Home > Scholarships > New Zealand Horticulture Scholarship (NZHS)

Background and Implications

2007 sees the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China. The mutual exchange in economy, culture and education between the two countries will be further enhanced in 2007. As the first developed country which recognizes China’s free market status, New Zealand possesses great potential in developing closer cooperative ties with China.

In April 2006 a Memorandum of Understanding between New Zealand and China on Cooperation in Education and Training was renewed by both governments. To support the bilateral agreement and to make it happen, more concrete initiatives at different levels need to be taken.

New Zealand is proud of its clean and beautiful natural environment, advanced agriculture and horticulture, and has much experience in vocational education and training, especially when it comes to agriculture and horticulture. China is currently attaching significant importance to modernization of agriculture. Agriculture is among the top priorities on the Chinese government’s agenda. There is an urgent need in China for quality education and training in the agricultural industry.

It is under the above background that the New Zealand Horticulture Scholarship for China has been conceptualized. The project aims to meet the needs of both countries and to achieve win-win situation so that it will not only help educate agricultural professionals with an international perspective for China’s major agricultural provinces, help solve China’s problem with agriculture, rural areas and farmers (‘3 agricultural issues’), and help Chinese students from poor family background get the chance to benefit from international charity, thus support China’s poverty alleviation policies, but also help publicize New Zealand’s agricultural and horticultural education and training among Chinese people, and through promotion of New Zealand in China, the mutual cooperation in agriculture and education between New Zealand and China will be enhanced.

Structure

1. First Stage (09/2007–09/2010)

Co-sponsored by Horticulture Industry Training Organizations (HITO) and New Zealand–China Association for the Promotion of Economy & Science Inc.(NZCAPES), participated by New Zealand’s quality agriculture and horticulture education programme providers, under the name of New Zealand Horticulture Scholarship for China (NZHSC), 150 scholarships of an estimated value of 3 million dollars will be offered in 3 years, i.e., 50 scholarships of a value of 1 million dollars offered annually. The majority of the scholarship-funded education programmes will be New Zealand’s National Certificates in the areas of agriculture or horticulture which highlight practical elements. The scholarships also cover a small amount of programmes at bachelor, master and doctorate levels.

At this stage, the scholarships funding programmes at certificate level provide full tuition fees only and they do not cover living costs. Thanks to the practical nature of the certificate programmes, the scholarship recipients will be able to get a chance to work while studying and, generally, by doing so the living costs can be offset. Scholarships for candidates pursuing bachelor, master and doctorate programmes cover both full tuition fees and living costs.

The eligibility for the scholarships will be determined by the NZHSC Scholarship Committee which consists of experts from both New Zealand and China. While the specific requirements for eligibility are yet to be decided by the Committee, a fundamental requirement is that all the scholarship recipients must go back to China to work for China’s agriculture and horticulture sector upon successful completion of their study.

2. Second Stage (09/2011-09/2013)

Provided that the first stage has been successfully implemented and won positive feedback from the general public as well as relevant government administrative departments, the co-sponsors of NZHSC aspire to lobby more quality education programme providers as well as successful overseas Chinese businessmen to participate in the project.  

The eligibility for the scholarships will be determined by the NZHSC Scholarship Committee which consists of experts from both New Zealand and China. While the specific requirements for eligibility are yet to be decided by the Committee, a fundamental requirement is that all the scholarship recipients must go back to China to work for China’s agriculture and horticulture sector upon successful completion of their study.

Launching

1. Brainstorming and Planning (10/2006-04/2007)

This work has been completed.

2. Preparatory work (04/2007-06/2007)

The NZHSC Observation Group has been set up as planned.

The objective of the establishment of the group is to: (1) undertake the selecting process of participating quality programmes; (2) conduct investigation into the social and economic status (SES) of potential recipients of the scholarships as well as the infrastructure of agriculture and horticulture in some provinces. “(1)” has been completed and the appended Tentative Itinerary of NZHSC Observation Group exemplifies the ongoing process of“(2)”.

Feasibility Analysis

This project features learning of New Zealand’s experience in conservation and agriculture and helping the undeveloped area of China which is in conformity to the developmental needs of both New Zealand and China:

1. On the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and China, government and peoples of the two countries expect cooperation and exchange activities bearing material content and mutual benefit in a wider field. As the first developed country recognizing China’s free market status?New Zealand has made a big investment politically and it’s the time for New Zealand to take measures to make its efforts in building economic, cultural and educational ties with China bear fruit.

2. This project is another example of agricultural education aiding, poverty alleviation, and international charity collaborated between the two countries since the bilateral educational cooperation in 2006. It will be supported by government departments, non-governmental organizations and business sectors in both countries.

3. With the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games drawing near, how to learn from developed countries to curb environmental problems and culture people’s love for nature and awareness of conservation becomes more imminent for Chinese government. As one of the most successful counties in the industrial pollution control, New Zealand has gained much valuable experience in environment protection which can support China in its understanding of this issue.

4. Construction of a harmonious society has been made China’s long-term development theme. The top priority of the Chinese government is to enhance agricultural development, solve the problem with agriculture, rural areas and farmers (‘3 agricultural issues’) and narrow the gap between urban and rural areas. To learn New Zealand’s know-how in agricultural development and its advanced agriculture technology should be put on the agenda of the people’s government at different levels.

5. China is one of the biggest countries in terms of import education. As for the New Zealand government, this project, by its nature, will be a well organized, well-strategized and result-driven publicizing and promotional function.