Photo caption: Alexandra Grace and Selena Fox present Yingying Kang with an academic excellence award
Education relations between New Zealand Tertiary College and the Fujian Preschool Education College in China continue to
strengthen as the partnership celebrated their second annual graduation ceremony in Fuzhou, China earlier this month.
Since 2013, the country’s leading early childhood teacher education provider has collaborated with the Fujian Preschool
Education College and education agency China Liberal Technology Development Company Limited to support early childhood
teacher education in China through the Sino-NZ Cooperation Program.
After the inaugural graduation of 142 students last year, a further 76 students were celebrated this year after
completing a New Zealand Qualifications Authority approved Certificate in Early Childhood Teaching (Level 6) alongside a
local Chinese early childhood education diploma.
“Our celebration today is a symbol of the rich relationships that have navigated oceans, languages and cultures between
New Zealand and China to come together due to our shared commitment to the education of teachers of young children,”
said NZTC Chief Executive Selena Fox.
Representative graduate speaker Lan Wang furthered this sentiment in sharing, “In this cooperation program we are able
to communicate and exchange different knowledge with New Zealand local teachers and students.”
Throughout the years NZTC have sent academic staff to Fuzhou to support students studying towards their internationally
recognised NZTC qualification.
“During the time of study, many outstanding teachers in the field of early childhood education came to our school and
taught us relevant knowledge. We were provided with hands-on experience in foreign teaching methods based on expression
and discussion,” said Wang.
“In these three years we have learned so much, becoming open-minded and strong. With teachers’ guidance and our efforts,
we made big progress in our English level, academic performance and our professional ability increased rapidly.”
Education New Zealand’s Regional Director for Greater China Alexandra Grace attended the ceremony to support the
educational relationship and NZTC’s initiatives in China.
“Relationships between countries are shaped by leaders, but developed by the people. As graduates of this program you
are now dual ambassadors both for China and for New Zealand. You hold in your hands, and in your hearts, and in your
minds, an understanding of both our countries, which is necessary to take the New Zealand – China relationship to
greater heights still,” said Grace.
Graduates have the opportunity to further their study by completing a bachelor’s degree in New Zealand with NZTC, where
they can experience first-hand why New Zealand is world-leading in its training of early childhood educators.
To find out more about New Zealand Tertiary College, visit www.nztertiarycollege.ac.nz
ENDS