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  • NEWS SPECIAL: Peking University and Massey University Sign M.O.U.

    19/09/2016¯On Sep. 19, 2016, Vice Chancellor of Massey University Hon. Steve Maharey visited Peking University as the head of a delegation including Pro-Vice-Chancellor Distinguished Prof. Paul Spoonley for comprehensive talks with President of Peking University, Professor Lin Jianhua, followed by the signing of a special M.O.U. between the universities.

    On Sep. 19, 2016, Vice Chancellor of Massey University Hon. Steve Maharey visited Peking University as the head of a MU delegation including Pro-Vice-Chancellor Distinguished Prof. Paul Spoonley; Prof. James Liu, Head of the School of Psychology; Mr Michael O’Shaughnessy, International Director; Dr Li Mingsheng, Senior Lecturer, School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing; and Dr Ute Kreplin, Lecturer, School of Psychology. NZ Embassy Education Counselor Ms Alexandra Grace was also present on the visit.

    As President of Peking University, Professor Lin Jianhua met Vice Chancellor of Massey University Hon. Steve Maharey, NZ Embassy Education Counselor Ms Alexandra Grace, Mr Michael O’Shaughnessy. Dr Xia Hongwei, Director of the Office of International Relations, The New Zealand Centre Director, Prof. Liu Shusen, and Mr Cui Zhe, Deputy Chief for exchange programmes were present at the meeting. Both President Lin Jianhua and Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey reviewed the success of the academic exchanges and collaboration between two universities in the past decade, including the tripartite programme with Shihezi University in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, and stressed the importance of promoting academic exchanges and collaboration between two universities. The meeting was followed by a signing ceremony of renewing the general agreement for academic exchange between two universities.

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    Peking University President Prof. Lin Jianhua and Vice Chancellor of Massey University Hon. Steve Maharey at the Signing Ceremony.

     

    The Centre Director Professor Liu Shusen and Associate Professor Liu Hongzhong welcomed the guests at the Lakeside Villa of Peking University. Professor Liu Shusen addressed the visitors with a brief introduction to the New Zealand Centre and its current projects within Peking University. Professors Liu Shusen and Liu Hongzhong updated the delegation on the developments concerning the upcoming annual undergraduate course New Zealand History and Culture as well as cooperative projects with New Zealand universities.

     

    Professor Liu Shusen and Associate Professor Liu Hongzhong welcomed guests at the Lakeside Villa.

     

    The New Zealand Centre Director, Prof. Liu Shusen and Associate Prof. Liu Hongzhong welcomed the Massey University delegation and discussed a wide range of possibilities of academic exchanges and collaborations, book donations, and plans for the 10th year anniversary of the Centre in 2017. The meeting ended with a walk around the Weiming Lake.

     

    Professor Spoonley Talks on the Fourth Industrial Revolution at Peking University.

     

    At the invitation of Professor Zhang Jing, Chair of the Department of Sociology at Peking University, Prof. Paul Spoonley delivered a lecture entitled “The Fourth Industrial Revolution: The Changing World of Work” on the visit day. As Deputy Head, Professor Liu Neng hosted Prof. Spoonley’s lecture. Prof. Spoonley explored the new pattern of work emerging since the Global Financial Crisis and the instability in the labour market caused by digital and technical innovations. He highlighted that youth unemployment is on the rise in New Zealand and technology is changing the job market so significantly that 40-50% of 2016 jobs will not exist in 2026.

    Prof. Spoonley went on to discuss the demographic changes that are changing future job markets, which included low fertility rates and longer lifespans. He also gave insights into New Zealand’s own demographics – the large numbers of immigrants, primarily from Asia, which provide skilled labour, with 40% of Aucklanders overseas-born. He elaborated on Asian migration, citing nearly a third of Auckland’s population will be Asian, with these Asian communities poised to outnumber Maori in New Zealand.

    Prof Spoonley’s lecture was extremely successful and sparked many questions from the crowd, with questions regarding China’s labour market and the young workforce in Africa. After the lecture, the Massey University Delegation members had a meeting with Professor Zhang Jing and Professor Liu Neng and some other faculty members of the Department of Sociology at Peking University, discussing opportunities of collaboration in future, including joint research projects on demographics.

    As Vice President of Peking University, Professor Li Yansong greeted Vice Chancellor Steve Maharey and his delegation members and congratulated on the renewal of the agreement for academic exchange. As one of the 2016 NZC Fellows, Professor Stephen Cummings of the University of Victoria at Wellington was present on the welcome occasion and met the members of MU delegation.


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