Whitireia host Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture

For immediate release

Whitireia host Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture

On Friday 10 February 2012, Whitireia hosted 11 delegates from the high level Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture headed by the Vice Minister of Education and Culture Mr Musliar Kasim. Delegates from the ministry were welcomed onto the Porirua Campus by Don Campbell, Chief Executive, Whitireia and Taku Parai from Ngāti Toa.

The Indonesian delegation, were in Wellington on Thursday and Friday for joint working group meetings with representatives from New Zealand’s Education sector. They were met by the New Zealand Minister of Tertiary Education, Hon Steven Joyce and Minister of Education, Hon Hekia Parata as well as senior officials and representative of various education groups.

On Friday’s visit to Whitireia, Don Campbell addressed the delegation. He talked about the strengths and opportunities of New Zealand polytechnics and the possible ways in which Whitireia could co-operate with the Indonesian Government in assisting with education capacity building. “Relationship building is very important for us. Whitireia have previously worked with Indonesian teachers from the Jambi province, we work hard on international relationships and would like to build and grow these with Indonesia” he said.

Mr Musliar Kasim, talked to Whitireia staff about the importance of working with the New Zealand government to improve education in Indonesia. “We are here in New Zealand for closer collaboration, we would like to work closer with New Zealand and its education sector to improve the quality of our education” he said.

With a population of 240 million people, 33 provinces (each as large as New Zealand) Indonesia has 5 million students in higher education, 35 million students in years 1-6, 7 million in high school and 8 million in Early Childhood Education. Throughout the country there are in excess of 80 universities.

Currently, 500 Indonesian students study in New Zealand. “We would like to look further at how we can increase this number and in particular how Whitireia can strengthen its relationship with the Indonesian Ministry of Education and Culture to make this happen” said Don Campbell.

ENDS