Chinese educators excited about Toi Ohomai qualifications

Malcolm Hardy knows his fair share about building relationships. The Head of School, Applied Technology, at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology’s Tauranga campus has been involved with teaching and overseeing the smooth running of trades’ training for many years.

He and his team have worked closely with industry to develop new qualifications like the Diploma in Quantity Surveying and the Diploma in Supply Chain Management. It is those qualifications that have got Chinese educators excited.

Malcolm has just returned from a trip to China, where he was invited by Chinese universities and technical institutes to discuss the qualifications.

"They do have these qualifications in China," Malcolm explained. "But theirs are very theory based. What they're really after is our practical, vocational approach to trades' training and getting a New Zealand qualification to add to their Chinese qualification."

One path the tertiary institute is considering is to host a Chinese student for two years’ of study, post completion of a two year diploma in their own country. The students could then earn a qualification like the Bachelor of Applied Technology which is currently under development by Toi Ohomai and will be ready for delivery in 2018.

“Most of these students will be looking to go back to China once they’ve completed their qualifications. Their economy is booming and there’s plenty of work in the construction and supply chain and logistics industries,” said Malcolm. “What they’re hoping to gain from studying in New Zealand, besides the vocational aspect of our training, is the Kiwi work and life experience and to improve their English.”

As well as meeting with Chinese educators, Malcom also spoke at the 2016 Sino-NZ Higher Vocational Education Forum in Qinngdao.

“I delivered a presentation on Quality Practices in programme development, delivery and evaluation. The Chinese are really keen on the New Zealand education model. They want to know more about our teaching methods and how we do things.”

Malcolm hopes to return to China with other Toi Ohomai staff next year to continue to build on this promising relationship and sign a Memorandum of Understanding with various institutes.

“We’re excited at the prospect of offering our qualifications to an international market.”