College of Education's new international connections
Massey College of Education staff welcomed three international groups with a powhiri on Monday.
Students from Thai and Chinese universities and 23 principals and assistant principals from Thailand were welcomed onto the Te Kupenga o Te Matauranga Marae on Manawatu’s Hokowhitu campus.
The arrival of six students from Yunnan Normal University, who are studying towards a Master of Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and Educational Leadership, marked the beginning of a new partnership between Massey University and Yunnan Normal University in China.
Under the new arrangement Yunnan students complete their first year in China and their second at Massey. Stefanie Zhang is one of the six students, in the first intake who arrived last week. She said the partnership between the universities presented an opportunity for Chinese teachers to improve themselves.
“We are the first group to be here, and it’s a great opportunity. I wanted to grab it,” she said. “The teachers are fantastic, we’ve had great classes already and they’ve arranged many interesting activities. Our life is very rich here.”
School of Educational Studies senior lecturer Dr Penny Haworth said the master’s programme met a growing international need, with many countries moving to teach content through English language, and migration also made this expertise a necessity for teachers in New Zealand.
The programme focuses on critical reflection, research and theory related to education leadership and teaching English to speakers of other languages, and graduates will be able to lead the development and implementation of innovative practices and policies for English language teaching and learning when they return to their home countries, Dr Haworth said.
The College of Education has also formed a partnership with Thailand’s Khon Kaen University for a joint Bachelor of Education (TESOL) degree – its first joint undergraduate programme. Thai students complete their first three years at Khon Kaen University, and spend their fourth year at Massey before returning to Thailand for their practical year.
Professor James Chapman, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Education, met with the Yunnan students and senior university leaders and also with Thai students at Khon Kaen University earlier in the year. He said the levels of enthusiasm and anticipation for the programmes was impressive and the students were very eager to learn about New Zealand and to engage in the Massey part of the programme.
Atcharawadee Chantasuk is the joint degree’s first student, and she attended the powhiri. Another 15 students from Khon Kaen University are expected to take part in the degree programme at Massey next year.
Also welcomed to the College of Education at the powhiri was the group of school principals led by Thailand’s Ministry of Education. This group will complete a professional development programme on school leadership and visit local high schools.