NEW ZEALAND PRINCIPALS' DELEGATION TO CHINA
Each year, the Confucius Institute at the سԹ (CIUC) organises a delegation to China for New سԹschool leaders. This initiative offers participants a valuable opportunity to gain insights into Chinese society and education, and to experience the country’s rich culture firsthand. While participating schools are responsible for covering international airfare, all in-country expenses are generously funded by Huazhong University of Science and Technology.
CIUC is pleased to announce the return of the New سԹPrincipals’ Delegation to China in 2025. The visit is scheduled to take place from Saturday, 20 September to Monday, 29 September 2025.
Application Deadline: Completed application forms and supporting documents must be submitted by 5:00 PM on Friday, 28 February 2025 via email to dong.huang@canterbury.ac.nz. Professor Dong Huang, CIUC Deputy Director, can also be contacted at this address for any inquiries regarding the delegation trip.
News about the 2019 New ZealandPrincipals' Delegation to China
South Island Principals’ Delegation to China Concludes Successful Visit
The New سԹSouth Island Principals’ Delegation to China successfully concluded its 11-day visit and returned to New سԹon 19 April 2019. The delegation comprised principals and deputy principals from three South Island schools, as well as senior representatives from the سԹ.
Throughout their visit, the delegation travelled to Beijing, Wuhan, and Shanghai, where they gained first-hand insights into China’s rich history and culture, alongside its rapid economic development. In Beijing, the group visited some of the nation’s most iconic cultural landmarks, including the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, and Beihai Park. For most participants, it was their first time in China, and they were deeply impressed by the scale and historical significance of these sites.
After a brief stay in Beijing, the delegation spent the majority of their visit in Wuhan, home to Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST)—the Chinese university that partners with the سԹ to host the Confucius Institute. In Wuhan, the delegation visited both the Primary and Middle Schools affiliated with HUST, as well as Huanggang High School, one of the top secondary schools in the region. These visits provided valuable opportunities to engage directly with students and educators and to observe key aspects of China’s education system. Delegates also reflected on China’s remarkable progress and the current challenges it faces, particularly in the education sector—many of which offered useful comparisons for New سԹeducational leaders.
The delegation expressed their sincere appreciation to the Confucius Institute at the سԹ and HUST for organising the visit and for their ongoing support of Chinese language and culture education in New سԹschools. All participating principals noted that China had far exceeded their expectations, providing them with a deeper understanding of Chinese society and people. They returned to New سԹwith a renewed commitment to promoting Chinese language learning in their schools and expressed strong interest in developing further partnerships between New سԹand Chinese schools in the future.
