression, relocation considerations, and long-term planning.

With on-ground engagements in Southeast Asia and a coordinated media-led strategy, the initiative positions academyEX within a broader conversation that is increasingly shaped by skills relevance, global mobility, and the future of work.

Looking Ahead

For professionals assessing their next step, the focus is no longer simply on where to study and instead on whether their education choice reflects the realities of the industries they intend to enter or remain in.

In that context, academyEX’s positioning along with its partnership with Students Herald represents a strategic move aimed at fulfilling that expectation.

Ai - Driven Workforce Positioning