The unveiling ceremony of the Joint Institute of Huazhong Agricultural University and Lincoln University was held in Auckland, New Zealand on June 14.
Gao Chi, secretary of the CPC Committee of Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU), and Grant Edwards, vice-chancellor of Lincoln University, jointly presented the institute in a ceremony witnessed by Huai Jinpeng, minister of Education of China, and Penny Simmonds, minister for Tertiary Education and Skills of New Zealand.
The unveiling ceremony of the Joint Institute of Huazhong Agricultural University and Lincoln University is held in Auckland, New Zealand on June 14.[Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
Secretary of the CPC Committee of Huazhong Agricultural University Gao Chi, Chinese Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng and Vice-Chancellor of Lincoln University Grant Edwards [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]
The Joint Institute will offer three undergraduate majors in Agricultural and Forestry Economics Management, Ecology, and Horticulture starting this year. It has a total enrollment capacity of 1,000 students. The college will adopt a "4+0" training model, where students will study for four years at Huazhong Agricultural University. Faculty from Lincoln University will also teach at the school. Upon completion of the courses and other requirements of the professional training program, and meeting the academic standards of both universities, students will be awarded bachelor's degrees from both Huazhong Agricultural University and Lincoln University.
This collaboration provides opportunities for expanded cooperation and course offerings, including a pathway for graduates of Huazhong Agricultural University to Lincoln University, as well as staff exchanges aimed at promoting global knowledge and innovation in the land-based industries. By leveraging the strengths of both universities' distinctive disciplines and platforms, the aim is to cultivate top-tier innovative talents with patriotism, international vision, innovative spirit, and practical capabilities.
“The partnership signifies a significant opportunity for Lincoln University to collaborate with a top-tier institution like HZAU that is aligned to the land-based sectors in areas such as agriculture, food sciences, environmental management, soil and physical sciences, viticulture and oenology”, said Grant Edwards, highlighting the Joint Institute's milestone significance for the university in expanding international partnerships and supporting student growth and global engagement beyond existing joint degree programs, partnership agreements, and student exchange initiatives.
The unveiling of the Joint Institute was one of the outcomes of the China-New Zealand Education Development Forum held on June 14. During the forum, education ministers from China and New Zealand witnessed the signing of 19 cooperation agreements and the unveiling of one joint institute between 11 Chinese universities and eight New Zealand universities, pushing China-New Zealand education cooperation towards greater diversity.
The unveiling marks the beginning of a new chapter in the collaboration between the two universities. Ahead of the forum, Gao Chi and Grant Edwards held informal discussions on the high-quality development of college talent training, agreeing that both universities would use the construction of the Joint Institute as a platform to promote comprehensive and in-depth exchanges between scholars and students from both sides.
