Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga host Chinese Minister of Education at Te Auaha campus to reaffirm cooperation

The Minister saw demonstrations from creative arts students, an exhibition of design works, and a virtual health simulation. 

Commenting on the visit, Mark Oldershaw, Tumu Whenua ā-Rohe 3 | Executive Director, Region 3 at Te Pūkenga, said: “It has been an honour to host the Minister and his entourage, and recognise the strong ties we have with China. Whitireia and WelTec has enjoyed a long association with Chinese institutions and we look forward to a continuation and strengthening of this. We are also grateful for the ongoing support from the Chinese Embassy in Wellington.” 

The Minister also had the opportunity to meet exchange staff from Bailie Vocational College and Hexi University based in Gansu Province, China, who are studying health at Whitireia and WelTec with the support of the Chinese Embassy and the Chinese Scholarship Council. 

“Our collaboration with China continues to flourish,” said Bryan Read, Head of International, Innovation and Industry Engagement at Whitireia and WelTec | Te Pūkenga. “We are about to launch a fifth joint-delivery programme in China as well as a Masters with Xi’an Fanyi University in Xi’an. We have also been invited to attend the Silk Road Education Cooperation Exposition which is hosted by the Shaanxi Provincial People’s Government in November to further develop new relationships and university partnerships in northwest China.” 

Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng was in Wellington to sign agreements with the Ministry of Education including a partnership with Te Pūkenga on the New Zealand-China Vocational Cooperation and Development Alliance.