AUT's China deal an NZ first

AUT professor Paul Henriques. Picture / Kellie Blizard

An Auckland professor has joined up with a Chinese university to provide what is thought to be New Zealand's first study course of its kind.

Paul Henriques, associate professor of applied science at Auckland University of Technology, says the programme opens up the curriculum here to students in China.

He co-manages the new programme with China, travelling to the Shanghai Institute of Technology once or twice a year to do quality management, but does not teach.

"I'm responsible for managing the whole process of ensuring lecturers are prepared."

He says each lecturer goes once a year for three-and-a-half weeks and teaches a full semester's work in that time. After completing the degree, students receive a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from Shanghai Institute of Technology, as well as a Bachelor of Applied Science from AUT.

Henriques said they study chemistry and freshwater ecology.

"They wanted to broaden students' programmes, so they asked us to teach freshwater ecology."

He said students might spend 2-3 years in China then come to New Zealand for their final year, but this is the first programme in New Zealand where lecturers travel to the overseas institution.

"This means more Chinese students have access to our curriculum, as only a very small percentage can afford to come here," he said.

Originally from Boston, Henriques completed his BA in California before working as a marine biologist for a year at California Institute of Technology.

"Then I sailed off to New Zealand, arriving in 1971," said Henriques. "I built a boat, a 29ft (9m) sloop."

He still has a boat and a keen interest in the sea, living on the water at Island Bay. "There's a boat ramp just a stone's throw away."

He said Canadian, Australian and American universities have run similar schemes, but no other New Zealand university has done it before.

The Chinese Government has recently introduced Western teaching methods, paying the visiting AUT staff.

Students must study English, as well, so they can follow the classes.

Next year, another new scholarship programme for lecturers will start with the Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia, so they can study food technology at AUT.

The first scholarship recipient will spend 2006 doing a graduate diploma in food science and then complete a two-year masters degree in food science. They then return to Phnom Penh and teach other staff and students.

"This scholarship will enable the Royal University of Phnom Penh to offer food technology as a major, and means staff will return knowing what equipment and laboratory refurbishment is needed to do so," says Henriques.

He said further programmes will be held in other countries, with the next overseas initiative set up in China.

- AUCKLANDER