28 May 2013 at 9:00 am
Colombia signs Statement of Intent for greater collaboration
New Zealand and Colombia agreed to prioritise cooperation programmes for Masters and PhD training and facilitate links between higher education institutions in both countries.
A Statement of Intent was signed yesterday at a Bilateral Education Consultation meeting held in Wellington. The meeting involved a delegation of senior Colombian government and business representatives along with representatives from Education New Zealand, the Ministry of Education, the New Zealand Qualifications Authority and Immigration New Zealand, as well as some New Zealand education providers.
The statement reflects a commitment to developing joint initiatives in the internationalisation of higher education, technical and technological education, vocational training and innovation.
Colombia’s Vice Minister of Education Patricia Martinez Barrios is leading the delegation for talks to build education connections between New Zealand and Colombia.
The week-long visit, which began on Sunday 26 May, is a significant extension of the relationship between New Zealand and Colombia, strengthened during Prime Minister John Key’s recent trip to Latin America.
“Education, along with agriculture, is one of two key strands in our bilateral relationship,” Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce says.
“The number of fee paying Colombian students studying in New Zealand increased from 207 in 2007 to 727 in 2012, which would suggest Colombia has the potential to become a significant international education market for New Zealand.”
Delegates will visit Auckland and Wellington, tour facilities such as Fonterra in Hamilton, Agricultural Services Ltd in Palmerston North and the National Trade Academy in Christchurch.
“Tours like this are a great opportunity for New Zealand to showcase to Colombian education officials its skills and expertise in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector, and its links with industry and the labour market,” Mr Joyce says.
He said the objective of the Bilateral Education Consultation meeting was to “help our education sector build a deeper understanding of Colombia’s education requirements and progress proposals for Colombian PhD students to study in New Zealand.
“It will also allow Colombian education officials to develop an appreciation of New Zealand’s education system and see how New Zealand, as an excellent place in which to learn English, can support their government’s strategy to make English an official language in Colombia.”
