On September 3rd 2011, NZCFS Vice-President Dave Bromwich represented NZCFS at the formal signing of an agreement with Beijing Bailie University (BBU). BBU President Yu Lin signed for BBU at a meeting attended by vice-presidents and department leaders of BBU, and William Qiu from Christchurch Branch executive of NZCFS.
The agreement outlines specific areas of activity including two way academic exchange and reception of visitors and delegations, and promotion of NZ and BBU as centres of excellence for study. The first activity has been to design a Chinese Language and Cultural Study tour in Beijing for a one month period in late December 2011 January 2012. Please find the link here to this study tour promotion.
In his speech at the signing, Dave Bromwich acknowledged the significance of the legacy Rewi Alley has left for the relationship between the people of New Zealand and China, in the Gong Ho cooperative movement and in the Bailie Education system. NZCFS already has established formal relationships with Shandan Bailie School, and with Lanzhou Bailie Oil School, which is now part of Lanzhou City University. Both parties agreed that it was fitting to take this step between NZCFS and BBU.
- (centre 3) NZCFS VP Dave Bromwich, BBU President Yu Lin and Christchurch Branch Executive Member William Qiu with other BBU leaders.
BBU is a non-governmental university recognised by the Chinese government, with school operational funds raised independently. It has foreign language, computing, law, accounting, international business, art, and hospitality departments, with around 3000 students.
Now in China there is increasing promotion for practical vocational tertiary courses, and the Bailie system is once again gaining support with Chinese government.
Both BBU President Yu Lin and NZCFS Vice President Dave Bromwich are co vice-chairs of Gung Ho (International Committee for Promotion of Chinese Industrial Cooperatives), Rewi Alley’s other key legacy. William Qiu has been representing Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology (CPIT) in developing an agreement directly between CPIT and BBU.
