From October 23 to 30, Xu Jianling, Deputy Party Secretary and President of Shenzhen Polytechnic University (SZPU), led a delegation on an invited visit to several renowned universities, research institutions, and regional organizations in New Zealand and Australia. The visit aimed to expand SZPU's international resources, deepen partnerships, and achieved fruitful results.

Visit to Waikato Institute of Technology

In New Zealand, the delegation visited Waikato Institute of Technology, the University of Auckland, and Auckland University of Technology. At Waikato Institute of Technology, the delegation toured training facilities and met with Executive Director Huia Haeata and the university’s leadership team. Both sides reached a consensus on collaboration projects, including establishing a Digital Workshop for New Energy Vehicles, faculty training, and short-term student exchanges.

At the University of Auckland, the delegation held in-depth discussions with Professor Gao Wei, a Royal Society of New Zealand Fellow, Academy of Engineering Fellow, and material scientist at the university. Both parties agreed on co-establishing a joint laboratory, co-hosting international conferences, and jointly training undergraduate and graduate students, with plans to expedite these initiatives.

During their visit to Auckland University of Technology, the delegation met with Professor Judith Honeyfield, President of the China-New Zealand Elder Care Society, and Professor Kay Shannon, Head of Nursing Education. The two sides agreed to collaborate on aging research projects and faculty and student exchange programs in nursing.

MOU Signed with Edith Cowan University

In Australia, the delegation visited Edith Cowan University and Federation University Australia. At Edith Cowan University, the delegation met with Vice Chancellor Jake Garman and his leadership team. The two institutions reviewed more than a decade of collaboration in student exchange, faculty development, and research, and they agreed to further joint programs, including student exchange, joint graduate programs, and academic exchanges for faculty and researchers. An MOU was signed to formalize these commitments.

At Federation University, the delegation met with Chancellor Duncan Bentley, Vice Chancellor Iven Mareels, and their leadership team. Both institutions celebrated over 20 years of successful collaboration and reached an agreement to deepen cooperation on various projects, including the expansion of the Shenzhen Digital Workshop initiative. Chancellor Bentley, who had visited SZPU last year, was particularly impressed by SZPU's experience in industry-education integration and university-enterprise collaboration. He expressed great enthusiasm for further collaboration in establishing the Shenzhen Digital Workshop.

While in New Zealand, the delegation also visited the Waikato Innovation Centre and BYD’s New Zealand distributor, Ateco, where they explored potential partnerships and discussed business opportunities. In Australia, they received an update on the joint SZPU-Federation University Financial Services and Management program and engaged in discussions with student representatives from the program.

The delegation was accompanied by representatives from SZPU’s Office of International Exchange and Cooperation, Undergraduate Education Office, School of Economics, School of Automotive and Transportation, and School of Medical Technology and Nursing.

(School of Medical Technology and Nursing)