At the invitation of the University of Waikato, UUNZ Institute of Business and Lincoln University in New Zealand, as well as the Islamic University of Maldives and Villa College in Maldives, President He Ying recently led a delegation on a dedicated visit to the five partner institutions. The trip aims to advance SDC’s 15th Five-Year Plan for international development, further implement the Vocational Education Going Global initiative, and build a regular platform for Sino-foreign inter-university exchanges. Directors of the International Exchange Office, the School of Continuing Education and the Innovative Technician College accompanied the delegation. During the visit, President He held in-depth discussions with presidents and representatives of the host institutions, and signed multiple inter-university cooperation agreements. The trip has yielded fruitful and tangible outcomes, effectively advancing teaching, research and international exchange of SDC, and deepening Sino-foreign cultural integration.
I. Visit to the University of Waikato: Insights into Indigenous Māori Cultural Preservation
On the morning of June 9, the delegation visited the University of Waikato, widely known as the “Harvard of the Southern Hemisphere”. They were warmly received by Mr. David Aubergier Rico, Senior Manager of the International Office, Prof. Tangiwai Rewi, Dean of the Faculty of Māori and Indigenous Studies, and Dr. Te Kahautu Maxwell, Associate Dean of Postgraduate Studies.
Mr. David gave a comprehensive introduction to the university’s history, disciplinary strengths and international cooperation landscape. Founded in 1964, the University of Waikato is one of New Zealand’s eight public universities with a global reputation. It has established extensive partnerships with higher education institutions worldwide, including 48 universities in China. With over 2,200 international students on campus, it boasts a distinct profile in internationalized education. Prof. Tangiwai Rewi elaborated on the development, academic programs and Māori cultural research achievements of the Te Kotahi Research Institute.
President He expressed gratitude for the warm reception and presented SDC’s overview, its educational characteristics and international strategy. She noted that the College upholds the fundamental mission of fostering virtue through education. While cultivating highly skilled technical talents, SDC attaches great importance to holistic education and traditional culture education, and is committed to nurturing well-rounded technical and skilled talents with both moral integrity and professional competence. The two sides held in-depth discussions on future cooperation directions.
II. Visit to UUNZ Institute of Business: Expanding Overseas Footprint of Vocational Education
On the morning of June 10, the delegation visited UUNZ Institute of Business. Mr. Rex Morgan, Board Director, Mr. Jinming Chen, CEO, Dr. Cathy Zhang, President, Ms. Sarah Chen, Assistant to the President, and Māori tribal leaders attended the welcome ceremony and participated in the full exchange.
Mr. Rex Morgan extended a warm welcome to the delegation and briefed them on UUNZ’s recent development and educational achievements. Established in 2002 by legislation of the New Zealand Parliament, UUNZ is a private higher education provider and an independent legal overseas campus of the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), offering business education accredited by both New Zealand and Australia. It is accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) of Australia – a dual accreditation that gives it a unique competitive edge among New Zealand private institutions. Mr. Morgan expressed strong willingness for in-depth cooperation with Chinese universities, hoping to leverage China’s experience and quality resources in vocational education to jointly elevate the international standard of business education.
President He presented the overall layout and remarkable progress of SDC’s international exchange work. Witnessed by representatives from both sides, President He and Mr. Rex Morgan signed the inter-university cooperation agreement between SDC and UUNZ Institute of Business. The two sides agreed to gradually advance substantive cooperation projects including joint program development, faculty training and student internships, to achieve mutual benefit and common development.
III. Visit to Lincoln University: Deepening Cooperation in Green Finance
On June 11, the delegation visited Lincoln University. Prof. Christopher Gan, Dean of the Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, and Mr. Patrick, International Relations Officer, attended the welcome ceremony and exchange activities. Prof. Christopher Gan welcomed the delegation and introduced Lincoln University’s history, disciplinary expertise and cooperation with Chinese higher education institutions. Founded in 1878 as the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln University is one of New Zealand’s oldest educational institutions and one of its eight public universities. Rated as a five-star university by QS, it is a world-renowned agricultural university with a beautiful campus and strong academic atmosphere. It currently hosts around 5,000 students from 67 countries. The programs of its Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce align closely with those of SDC’s School of Economics and Management, laying a solid foundation for cooperation in agricultural and forestry economic management, accounting and finance, and sustainable development.
President He introduced Shanghai’s strategic layout and leading strengths in green finance, noting that Shanghai is building itself into an international hub for green finance. It operates China’s first carbon exchange and leads the world in carbon capture, carbon pricing and carbon emission reduction. The two sides can carry out in-depth academic research and exchanges in green finance, carbon asset management and sustainable agricultural economy. With Lincoln University’s strong research capacity in agricultural economics and environmental science, the cooperation features strong complementarity and broad prospects.
