On 26 March, Dr. Graham Wise, Director of International Development, Global Engagement at the University of Canterbury, New Zealand, led a delegation to Shanghai University of International Business and Economics (SUIBE). The meeting was attended by Mr. Jin Quan, Director of the Office of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Zhang Shuihui, Deputy Director, and other relevant staff members.

Director Jin Quan extended a warm welcome to Dr. Graham Wise and his delegation. He introduced SUIBE’s profile and key areas for its future internationalization strategy, expressing hope that this exchange would serve as a starting point to further deepen collaboration between SUIBE and the University of Canterbury across various fields.

Dr. Graham Wise expressed his gratitude for the warm reception by SUIBE’s Office of Foreign Affairs. He provided an overview of the University of Canterbury, covering its history, student demographics and structure, disciplinary strengths, and internationalization strategy. Dr. Wise stated that the University of Canterbury places great importance on cooperation with Chinese higher education institutions and expressed a strong desire to actively promote the establishment and continuous deepening of a partnership with SUIBE.

During the discussions, both sides exchanged views on potential collaborative initiatives, including short-term winter exchange programs, semester and academic year exchanges, joint degree programs, and faculty exchange visits.

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Background on the University of Canterbury:

The University of Canterbury (UC), founded in 1873 and located in Christchurch, the capital of New Zealand’s Canterbury region, is one of the country’s oldest public research universities and a member of New Zealand’s eight public universities. It comprises seven faculties: Arts, Science, Education, Engineering, Health, Law, and Business. In the 2025 QS World University Rankings, UC is ranked 261st globally. Notably, the UC Business School holds the prestigious triple-crown accreditation from the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB), the European Quality Improvement System (EQUIS), and the Association of MBAs (AMBA).