Chongqing University of Education, Toi Ohomai hold teacher meeting for joint data science programme

Summary

A teacher meeting for the joint data science and big data technology programme between Chongqing University of Education and New Zealand's Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology was held on 14 October at the Nanshan campus. Yao Fuguang, Party secretary and deputy dean of the School of Mathematics and Big Data, chaired the meeting. Lu Chengwu, university vice-president and dean of the school, attended along with deputy dean Dan Songjian, deputy dean Zou Yang, Luo Lamei, deputy director of the Office of International Cooperation, Jiang Yan, deputy dean of the School of Foreign Languages and Literature, and teacher representatives.

Yao welcomed the Toi Ohomai delegation. Dr Pim Borren praised the strong foundation of the partnership and expressed a commitment to deepening teaching collaboration and improving the quality of joint talent development. Zou Yang presented an overview of the school, while project leader Kaveeta Dutt outlined Toi Ohomai's teaching plan, staffing and support systems for the programme.

In discussion, teachers from both sides focused on curriculum standards, classroom delivery and joint teaching research, reaching consensus. Both sides said they would use the meeting to steadily implement teaching arrangements and safeguard the quality of talent development under the joint programme.

Commentary

New Zealand's education export sector is shifting from traditional language training and short-term study tours towards higher-value higher education partnerships. The data science programme between Chongqing University of Education and Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology reflects continued demand from Chinese regional institutions for international curricula and teaching staff. For New Zealand small and medium-sized business owners, such partnerships not only generate direct education service revenue but could also open export opportunities in edtech, online learning tools and student services.

In terms of competition, Australian and UK universities hold a first-mover advantage in China's joint programme market, and New Zealand institutions need to highlight their applied talent development focus and relatively flexible programme structures. Demand for data science talent in China is growing rapidly, yet domestic institutions still have gaps in industry-linked courses. The New Zealand polytechnic model is known for its practice-oriented approach, and embedding local enterprise internships would enhance the programme's appeal.

However, cross-border education cooperation is sensitive to policy shifts, and China's demographic changes may affect long-term student numbers. New Zealand institutions should avoid over-reliance on a single market and could consider replicating the model in Southeast Asia and other regions.

Keywords: China-New Zealand joint education, Chongqing University of Education, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Data Science and Big Data Technology, teacher meeting, joint talent development, teaching collaboration

Source: Chongqing University of Education