On May 27, 2024, the Sixth New Zealand-China Higher Education Forum took place in Auckland, New Zealand. It was co-hosted by Universities New Zealand - Te Pōkai Tara (UNZ) and the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE), with support from Education New Zealand (ENZ).
New Zealand Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Hon Penny Simmonds gave the opening remarks for the Forum. Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand, H.E. Wang Xiaolong, sent a congratulatory letter to the Forum. The Forum brought together senior representatives from 21 leading Chinese universities, led by CEAIE Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Fu Bo, and 8 New Zealand universities, along with representatives from Education New Zealand and Universities New Zealand. This was the first in person New Zealand-China Higher Education Forum and largest Chinese university delegation to visit New Zealand since the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants discussed areas of opportunities to work together to support education cooperation and high-quality research partnerships that benefit both New Zealand and China.
The Forum provided an important platform for participants to share their perspectives on a variety of issues in higher education, including strengthening international collaboration between universities in New Zealand and China to increase student and academic mobility cultivation of young researchers in higher education institutions growing research relationships between universities, and exploring programmes which support engagement between Chinese and New Zealand university leadership.
Participants recognized that New Zealand and China share a long history of education cooperation and universities in both countries were important partners with complementary strengths and shared interests. Maintaining and exploring further collaboration is vital for enhancing education and research links that benefit New Zealand and China. This collaboration will also help address global challenges such as climate change, sustainable development, and health and food security.
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