UCOL food and fine art attract Chinese students

21 June 2010

UCOL food and fine art attract Chinese students

The relationship between UCOL and China is set to strengthen over the next two months as a total of 28 Fine Arts and Culinary students arrive at the Whanganui UCOL campus.

The initiatives are among the first tangible results from UCOL’s China Office located at the Guangzhou School of Fine Arts.

A group of thirteen culinary students are first to arrive on 26 June to study as a group for a year towards their National Certificate in Hospitality (Professional Cookery) Level 4.
The students are fresh from a three year Diploma in Chinese Cooking and through their affiliation with the Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business, are coming to Whanganui UCOL to improve their Western cooking skills and techniques.

Programme Leader at Whanganui UCOL’s School of Catering & Hospitality Tim Snape says, “The arrival of the 13 Chinese students is a result of work completed over the past 2 years, and marks what is hoped is just the first of many cohorts that will study Culinary Arts at UCOL in Whanganui.”

Gina Wagstaffe, a tutor in Culinary Arts at Whanganui UCOL spent 6 weeks with the students at Guangzhou Vocational School of Tourism and Business earlier in the year preparing them for their time in New Zealand. “We are aware that life in NZ will be very different for them, and it is fundamentally important to us that the students feel welcome and at home in our environment,” says Tim.

The second group of students from the Guangzhou School of Fine Arts will arrive in mid July for a week long ‘travel and learn’ experience at both Palmerston North and Whanganui UCOL campuses.

The students are in the second year of their three year Diploma of Fine Arts qualification.

The group will spend the week touring Whanganui UCOL’s art and design facilities, learning more about the Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging programme in Palmerston North and taking part in cultural and sightseeing activities.
Director of International Business Bruce Osborne says UCOL is delighted to host the Fine Arts students with a view to encouraging them to return and study towards a degree in Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging, Bachelor of Fine Arts or Computer Graphic Design.

UCOL’s International Business Administrator Vicki Rodgers is keen to hear from any local residents who wish to host members of the Travel and Learn Group for the week they are in Whanganui or long term home-stays for the Culinary Arts students from June to March 2011

ENDS

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