26 June 2025 at 10:30 am
Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education deepens links in New Zealand
An enthusiastic delegation from Incheon in South Korea visited New Zealand in May, with the aim of building connections and gaining a deeper insight into our education system.
The delegation from Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education East Asia Global Education Institute (Incheon MOE) travelled to Ngatea, Wellington, Canterbury and Otago – visiting providers from the schools, university and vocational education sectors.
The visit began with a visit to Ngatea to connect with Hauraki Plains College and Ngatea Primary School.
Observing the Agriculture Academy and trades-based courses at Hauraki Plains College.
A key aspect of the delegation’s time in Ngatea was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Hauraki Plains College and four schools from Incheon: Sunin High School, Shinsong High School, Geomdan High School and Youngwha International Tourism High School.
The intent of the MoU is to strengthen educational ties between the schools, which includes a reciprocal exchange program.
The first of these exchanges will see 28 students from across the four Incheon schools visit Hauraki Plains College in October 2025, 28 students from Hauraki Plains College will then travel to Incheon in April 2026.
The delegation was formally welcomed to the Wellington with a Mihi Whakatau hosted by ENZ Chief Executive Amanda Malu, local staff and the Ministry of Education (MOE).
In Wellington, the delegation received a detailed briefing from the Ministry of Education and visited Scots College to observe the school in action.
Scots College Junior School Principal, Rachael Huggins, showing the Incheon delegation around a primary-level classroom.
Down to Christchurch, the Incheon delegation visited Lincoln University to fine-tune the details of an MoU signed in January this year. The partnership arrangement will support five Incheon students to study at Lincoln University each year.
Incheon delegate members with Lincoln University staff from the Faculty of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Faculty of Agribusiness and Commerce, Academic Preparation and Pathways and International Operations.
Waitākiri Primary School Principal Mr. Andrew Barker introduces a Year 6 long-term international student from Korea to the delegates. She shared how much she has enjoyed her time at Waitākiri Primary School and expressed her sadness that her year at the school is coming to an end.
The group visited Shirley Boy’s High School and Avonside Girls High School in Christchurch, with a side-visit organised with Waitākiri Primary School.
Further South, a visit was arranged with Otago Polytechnic in Cromwell to understand the pathways to vocational education in New Zealand.
Director of Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education East Asia Global Education Institute, Jooyong Kim, said visiting New Zealand schools was a truly meaningful and deepened delegates understanding of the education system.
“We hope this visit will help strengthen the relationship between schools in New Zealand and Incheon”.
“We look forward to future collaborative projects with New Zealand institutions,” he added.
Several of the schools visited have expressed interest in deepening these new relationships, with planning underway to keep up the momentum and connect again at ENZ-led fairs and agent seminars in Korea later this year.
