Upskilling New Zealanders for China, Japan and Korea
Upskilling New Zealanders for China, Japan and
Korea
Targeted support for
small and medium size enterprises, schools and students
working with and learning about the countries of North Asia
is being rolled out across the country.
The North Asia Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPE) is one of three CAPEs set up to improve New Zealanders’ understanding and ability to engage with the diverse countries of the Asia-Pacific region. The North Asia CAPE covers China, Japan and Korea and is hosted by the University of Auckland.
North Asia CAPE Establisment Director Anne French says research has informed the approach she has taken to target the unmet needs of businesses and schools to ensure the work of the CAPE adds value.
“Research has allowed us to identify business sectors in different parts of New Zealand that want to build their knowledge and understanding of China, Japan and Korea and the specific skills they need. It has also informed the needs of schools and programmes developed for them.”
Upcoming North Asia
CAPE activities include:
• Business modules targeting
regional SMEs. Drawing on the insights of University of
Auckand Business School researchers Antje Fiedler and Ben
Fath of the UoA Business School the modules will explain how
to prepare to engage in China, Japan and Korea and how to
undertake due diligence on prospective partners in country.
It is designed to complement the excellent services offered
by NZTE and other providers.
• A targeted business
programme for NZ schools involved in international
education, delivered in partnership with Education NZ, that
delivers inter-cultural competency training.
• Support
for schools teaching Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages,
especially those who have been supported by Ministry of
Education Asian Language Learning in Schools programme.
• A conference for secondary school students studying
Chinese, Japanese and Korean languages and their
teachers.
• A pilot programme to create Mandarin
Teaching Assistants to support the teaching of Chinese n NZ
school classrooms. This would add to the Mandarin Language
Assistant programme, which brings Chinese students to New
Zealand to support schools in culture and language
learning
• A nationwide programme of specialist talks
for businesses on aspects of trade, strategy, and
geopolitics in the region continues in 2018. Full details on
the CAPE North Asia web site.
Ms French says the programme
of activity is attracting interest.
“New Zealandes are
increasingly aware that they need to step up their
knowledge, understanding and skills if they want to engage
successfully with their counterparts in China, Japan and
Korea.”
The North Asia CAPE, along with the Southeast Asia CAPE and Latin America CAPE were formally launched at Parliament by Education Minister Hon Chris Hipkins.