October 25 2006
First international midwifery project of its kind
with Waikato Institute of Technology - Chinese Agreement
Through the strong support from the Peking University Health Science Centre and the New Zealand Government, Peking
University Third Hospital and New Zealand's Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec), have formed a co-operative
alliance to share expertise in the field of midwifery.
The historic agreement was launched last week in China at a jointly run four day International Nursing Forum for
Midwifery Education and Practice, which attracted many hundreds of delegates.
This bold midwifery education development began in July last year with a presentation by Wintec on the 'New Zealand
Health System and Nursing', at an international Nursing Development forum in China. Wintec was subsequently invited to
Peking University Third Hospital to meet with senior medical staff to discuss Nursing and Midwifery educational
practices and opportunities.
These discussions led to the signing of detailed agreements this year. A delegation of senior staff visited Wintec
earlier this year and spent time at Wintec and at Waikato district Health Board.
The Advanced Training programme jointly developed in New Zealand with staff from both organisations will provide
detailed skills and knowledge for midwifery professionals including quality assurance processes from Wintec. This
programme will be delivered at Peking University third Hospital in early 2007.
Wintec CEO Mark Flowers said that opportunities as a result of this agreement were significant Training Centre of
Excellence was likely to be established at Peking University Third Hospital in mid 2007 as well as a second
international midwifery forum. He said Wintec would be the education partner for the venture, providing clinical
practice role models and researchers.
ENDS