Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology strengthens international partnerships during China visit

Two new joint delivery agreements and a series of strategic partnership developments will create new pathways for Chinese learners and strengthen Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s international education presence.

Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology has strengthened its international education partnerships in China, signing two new joint delivery agreements and advancing collaboration with universities and vocational education institutes during a senior leadership visit.

Led by Chief Executive, Dr Pim Borren, and Acting Executive Director Academic Delivery and Development, Allison Lawton, the delegation met with education leaders across China in mid-October to progress new programme opportunities, deepen established relationships and explore further collaboration in applied and vocational education. Also in attendance were Head of School - Design, Innovation and Service Industries, Tania Berryman; Programme Manager - Postgraduate Kaveeta Dutt; incoming Head of International, Christopher Handscomb and outgoing Head of International, Peter Richardson; and International Markets Manager - China, Han Zhang.

A key outcome of the visit was the signing of two joint delivery agreements that will support the development and delivery of programmes in electrical engineering and graphic design in China:

• In Nanjing (Jiangsu Province, East China), delegates visited Nanjing Vocational College of Information Technology (NJCIT) where Toi Ohomai will jointly deliver an Electrical Engineering diploma programme. The first student cohort is expected to begin their studies at NJCT in September 2027.

• In Dalian (Liaoning Province, Northeast China), a joint delivery agreement with Dalian Minzu University (DMU) will support the development of a Graphic Design programme within Toi Ohomai’s Bachelor of Creative Industries. The first student intake is expected in September 2027, subject to approval from the Ministry of Education in China.

Alongside the new agreements, the visit reinforced Toi Ohomai’s longstanding relationships with Chinese education providers and identified opportunities to expand collaboration across several subject areas:

• At Qingdao Vocational and Technical College (QTC) in Shandong Province, representatives discussed strengthening a tourism and hospitality partnership that has been in place since 2008, while also exploring opportunities for teacher training initiatives. Toi Ohomai and QTC jointly led a New Zealand-China Vocational Education Alliance workshop, where representatives from 12 other Chinese universities and colleges shared ideas for future collaboration. The annual event will be hosted by Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology in New Zealand in 2027.

• In Northern China, the delegation also met with representatives from Beijing College of Finance and Commerce (BCFC) to discuss renewing student pathway agreements and expanding collaboration in tourism and accounting education. BCFC and Toi Ohomai have maintained a longstanding international partnership since 2008, with collaborative initiatives including articulation pathways for BCFC students, teaching exchanges, research symposiums, and study tours.

• In Southwestern China at Chongqing University of Education (CQUE), the delegation discussed the jointly delivered Bachelor of Applied Information Technology programme, which launched in China in September with an inaugral cohort of 94 students. The programme offers a dual-degree pathway, with graduates eligible to receive both a Bachelor of Data Science from CQUE and a Bachelor of Applied Information Technology from Toi Ohomai.

• In Tauranga’s sister city of Yantai (Shandong Province, Northeastern China), the delegation signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Shandong City Service Institute to explore joint delivery opportunities in Western culinary arts, Baking and Hospitality Management. The MOU provides a foundation for both institutes to consider future programme delivery and greater collaboration across these areas.

With Chinese ākonga (students) representing the third-largest international student cohort at Toi Ohomai, China continues to be an important market in the institute’s international education strategy.  

Dr Pim Borren says the China trip reinforced the value of strong, long-term relationships with Chinese education providers and the opportunities international collaboration creates for learners and kaimahi (staff) in both countries.

“International partnerships allow us to share expertise, develop relevant qualifications and connect learners with high-quality, industry-focussed education.

“Our relationships with Chinese universities and technical institutes are important. This visit helped us progress new programme opportunities and identify ways our applied and vocational education expertise can deliver mutual benefits,” Pim says. 

The delegation concluded their trip in India, where representatives met with international education agents at the New Zealand High Commission in New Delhi. The purpose of these meetings was to promote Toi Ohomai as a leading provider of tertiary education in New Zealand and strengthen student recruitment networks.