Summary
Chongqing University of Education's School of Mathematics and Big Data held a student meeting for its China-New Zealand joint programme on 14 October 2026, attended by a delegation from Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology. The meeting, chaired by Yao Fuguang, was addressed by university vice-president and school dean Lu Chengwu, deputy Party secretary and vice-dean Dan Songjian, Party committee member and vice-dean Zou Yang, and Luo Lamei, deputy director of the Office of International Cooperation, along with all students of the 2026 cohort in Data Science and Big Data Technology (Sino-foreign cooperative education). New Zealand programme lead Kaveeta Dutt outlined the training model, coursework and graduation requirements, while Dan Songjian reported on enrolment, registration and student composition for the 2026 cohort.
In the interactive session, students raised questions on academic study and study planning, which the New Zealand delegation answered one by one. Students also presented calligraphy works as gifts. The meeting provided a platform for face-to-face communication between Chinese and New Zealand faculty and students, helping new students understand the curriculum, graduation standards and future development directions, strengthening communication between teachers and students from both sides, and laying a foundation for joint teaching, practical teaching and student management.
Commentary
The data science joint programme between Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology and Chongqing University of Education reflects the deepening of China-New Zealand education services trade. Education exports are New Zealand's fifth-largest services export category, with Chinese students accounting for about 30 percent, but traditional source markets face competition from Australia and Canada. Joint programmes of this kind reduce study costs through localised delivery while giving New Zealand institutions a stable student pipeline.
For NZ SMEs, education cooperation often drives demand for related services such as curriculum licensing, online teaching tools and student internship programmes, but tighter Chinese regulation of cooperative education, including requirements on the share of foreign courses and teaching staff, may affect programme continuity. In industry terms, competition in data science talent development is intense, and New Zealand institutions need to highlight the strengths of applied courses linked to industry to avoid homogenisation. If successful, the programme could offer a replicable model for other New Zealand institutes of technology, though opportunities for SMEs lie more in supporting services than in core teaching.
Keywords: China-New Zealand joint programme, Chongqing University of Education, Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology, student meeting, Data Science and Big Data Technology, Sino-foreign cooperative education, Kaveeta Dutt, Lu Chengwu, Dan Songjian
Photo by Oli Liao on Pexels
Disclaimer: This article is compiled from publicly available sources for general information only. The analysis and commentary are editorial opinions. MiDeer Observer does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Readers should seek independent professional advice before relying on this content, or contact us for more information.
