A Delegation from  Otago University visits the New Zealand Centre at Peking University

02/11/2018 – University of Otago’s Jason Cushen, Director of the International Office, Roger McElwain, CEO of the Language Centre and Foundation Year, Associate Professor Hazel Tucker, and Joyce Zhang, China Country Representative, visited the NZC to have a meeting with the Centre director Professor Liu Shusen and Centre secretary Associate Professor Lui Hongzhong.

On Friday the 2^nd of November, Jason Cushen, Director of the International Office, Roger McElwain, CEO of the language Centre and Foundation Year, Associate Professor Hazel Tucker, Department of Tourism, School of Business, and Joyce Zhang, China Country Representative, from the University of Otago came to the New Zealand Centre in Peking University to have a meeting with the Centre director Liu Shusen and the Centre secretary Associate Professor Liu Hongzhong. The meeting covered many topics, such as, deepening the relationships that the University of Otago has within China and ways in which the University of Otago may take a more proactive role in the NZC.

Centre Director Professor Liu Shusen and Centre Secretary Liu Hongzhong with Otago University’s Jason Cushen, Roger McElwain, Associate Professor Hazel Tucker, and Joyce Zhang, also Liaison Officer Daniel Cullen

One of the major themes of the meeting was in possibly establishing a new English language short course at Otago University, 3 or 4 weeks long, in which Chinese students looking to improve their English will be able to go to Otago University, stay with a host family and upon completion of the course have the opportunity to take an IELTS exam. This is something that could be highly attractive to Chinese students at Peking University as it would coincide with their Winter Vacation in China, allow them to experience full cultural immersion. Further discussions included how to increase the flow of both Chinese students and Otago University students who want to experience studying overseas, as well as further collaborations between professors of both Peking University and Otago University. Joyce Zhang is Otago University’s representative based in China to help organise enrolment into Otago University. The meeting also discussed how Joyce could come and give a talk to some of the students here at Peking University to help open up the possibilities of going to Otago University whether for a short course, exchange, or further study.

It turned out that there are a lot of areas in which PKU Continuing Education Department can cooperate with Otago’s Language Centre and Foundation Year. Links have already been established right after the meeting between Otago and the PKU Continuing Education Department. NZC has promised to help publicise different programmes that the University has to offer to international students and will be happy to organize events for presentations when needed.

During their visit, Professor Hazel Tuck donated a book Aotearoa: the New Zealand Experience published by Pothon and Burton in 2017. Their visit ended up with a pleasant tour around the campus.

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