25 March 2014 at 9:00 am
Ministerial visits to Asia shine light on education
The presence of the Prime Minister and other Ministers in Asian cities this month has shone a bright spotlight on New Zealand education.
In China, Prime Minister John Key’s trade and diplomacy mission included the delivery of a speech at China Agricultural University in Beijing, and an interview with Hurun Report focused on the high quality of New Zealand education. This monthly publication is a leading luxury magazine in China.
Also in Beijing, Food Safety Minister Nikki Kaye attended a Massey University graduation celebration at the New Zealand Embassy. The nine Chinese graduates had completed a unique World Bank-funded "One Health" programme, integrating veterinary and medical specialist topics in a single curriculum as a measure against pandemics. Four graduates completed a Master of Veterinary Medicine (Biosecurity) degree and five completed a Master of Public Health (Biosecurity), in a programme delivered over a year in New Zealand and China.
International education was a focus of Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce’s visits to Indonesia and Viet Nam in March. In Indonesia Mr Joyce opened the New Zealand Education Fair in Jakarta, met key Indonesian ministers including the Vice-Minister of Education, and hosted a New Zealand gala dinner with guests from the food, beverage, tourism, education and energy sectors.
While in Jakarta, Mr Joyce also witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Auckland UniServices and the Indonesian Geothermal Association to develop specialised geothermal training courses held in New Zealand and Indonesia. This followed his delivery of the keynote speech at the Indonesia New Zealand Renewable Energy Forum.
In Viet Nam, Mr Joyce attended a seminar with education agents, and delivered a speech focused on transnational education partnerships at the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City.
In the same month, Malaysia was hosting a New Zealand delegation led by Minister of Maori Affairs Dr Pita Sharples, as special guests for New Zealand Week 2014. This festival, Lima Mata Ikan, in particular celebrated the cultural linkages between New Zealand and Sarawak. The Borneo Post International Education Fair was held in Kuching during this week.
The announcement of the signing of the MOU between Auckland UniServices and the Indonesian Geothermal Association in Jakarta can be seen on the Beehive website.
The gala dinner speech in Jakarta given by Minister Steven Joyce is here.
