University Hosts Multi-Campus Overseas Study Series in September

Summary

In September, the university held its 'First Lesson in Internationalisation' series across the Nantong and Hai'an campuses, inviting representatives from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand and the University of Newcastle in Australia to speak. International Office teachers led separate sessions on winter short-term study visits, bachelor's-to-master's pathways and master's applications. On the evening of 17 September, the thirteenth session of the series — a presentation on the University of Canterbury's winter study visit '3+1+1' bachelor's-to-master's programme — took place in the Tiannan Hall of the Nantong campus library and drew nearly 100 students.

The University of Canterbury representative spoke on 'Global Competence in the AI Era', outlining the university's distinctive features, strengths and winter visit arrangements, with a focus on the '3+1+1' pathway, the policy allowing direct application without IELTS and with CET-4 or CET-6 scores, partial tuition waivers and scholarships, and the three-year post-study work visa available after graduation. Kiwi soft toys were given as souvenirs. On the same evening, a dedicated session was held in the tiered classroom of the Hai'an campus Student Activity Centre, where International Office teachers focused on the two-week winter 2027 'Global Competence in the AI Era' short-term visit: open to undergraduates of all majors, with no programming background required and no mandatory IELTS or TOEFL certificate.

Students can visit a national-level human-computer interaction laboratory to experience VR/AR technology, immerse themselves in Māori culture, and complete an all-English team project presentation. On completion, participants receive an official University of Canterbury certificate and can convert it into elective credits at the university, with the university providing RMB 6,000 in funding. During the visit, students stay in single on-campus apartments with three meals a day included, and the programme covers local transport and insurance.

Participants will also take part in a flag-raising ceremony at the Chinese Consulate-General in Christchurch and meet the mayor. The session also introduced the '3+1+1' bachelor's-to-master's programme, under which students can obtain both bachelor's and master's degrees after graduation, and can apply for a dedicated scholarship when applying to the University of Canterbury master's programme. On the morning of 23 September, the fourteenth session — a master's application presentation by the University of Newcastle, Australia — was held in the east tiered classroom of the Hai'an campus Student Activity Centre, attended by second- and third-year students from the Business School, the School of Information Engineering, and civil and mechanical engineering-related majors.

The official representative of the University of Newcastle said the university is a public research university in New South Wales, Australia, ranked 244th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with particular strengths in engineering, business and nursing, and a strong emphasis on practice.

Commentary

Joint presentations by the University of Canterbury and the University of Newcastle at Chinese universities reflect the continued cultivation of the Asian student market by Australian and New Zealand higher education institutions. As one of New Zealand's eight public universities, Canterbury ranks among the global top 200 in QS subject rankings for engineering and business. Its '3+1+1' bachelor's-to-master's pathway — offering an IELTS waiver, scholarships and a three-year work visa — is in essence a linkage between New Zealand's skilled migration policy and its education export strategy.

For NZ SMEs, international student flows are directly tied to local spending, accommodation and part-time labour markets; in Christchurch, where Canterbury is based, international education contributes about NZ$230 million in economic value each year. Newcastle, meanwhile, is known for its practice-oriented approach, with its engineering programmes closely linked to local mining and energy firms. Its master's presentation to Chinese second- and third-year students is aimed at locking in STEM talent early, as Australia's tighter visa settings cause fluctuations in international student numbers.

Notably, both universities emphasise 'global competence in the AI era', but Canterbury's programme includes Māori cultural experiences and consulate events, giving it a stronger political and cultural dimension, while Newcastle focuses on subject rankings and employment pathways, with a clear commercial orientation. Funding and credit-transfer policies at Chinese universities lower the barrier to participation, meaning Australian and New Zealand institutions must compete on course quality and differentiated experience. In the short term, such programmes will not directly change the structure of China-New Zealand trade, but over the longer term they may foster bilateral technical cooperation and talent flows through alumni networks.

Canterbury's three-year work visa policy matches some occupations on New Zealand's skilled migration 'green list'; if graduates enter local IT or engineering fields, they will ease skills shortages for SMEs. NZ SMEs should nonetheless take a measured view: international student spending is concentrated in education, accommodation and tourism, with limited direct stimulus for manufacturing and agricultural exports. More noteworthy is that intensifying competition among Australian and New Zealand universities in the Chinese market may drive more joint programmes and mutual credit recognition, creating opportunities for local education technology and online course providers.

Keywords: University of Canterbury, University of Newcastle, overseas study, bachelor's-to-master's pathway, winter study visit, First Lesson in Internationalisation, 3+1+1 programme, master's application, Nantong campus, Hai'an campus

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

9月，我校“国际化第一课”系列宣讲活动在南通、海安两校区先后开讲，新西兰坎特伯雷大学、澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学校方代表应邀来校，学校国际处教师分场宣讲，围绕寒假短期访学、本硕直通与硕士申请等主题开展升学指导。9月17日晚，系列活动第十三讲——新西兰坎特伯雷大学寒假访学“3+1+1”本硕直通项目宣讲会在南通校区图书馆天南厅举行，近百名同学到场聆听。坎特伯雷大学负责人围绕“AI时代的全球胜任力”主题，介绍了该校办学特色、专业优势及寒假访学项目安排，重点解读“3+1+1”本硕直通项目的升学路径、免雅思及四六级直申政策、学费部分减免与奖学金设置，以及毕业后可获三年工签等政策，并送出几维鸟玩偶作为纪念。

同晚，海安校区专场宣讲在大学生活动中心阶梯教室举行，国际处教师重点解读2027寒假“AI时代全球胜任力”两周短期访学项目：面向全校所有专业本科生开放，无需编程基础，不强制要求雅思托福证书，学生可走进国家级人机交互实验室体验VR/AR技术，沉浸式感受毛利文化，完成全英文团队项目路演，项目结束后可获坎特伯雷大学官方结业证书并兑换校内公选课学分，学校资助6000元；访学期间入住校内单人公寓，包含每日三餐，项目覆盖当地交通、保险等开支，还将参与驻基督城总领馆升旗仪式、与市长面对面交流等活动。宣讲同时介绍“3+1+1”本硕连读项目，学生毕业后可获本科与硕士双学位，申请坎特伯雷大学硕士可申领专属奖学金。9月23日上午，系列活动第十四讲——澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学硕士申请宣讲会在海安校区学生活动中心东阶梯教室举行，商学院、信息工程学院、土木与机械相关专业的大二、大三学生到场参与。

纽卡斯尔大学官方校方代表介绍，该校是澳大利亚新南威尔士州公立研究型大学，位列2027年QS世界大学排名第244位，工程、商科、护理等学科优势突出，重视实践。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

新西兰坎特伯雷大学与澳大利亚纽卡斯尔大学在中国高校的联合宣讲，折射出澳新高等教育机构对亚洲生源市场的持续深耕。坎特伯雷大学作为新西兰八所公立大学之一，其工程和商科在QS学科排名中位居全球前200，此次推出的“3+1+1”本硕直通项目免雅思、提供奖学金及三年工签，实质是新西兰技术移民政策与教育出口战略的联动。对NZ SME而言，国际学生流动直接关联本地消费、住宿和兼职用工市场；坎大所在的基督城，国际教育每年贡献约2.3亿纽币经济价值。

另一方面，纽卡斯尔大学以实践导向著称，其工程专业与当地矿业、能源企业合作紧密，此次面向中国大二大三学生的硕士申请宣讲，意在提前锁定STEM生源，应对澳洲政府收紧签证后国际学生数量波动。值得关注的是，两校均强调“AI时代全球胜任力”，但坎大项目包含毛利文化体验和总领馆活动，政治与人文色彩更浓；而纽大侧重学科排名与就业衔接，商业导向明显。中国高校的资助与学分兑换政策，降低了学生参与门槛，也意味着澳新院校需在课程质量与体验差异化上竞争。

短期看，这类项目不会直接改变中新贸易结构，但长期可能通过校友网络促进双边技术合作与人才回流。坎大提供的三年工签政策与新西兰技术移民“绿色清单”部分职业匹配，若学生毕业后进入本地IT或工程领域，将缓解中小企业技能短缺。然而，NZ SME应理性看待：国际学生消费集中在教育、住宿和旅游，对制造业和农业出口的直接拉动有限。

更值得关注的是，澳新高校在中国市场的竞争加剧，可能推动更多联合培养和学分互认，为本地教育科技、在线课程服务商带来合作机会。

关键词: 坎特伯雷大学, 纽卡斯尔大学, 海外升学, 本硕直通, 寒假访学, 国际化第一课, 3+1+1项目, 硕士申请, 南通校区, 海安校区

Source: None