26 November 2014 at 9:00 am
Diplomas recognised by Chinese authorities
Holders of New Zealand diplomas will find it easier to get their qualification recognised in China following an expansion of a government-level qualification recognition agreement.
Vice Minister of Education Dr Hao Ping and Secretary for Education Peter Hughes signed the Arrangement on Mutual Recognition of Academic Degrees in Higher Education between the Government of New Zealand and the Government of the People’s Republic of China at the 8th Joint Working Group on Education and Training.
The Arrangement, first signed in 2002, was updated and re-signed to take into account the range of changes to the New Zealand Qualifications Framework and related settings that have occurred since 2002.
In a new move, two and three year diplomas from New Zealand were also added to the list of qualifications officially recognised by Chinese authorities.
The changes will see greater recognition of academic qualifications between New Zealand and China, making it easier for students to further their studies in either country.
“This increases New Zealand’s attractiveness at a study destination and expands opportunities for New Zealanders looking to study in China,” said Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce when announcing the signing.
When Chinese students return to China after their studies, they get their foreign qualifications verified by the China Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE). The updates to the Arrangement ensure that a greater number of students receive the appropriate recognition, enabling them to gain official comparability of their qualifications within the Chinese system.
