Shaanxi Business College Seeks Co-operative Education Ties with Ara Institute

Summary

A four-member delegation from Shaanxi Business College, led by President Wu Hongmei, visited New Zealand and Australia from 24 to 29 May, meeting four universities, the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, and industry associations and chambers of commerce. In New Zealand, the delegation visited Ara Institute of Canterbury, where Executive Director Darren Mitchell, Assistant Director Hayley Devoy and Deborah Young received the group. At a symposium, the two sides discussed jointly establishing a Sino-foreign co-operative educational institution and developing joint training programmes in Computer Application Technology and Digital Media Art Design, and signed a letter of intent for institutional co-operation.

The delegation then toured the institute's Engineering and Architectural Studies, Art and Design, Computing, and Hospitality and Cookery schools to learn about their disciplinary strengths and flagship programmes. The delegation also visited the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, exchanging views with Consul-General He Ying and Education Consul Shen Jian on expanding exchanges and co-operation with universities and research institutions in the consular district. He Ying undertook to actively advance the co-operative education programme between the college and Ara Institute of Canterbury and to support the 'Chinese + Shaanxi Cuisine' Qinling Workshop project in developing co-operation with local New Zealand universities and enterprises.

During the visit, the delegation also called on the New Zealand Shaanxi Chamber of Commerce, the Australian Shaanxi Chamber of Commerce and ChristchurchNZ to learn about the local development and recruitment needs of Chinese-funded enterprises, particularly Shaanxi companies, explore overseas internship and employment pathways for students, and promote the Qinling Workshop project. The visit expanded the college's co-operation network with universities, industry associations and chambers of commerce in both countries, laying the foundation for deepening Sino-foreign co-operative education.

Commentary

Shaanxi Business College's visit to New Zealand focused on advancing its co-operative education programme with Ara Institute of Canterbury in disciplines including Computer Application Technology and Digital Media Art Design. New Zealand's vocational education is known for its close alignment with industry, and Ara Institute of Canterbury has strong capabilities in applied technology, with its engineering and architectural studies, computing and other disciplines closely tied to local industry needs. For New Zealand small and medium-sized enterprises, such co-operation could have two effects: first, an increase in Chinese international students could help ease local skilled labour shortages, particularly in IT and creative design; second, if the 'Chinese + Shaanxi Cuisine' Qinling Workshop project gets off the ground, it would promote China-New Zealand cultural exchange in the food and tourism sectors and offer local hospitality businesses ideas for differentiated development.

It should be noted, however, that the initial scale of the co-operative programme will be limited and must comply with New Zealand's qualifications framework, so the actual commercial benefits remain to be seen. New Zealand SMEs could monitor further developments and explore participation in student internship programmes or joint research, especially in digital media and computer applications, where Chinese institutions' course resources and local enterprise needs are complementary.

Keywords: Shaanxi Business College, Wu Hongmei, Ara Institute of Canterbury, Sino-foreign co-operative education, Qinling Workshop, Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch, New Zealand Shaanxi Chamber of Commerce, international education exchange

Source: snouedu.cn