National Pingtung University Advances into New Zealand, Pioneering New Frontiers in International Educational Internships and Academic Exchange
The journey’s second destination was New Zealand, where, in February 2024, the University’s International Affairs Director, Kelvin Chen , engaged in discussions with the New Zealand Representative Office in Taiwan about an overseas education internship program, sparking interest from the New Zealand Ministry of Education. This interest led to a collaborative opportunity. Upon their arrival, the team from Pingtung University was greeted enthusiastically by over 20 officials from the New Zealand Ministry of Education with traditional Maori songs. With Associate Professor Chiu Yu-Pin from the Department of Social Development accompanying, the team from Pingtung responded with the heartfelt song "We Are Family." The visit facilitated discussions on a variety of topics, including university social responsibility (USR), indigenous education and teacher training, Taiwan's overseas internship programs, and collaboration with local universities, with plans to explore deeper academic partnerships aimed at forging new educational paradigms together.
The visit also included a stop at Victoria University, renowned for its STEAM education initiatives and its active engagement with local schools. A visit was arranged to Karori Elementary School through the recommendation of Professor Chen Kai, leading to potential collaboration. Moreover, the trip included a visit to the esteemed Waikato University, a beacon of indigenous education and teacher training. Despite the low willingness of indigenous communities to engage in international academic collaboration, the support from Waikato University is poised to be a significant boon to the project.
This initiative not only enhances the global perspective of Taiwan's teacher education but also deepens the educational collaboration between the two regions. Looking forward, more Taiwanese teacher trainees will have opportunities to engage in international educational experiences, breathing new life into the globalization of Taiwan’s educational landscape.
項次 | 可合作 師資類科 |
單位及聯絡人 | 備註 | |||
幼 | 小 | 中 | 特 | |||
1 | Karori Normal School Tel:04 476 7209 E-mail: office@kns.school.nz Add: Donald Street, Karori, Wellington 6012紐西蘭 |
一所大型小學,約有 750 名學生 |