After full consultation, the two sides reached consensus on establishing faculty and student exchange mechanisms and joint research initiatives, and will jointly advance the signing of a formal inter-university cooperation agreement.
IV. Visit to Islamic University of Maldives: Opening a New Chapter in China-Maldives University Cooperation
On June 12, the delegation visited the Islamic University of Maldives (IUM). Senior management including Dr. Saudullah Ali, Rector, Dr. Ibrahim Zakariyya Moosa, Vice Rector, Ms. Aishath Shina, Acting Director of Local and International Relations, and Dr. Mohamed Shaheen, Dean of the Centre for Continuing Education, attended the welcome ceremony, demonstrating the university’s high regard for the visit. Building on prior online communications, the two sides proceeded directly to the signing ceremony. Rector Saudullah Ali and President He Ying formally signed the inter-university cooperation agreement – a milestone as it marks the first inter-university cooperation agreement between IUM and a Chinese higher education institution. It represents a new step in China-Maldives higher education cooperation and lays a solid foundation for broader and deeper collaboration.
After the ceremony, Rector Saudullah Ali welcomed the delegation and spoke highly of SDC’s educational achievements and international vision. He expressed hope for pragmatic cooperation in academic education, Chinese language teaching and vocational skills upgrading, and proposed flexible programs such as summer and winter camps to promote cultural exchange and academic advancement among young students of the two countries, and cultivate interdisciplinary talents proficient in both Chinese language and professional skills.
President He expressed sincere gratitude for the warm reception. She noted broad cooperation potential between the two institutions: SDC can develop customized Chinese language curricula for IUM, share proven experience in vocational skills training and community education, and help cultivate business talents for Maldives adapted to the digital economy era, drawing on China’s practices in digital economy development. It can also introduce China’s technological achievements and talent cultivation models in drone application and low-altitude logistics. Short-term exchange programs for faculty and students will deepen mutual understanding and strengthen friendship between young people of the two countries.
Founded in 2006 and located in Malé, the Islamic University of Maldives is one of the two public universities in Maldives. It offers programs in Islamic studies, education, management and information technology, and holds an important position in Maldives’ higher education system. The cooperation agreement will bring important opportunities for IUM to introduce quality Chinese educational resources and expand its international cooperation network.
V. Visit to Villa College: Sharing Experience in Vocational Education Cooperation
On the afternoon of June 14, the delegation visited Villa College, the largest and oldest private higher education institution in Maldives. The visit is a reciprocal response to Villa College’s previous delegation to SDC, demonstrating both sides’ sincerity in advancing cooperation. Dr. Ali Najeeb, Acting Vice Rector, Mr. Abdul Munnim Mohamed Manik, Vice Rector, and head of the Academic Affairs Office attended the welcome ceremony. An inter-university cooperation agreement signing ceremony was held prior to the seminar. Witnessed by representatives from both sides, Acting Vice Rector Dr. Ali Najeeb and President He Ying signed the agreement, marking a new phase of institutionalized and standardized cooperation between the two colleges.
Dr. Ali Najeeb reviewed the friendly exchanges between the two institutions and highly commended SDC’s achievements in vocational education. President He expressed thanks and proposed expanding cooperation in the nursing program and broader fields through diversified exchange formats such as short-term faculty and student visits. SDC is ready to share its valuable experience in developing vocational and program standards, support Villa College in improving its vocational education system and talent cultivation quality, and jointly implement a low-altitude logistics vocational skills training program tailored to Maldives’ actual needs, contributing Chinese wisdom and SDC’s strengths to Maldives’ logistics modernization and economic development.
Established in 2007 as Maldives’ first private college, Villa College offers education from senior secondary to master’s level with independent degree-awarding authority. It operates 7 campuses and 13 learning centers across Maldives, with the most extensive education network and the largest student enrollment in the country – over 5,000 registered students as of 2025. It holds a pivotal position and influence in Maldives’ higher education sector.
This visit to New Zealand and Maldives is a key initiative for SDC to advance international integration of vocational education and deepen global educational cooperation. By engaging with diverse partners including featured universities, authoritative research institutions and indigenous leaders, SDC has further expanded its global cooperation network. Going forward, SDC will translate the visit outcomes into concrete actions, continue to build its distinctive vocational education brand, and stay committed to the Vocational Education Going Global direction, so as to provide sustained support for building a first-class vocational college with distinctive characteristics.
(Correspondent: Cui Hongjun Translator: Liu Yichen）
