Longstanding Shandong partnership celebrated
More than twenty years of successful partnership between Shandong Province in China and Unitec was celebrated with the visit of two key educational organisations last week.
Senior leaders from Shandong Provincial Education Department and Shandong Jianzhu University met with representatives from Unitec to explore potential new areas of collaboration in fields such as Computing, Engineering, Architecture and Management.
The 10-strong delegation of officials was led by General Director of the Shandong Provincial Education Department, Li Ming, and Vice President of Shandong Jianzhu University, Professor Qiu Liping.
Unitec has been partnering with higher education institutions in Shandong for nearly 25 years, working with them on staff and student exchanges, articulation pathways and joint programmes in Accounting and Architecture.
As part of the visit, Unitec and Shandong Jianzhu University also renewed their commitment to continue working together with a new Memorandum of Understanding. The two organisations have offered a joint programme in Architecture for the past 13 years, with Unitec School of Architecture staff teaching block courses at the Shandong university twice a year.
Shandong Jianzhu University, one of the largest in the province with around 27,000 full-time students, is widely known for its strong focus on practical education and industry collaboration and plays a significant role in fostering skilled professionals in architecture, construction, urban planning, and environmental protection.
The visitors were welcomed with a pōwhiri at Te Noho Kotihitanga Marae.
“We would like to express our appreciation to the Shandong Provincial Education Department for their ongoing support in facilitating educational partnerships and exchanges,” Te Pūkenga Chief Executive Gus Gilmore said at the welcome.
“Their leadership is crucial to the success of international cooperation in Shandong.
“We value our ongoing partnership with Shandong Jianzhu University and appreciate the opportunity to deepen our collaboration further,” he says. “Their continued engagement is a testament to the strength of our relationship.”
The delegation was also given a tour of the facilities in the Schools of Architecture and Creative Industries.
