| Communications and Development |  |
Published by Communications and Development
The University of Canterbury is offering two full and seven part scholarships to students at the prestigious Number 1 Middle School in Wuhan, China.
Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Law, Student Services) Professor Scott Davidson made the announcement during a visit to the school which is attached to the Central China Normal University. Professor Davidson is in China as part of Christchurch Mayor Bob Parker’s delegation to Gansu province and Wuhan.
The school, with a roll of around 5000 students aged up to 18, is the top school in Central China and one of the top six ranked schools in China. All its graduates qualify for keenly contested places in China’s universities – 80 per cent of them for Tier One Universities.
Professor Davidson says the College of Engineering and the College of Business and Economics are waiving tuition fees completely, while other colleges are providing partial fee waivers. Campus Living Villages, which manages University of Canterbury student accommodation and the University’s travel provider are also providing partial scholarships.
The students will apply for the scholarships and be interviewed for places after their final national examinations in June.
“In offering these scholarships we are promoting Christchurch and of course the University of Canterbury as a provider of quality education to these brilliant young students,” Professor Davidson says.
Mr Parker and Professor Davidson spoke to 1500 students at the Number 1 Middle School, providing information about Christchurch and also what qualities were needed to study in New Zealand. Students were keen to learn more about the cost and quality of education in New Zealand and also about the lifestyle in Christchurch.
The scholarships strengthen the strong ties the University of Canterbury has with education institutions in Wuhan, China’s fourth largest city. It has a formal agreement on academic cooperation and exchanges with Wuhan University, Zhongnang University of Economics and Law, Huazhong University of Science and Technology and the China University of Geosciences.
In another relationship announced during the Christchurch delegation’s visit, Christchurch City Council and the University of Canterbury will be cooperating in future with the Wuhan Botanical Gardens, Chinese Academy of Science on public education, landscaping, research in plant science and public garden management projects.
Mr Parker and Professor Davidson signed a statement of intent for the three parties to explore the possibility of a joint programme of academic and scientific exchange.
The 78-hectare gardens are home to 8000 species and the centre for research into saving endangered plants. Research programmes include developing aquatic plants to clean up polluted Chinese waterways.
For further information please contact:
Jeanette Colman
Communications Manager
University of Canterbury
Phone: (64) 3 364-2260
Or email: jeanette.colman@canterbury.ac.nz