UCOL’s international partnerships and articulations continue to grow

UCOL is pleased to be creating further opportunities for international ākonga to move to New Zealand and study at UCOL in Palmerston North and Whanganui.

This week, UCOL’s senior leaders hosted two showcases, one for international agents, and the other for industry representatives and key stakeholders in the construction area, introducing new programme offerings (pending NZQA approval), including our Master of Applied Management, Master of Information Technology, and Construction programmes, featuring Quantity Surveying and Architectural Technology.

Jasmine Groves, Chief Executive, says these events were a wonderful opportunity to showcase the Manawatū campus, facilities including Ambitions Restaurant, and the practical, industry-connected learning experiences that make UCOL unique.

“The new programme offerings are in direct response to the conversations we’ve been having over the last few months with our agents about what international students are interested in moving to New Zealand to study. It’s wonderful to be able to bring these options to life, and I look forward to welcoming our 2027 international ākonga here to UCOL.”

The Master of Applied Management will come with two pathway options: a coursework pathway with four specialisation options - Digital Business, Digital Marketing, Logistics & Supply Chain, and Construction Management, or a thesis pathway with no specialisation.

The refreshed Master of Information Technology will see four pathway options: two coursework pathways (with or without specialisation) and two thesis pathways (with or without specialisation). The specialisation options are Cyber Security, Artificial Intelligence & Data Analytics, and Computer Science.

UCOL has also been able to reconnect with partners in Japan, with Jan MacGibbon, Academic Portfolio Manager ECE and Languages, recently participating in a strategic delegation to Japan alongside representatives from Whanganui District Council, Whanganui & Partners, iwi, tourism providers, and local industry to strengthen relationships and explore future collaboration opportunities between Whanganui and Japan.

“This trip was a great investment for UCOL, as we were able to focus on strengthening our already established education partnerships, particularly with the KOSEN network, and it provided a chance for us to explore opportunities within English language education, nursing education, and other international collaborations,” explains Groves.

This week, Rachel O’Connor, Executive Director Partnerships & Engagement, has been in China, travelling to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. She is part of a delegation of 11 senior leaders from across the vocational education sector, accompanying Hon. Penny Simmonds, Minister for Tertiary Education and Minister of Science, Innovation & Technology. The visit reinforces New Zealand's commitment to international education and provides valuable opportunities to continue to strengthen relationships with our partners across China. A trip to China in September this year is also planned for the launch of some key collaborations with UCOL’s Chinese University partners.

UCOL’s international engagement efforts have no signs of slowing down, with visits over the coming months planned for India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal to meet with agents and partners, discuss the new programme opportunities, and explore further opportunities to support students who are considering studying at UCOL in 2027.