UCOL expands classes to China

UCOL has expanded its reach by 9500 kilometres and started classes in China.

In September the first small intake of 24 English language students studying in Dongguan city started classes with a UCOL teacher from New Zealand.

From that first group, seven students arrived in Palmerston North in late January to live at homestays and extend their learning.

Of those, three students plan to stay after the short programme to study business at the polytech.

UCOL’S executive director of business development Arthur Chin said the class was run in partnership with the Dongguan School of Electronics and Technology, and was the first step toward offering more courses in China and encouraging more students to come to UCOL in New Zealand.

Three or four UCOL teachers would be working from the Dongguan campus by the second quarter, and business programmes were being considered for delivery in China, he said.

While international education is important to New Zealand, it is rare for our universities or polytechnics to offer teaching offshore.

‘‘It’s quite a strong move on behalf of UCOL. We’re conscious of the cost of international education is a big investment, so it was much cheaper for the students if part of the delivery took place in China.

‘‘And we want to make sure that when students arrive in Palmerston North their English is at a level that both the students and us are comfortable with.’’

Studying with a Kiwi teacher in China means students are used to the New Zealand accent before they get here, which can be a shock for English-language learners who have learned with British or American resources, Chin said.

Forming a partnership wasn’t the quickest way to recruit students, but would build strong opportunities in the long run to benefit both parties, Chin said.

Officials in Dongguan had been supportive.

Staff have also been working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade toward creating links with educational institutes in Chengdu and Nanjing, both in central China.

International education offered in China was now competitive in the bigger cities, Chin said, however demand was not being met in medium-sized and smaller cities.

‘‘International programmes are widely recognised in China and competitive, and we can offer a range of programmes, and [for students who visit New Zealand], a safe small-city environment and New Zealand is generally more affordable with our exchange rate.’’

The programme is the first UCOL has delivered offshore since a Bachelor of Nursing taught in India, between 2004 and 2009.