Toi Ohomai Principal Pim Borren Visits Chinese Partner University

Summary

Pim Borren, Principal of New Zealand's Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, led a delegation to a Chinese university on 14 October, where he met with Party Secretary Huang Yan and Vice Presidents Wen Wanguang and Lu Chengwu. Huang welcomed the delegation and outlined the university's work in talent cultivation, industry-university-research collaboration and open education, noting that the joint undergraduate programme in Data Science and Big Data Technology has been approved by the Ministry of Education and begun enrolling students. Borren said the two institutions have a solid cooperation foundation and broad prospects, and that New Zealand is willing to deepen practical cooperation in joint talent cultivation, teaching and research.

The delegation later toured the university's history museum, international exchange centre and international student dormitories. At a meeting of the Joint Management Committee of the cooperative programme, the two sides discussed its operating mechanism, teaching quality assurance, mutual credit recognition and faculty-student exchanges, reaching consensus on a number of work items.

Commentary

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology's partnership with a Chinese university to offer an undergraduate programme in Data Science and Big Data Technology reflects how New Zealand's vocational and higher education institutions are actively expanding into Asian markets. New Zealand's education sector generates about NZ$5 billion in annual export earnings, with China among its largest source countries, but the traditional international student market has been notably volatile due to the pandemic and geopolitical factors. Such cooperative education programmes offer New Zealand institutions a more stable revenue stream and brand exposure while reducing reliance on a single flow of students.

For NZ SME owners, deeper education cooperation means more local service opportunities: from student accommodation and hospitality to professional services such as legal advice and marketing, the long-term student and faculty exchanges generated by cooperative programmes will directly boost local spending. On the other hand, talent cultivation cooperation in data science could supply New Zealand technology firms with graduates who have both Chinese and New Zealand backgrounds, easing local skills shortages. However, NZ SMEs should note the sustainability of such programmes — if Chinese institutions adjust their internationalisation strategies or education policies in either country change, related business opportunities could fluctuate.

It is advisable to monitor the programme's enrolment scale and subsequent expansion to assess whether it is worth committing resources.

Keywords: Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, Pim Borren, Sino-New Zealand cooperative education, Data Science and Big Data Technology, Huang Yan, educational exchange, joint talent cultivation, mutual credit recognition

Summary in Chinese | 摘要

10月14日，新西兰国立中部理工学院校长皮姆·博伦一行访问我校，学校党委书记黄晏，党委常委、副校长温万光、卢成武出席。黄晏代表学校向皮姆·博伦一行致以诚挚欢迎，并围绕人才培养、产学研协同创新、开放办学等方面介绍了学校的发展情况。黄晏指出，我校与新西兰国立中部理工学院合作日益深入，两校联合开设的数据科学与大数据技术专业本科教育项目已获教育部批准并正式招生，成为推动两校教育交流与合作的重要平台，有效促进了双方在人才联合培养、课程共建、师资交流等方面的互通、互学与互鉴。

皮姆·博伦对学校的热情接待表示感谢，并介绍了新西兰国立中部理工学院的办学特色与优势学科，表示两校合作基础扎实、前景广阔，新方珍视两校合作关系，愿在中新合作办学项目成功落地的基础上，持续深化人才联合培养、教学科研等领域的务实合作。会后，皮姆·博伦一行参观了学校校史馆、国际交流中心、留学生宿舍等地。同日，双方在合作项目联合管理委员会会议上，就项目运行机制、教学质量保障、学分互认、师生互访等重要事项进行深度磋商，达成多项工作共识。

未来，两校将以中新合作办学项目为基础，持续完善项目建设与管理机制，扎实推进专业共建、课程对接、师资交流等合作事项落地见效。

Commentary in Chinese | 评论

新西兰国立中部理工学院与中国高校合作开设数据科学与大数据技术本科项目，折射出新西兰职业教育与高等教育机构正积极拓展亚洲市场。新西兰教育产业年出口额约50亿新元，中国是最大生源国之一，但传统留学市场受疫情和地缘因素影响波动明显。此类合作办学项目为新西兰院校提供了更稳定的收入来源和品牌曝光，同时降低了对单一学生流动的依赖。

对NZ中小企业主而言，教育合作深化意味着更多本地服务机会：从留学生住宿、餐饮到专业服务（如法律咨询、市场营销），合作项目带来的长期学生和教师交流将直接拉动本地消费。另一方面，数据科学领域的人才培养合作可能为新西兰科技企业输送具备中新双重背景的毕业生，缓解本地技术人才短缺。不过，NZ SME需注意合作项目的可持续性——若中方院校调整国际化战略或两国教育政策变动，相关商业机会可能波动。

建议关注该项目的招生规模和后续合作扩展，评估是否值得投入资源对接。

关键词: 新西兰国立中部理工学院, 皮姆·博伦, 中新合作办学, 数据科学与大数据技术, 黄晏, 教育交流, 人才联合培养, 学分互认

Source: Chongqing University of Education