A recent visit by the Cheorwon Scholarship Foundation (CSF) from South Korea marks the beginning of what will hopefully become a long-term partnership focused on applied education, student mobility and regional development.
The delegation was led by Director Lee Hyunjong, who also serves as Governor of Cheorwon County. He was joined by foundation associates, audit representatives and regional officials, reflecting the strategic importance of the visit at both educational and civic levels.
The CSF supports local students through scholarships funded personally by business leaders and entrepreneurs from across Cheorwon County. Their mission is to enable students to gain international skills and experience and return home equipped to contribute to the county’s long-term economic and community development.
Currently, the Foundation operates structured English immersion programmes in Queensland, Australia; including homestays and cultural experiences.
Their visit last week signals a strong interest in expanding these opportunities to Aotearoa New Zealand.
Notably, MIT and Unitec was the only New Zealand tertiary institution the Foundation met with during its visit, positioning the institute as a potential preferred partner for future initiatives.
Director Lee and his colleagues expressed genuine appreciation for our commitment to upholding tikanga Māori within the institution, noting the cultural respect embedded in our welcome and karakia (prayer).
They also observed similarities between the landscapes of Auckland and Cheorwon County, particularly the greenery and volcanic rock formations that shape both regions.
In his welcome address, Deputy Chief Executive Learner Experience and Success Dr Simon Nash, outlined the recent merger of Manukau Institute of Technology and Unitec at the start of 2026.
Dr Nash told the delegation that this integration has created the country’s largest provider of vocational tertiary education, with six campuses across Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland and approximately 20,000 students, including more than 2,000 international learners.
Nash emphasised the institution’s applied focus. “Our programmes are practical, industry-connected and responsive to the needs of employers, communities and students. We see this meeting not simply as an exchange of information, but as the beginning of an ongoing dialogue that we hope will develop into a constructive and mutually beneficial partnership.”
Discussions centred on several potential areas of collaboration aligned with the Foundation’s goals to internationalise Cheorwon County’s education pathways.
Key topics included:
- Semester-long study abroad opportunities
- Customised group mobility programmes incorporating English language and cultural immersion
- Scholarship-supported foundation and pathway programmes
- and flexible short-term bespoke options combining English with applied subject tasters (2–6 weeks)
Our strengths in vocationally focused learning — spanning disciplines such as engineering, construction, computing, healthcare, creative industries, trades, maritime and business — were highlighted as particularly relevant to Cheorwon’s emphasis on workforce training and regional industry development.
For our institution, the opportunity lies in developing a structured model for short-term and pathway programmes.
For Cheorwon, it opens the possibility of offering their students a New Zealand-based alternative to existing Australian programmes, grounded in applied learning and supported by scholarships.
Although the meeting was brief, both sides described it as a valuable first step. Our International team will now follow up with detailed programme information and explore structured options for outbound mobility.
There was also mutual interest in arranging future reciprocal visits — including a longer return visit to Auckland that would allow delegates to tour teaching facilities and meet staff and students in greater depth.
“We see this not as the conclusion of a meeting, but as the beginning of an ongoing relationship,” Dr Nash remarked.