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Ngā Rangapū ki te Ao

Global Partnerships


Our partnerships with other educational institutions around the world range from informal relationships to formalised agreements, supporting our community and enriching the experiences of our ākonga and kaimahi.

Our collaborative models include pathway programmes and articulation agreements, joint programmes, and joint institutes with institutions in China, India, Japan, the Netherlands, Nepal, and Sri Lanka.

Learn more about these partnerships below, or if you’d like to connect with us from around the globe, please contact communications@ucol.ac.nz.

Key Areas of Partnerships

  1. Joint Institutes & Programmes

  2. Student & Staff Exchanges

  3. Student Pathways (Articulation Agreements)

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Joint Institutes & Programmes

Xi'an University (Xi'an, China)

Partnering with Xi’an University, the establishment of a Joint Institute called the Palmerston North Institute at Xi’an University sees students having the opportunity to study two majors from the UCOL Bachelor of Information & Communication Technology qualification alongside their degree in China in the areas of either Software Engineering or Data Science & Big Data Technology. The Joint Institute programmes began in September 2026. Students gain credits from their Chinese studies towards the UCOL degree, with UCOL staff travelling to China to teach UCOL specialist courses spread across the final three years of their four-year degree.

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Weifang University (Weifang, China)

UCOL and Weifang University have partnered to establish a joint programme with a focus on Financial Technology. This joint programme gives students the opportunity to study the UCOL Bachelor of Applied Management (majoring in Business Information Systems) alongside their Bachelor of Economics degree in China. Students will gain credits from their Chinese studies towards the UCOL degree, with UCOL staff travelling to China to teach UCOL specialist courses spread across the final three years of their four-year degree.

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Xi'an Shiyou (Xi'an, China)

UCOL is partnering with Xi’an Shiyou University for the establishment of a Joint Programme in Information Technology. This Joint Programme will see students at Xi’an Shiyou University having the opportunity to study the UCOL Master of Information Technology programme in China. Students will gain some credits from their Chinese courses, with UCOL staff travelling to China to teach UCOL specialist courses across the two years of their Master’s studies.

UVCS – Urban Vocational College of Sichuan (Chengdu, China)

UCOL established a Joint Programme with UVCS in 2019 in the area of Early Childhood Education. UCOL delivers courses in China as part of this Joint Programme that focus on aspects of New Zealand Early Childhood curriculum such as New Zealand teaching approaches, culture, and learning and development. UCOL sends staff to China to teach these areas to students studying an Early Childhood Diploma in at UVCS.

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Developing Relationships (China)

UCOL recently visited two vocational colleges in China, Jining Polytechnic and Chongqing City Vocational College. UCOL has signed MoUs with both institutions to explore the development of a Joint Institute or Joint Programme in China.

Student & Staff Exchanges

Japan

UCOL is proud to continue developing partnerships with institutes in Japan, providing a range of opportunities for Japanese students to come and experience life in New Zealand, specifically Whanganui. From English Language exchanges, internship opportunities with local businesses, and industry-specific visits to learn more about how certain sectors work in New Zealand. UCOL had a group of 16 students, travelling with staff, from Tsuruoka College in Japan, visit Whanganui and UCOL for three weeks in February 2026 to study English language and experience New Zealand’s culture and hospitality during this time.

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Student Pathways (Articulation Agreements)

UCOL has recently begun relationships with Sri Lankan educational institutes, Asian Institute of Business & Science (AIBS) and BMS, where we are looking to provide articulation agreements in the areas of Laboratory Science and Information Technology, where existing credits can be used towards students’ studies in Aotearoa at UCOL’s Manawatū campus.

AIBS – Asian Institute of Business & Science (Sri Lanka)

UCOL has established an international agreement with AIBS to provide pathways for students to gain credit into a UCOL degree programme from their studies in Sri Lanka, either in the areas of Computing or Science. In Computing, students studying Pearson Higher National Diplomas in Computer (General Specialisation or Software Engineering) gain credits from their studies into the UCOL Bachelor of Information & Communication Technology (BICT). In the area of Laboratory Science, students studying the Pearson Higher National Diploma in Biology gain credits from their studies into the UCOL Bachelor of Applied Science (Laboratory Science).