New Zealand’s education sector has capped off a great week in Beijing, securing 34 new institutional partnerships and taking centre stage as the 2025 Country of Honour at the China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE) and the China Education Expo (CEE).
Led by Hon Dr Shane Reti, Minister for Universities and Minister of Science, Innovation and Technology, the New Zealand delegation of 25 tertiary providers showcased the nation’s rapidly growing capabilities across teaching, research, vocational training and transnational education.
During the visit, Dr Reti met with Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng, opened the second New Zealand–China High-Level Education Forum, and launched the New Zealand Pavilion at the Expo. He also held discussions with China’s Minister of Science and Technology Dr Yin Hejun to advance joint research and innovation priorities.
Education New Zealand Manapou ki te Ao (ENZ) Chief Executive Amanda Malu said the Country of Honour recognition provided “an unparalleled opportunity to demonstrate why New Zealand is a world-class education destination.” She noted that the strong interest at the Expo reflected the positive experiences of more than 22,000 Chinese students studying in New Zealand in early 2025.
A key outcome of the week was the signing of 34 new agreements between New Zealand and Chinese institutions — ranging from joint education programmes and transnational partnerships to research collaboration and pathway development.
Among the highlights:
- University of Auckland deepened ties with partners including Sichuan University, Wuhan University, and Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou).
- Victoria University of Wellington renewed its long-standing partnership with the Beijing Film Academy and launched a new dual-degree programme with Communication University of Zhejiang.
- Lincoln University formalised collaborations in forestry and agriculture, including an International Joint Laboratory on National Parks Management.
- Otago Polytechnic reached agreements to establish a China New Energy Vehicle Training Centre and a joint institute with Hunan Institute of Engineering.
- A broad suite of Te Pūkenga | NZ Institute of Skills and Technology subsidiaries signed partnerships on vocational education, joint institutes, and master’s pathways.
- Whitecliffe College, EIT, Massey University, University of Otago, University of Canterbury, University of Waikato, and others formalised new or expanded partnerships across a wide range of disciplines.
ENZ also signed a letter of intent with the China Centre for International People-to-People Exchange to enhance cooperation across vocational, higher education, and the schools sector.
“These partnerships are more than agreements on paper,” Malu said. “They represent real opportunities for collaboration, knowledge exchange, and pathways for students to experience the best of both countries.”
The New Zealand Pavilion at CEE was a major attraction, drawing thousands of prospective students and families. Exhibitors highlighted New Zealand’s strengths in safety, strong graduate outcomes, and applied, industry-connected learning — factors that continue to appeal to Chinese students considering overseas study.
With education emerging as one of the most resilient pillars of the New Zealand–China relationship, the momentum from CACIE and CEE is expected to expand student mobility, deepen research ties, and support new models of offshore and joint delivery.
“International students consistently tell us that their experience in New Zealand is positive and transformative,” Malu said. “That lived experience is our strongest endorsement — and it’s why we’re confident that the connections made at CACIE will translate into more students choosing New Zealand as their study destination.”
