International Partnerships

The Faculty has strategic partnerships with a number of institutions in overseas countries. The Faculty seeks partnership opportunities that enhance the University's and the Faculty's reputation overseas, build the Faculty's research capabilities and relationships, develop the intercultural competencies of its staff and students, enhance the diversity of the student body, and provide opportunities for capacity-building in developing countries.

Partnership with Ningde Normal University and Shanghai Normal University

During July 2013 the Faculty of Education and Arts was delighted to host a visit by fourteen academic staff from two Chinese universities. The visiting group consisted of twelve English teachers from Ningde Normal University in Fujian Province, and two teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language from Shanghai Normal University. The group came for three weeks of intensive training in language acquisition, teaching and testing. The Ningde group was led by Associate Professor Gong Fanyuan (Joe), Dean of the Foreign Languages Department. The Shanghai participants were accompanied for the start of the program by Professor Cao Xiuling, Dean of the International College of Chinese Studies at Shanghai Normal University.

Winnie Eley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, International and Advancement, signing the MOU between the University of Newcastle and Ningde Normal University, with Associate Professor Joe Gong (left) and Dr Christo Moskovsky (Assistant Dean International, Faculty of Education and Arts). The visit has led to the formation of a number of personal and professional affiliations. The University of Newcastle now has Memoranda of Understanding with both participating universities. It is hoped that the close ties formed during the visit will lead to a range of further collaborations between our universities.

Photo: Winnie Eley, Pro Vice-Chancellor, International and Advancement, signing the MOU between the University of Newcastle and Ningde Normal University, with Associate Professor Joe Gong (left) and Dr Christo Moskovsky (Assistant Dean International, Faculty of Education and Arts).

Above Photo: The visiting delegation with University of Newcastle representatives.
Back row, from left: Zhou Luomei (Susan), Lan Fang (Nancy), Yu Xing (Cindy), Cai Jiangyun (Milly), Zheng Yanfang (Fanny), You Zhuomei (Bobbie), Huang Wei (Dina), Sun Zhiting (Connie), Zhang Wenjing (Lucie), Wan Bing (Frost), Tong Yanli (Juliet), Cai Junjie (Richard).
Front row, from left: Xu Xiuling (Shelly), Dr Christo Moskovsky, Mrs Winnie Eley, Professor Gong Fanyuan (Joe), Ms Fatima Shipton, Dr Geoffrey See.

Capacity Building

In recent years the Faculty has had a particular focus on capacity building in developing countries, and, in conjunction with this, is exploring postgraduate and professional development opportunities in such countries. For example, the Faculty has worked extensively with Australian Government agencies such as AusAID, and with universities and government departments in Africa to provide postgraduate opportunities in both coursework and research training. Outcomes of this work have included improving the capacity of African government agencies through the training of staff, and improving the quality of teaching in African schools.

Visitors from the University of Mindanao, the Philippines, with Faculty staff in 2010

Visitors from the University of Mindanao, the Philippines, with Faculty staff in 2010.

As an example of the University's capacity-building interest and expertise, we were awarded funding in 2011 for an Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships TVET project. This project involved hosting nine Fellows from Can Tho University and several technical colleges in the Mekong Delta in Vietnam.

The Faculty has also developed the Consortium on Early Childhood Development and Education for Teacher Development and Research, in response to a well-established need for capacity building in Africa in the area of early childhood education. At this point, participating institutions include the University of Fort Hare and the University of the Western Cape.

Examples of institutions with which the Faculty has recently entered into agreements are:

South Africa	Walter Sisulu University University of Cape Town University of Pretoria North West University University of Fort Hare University of the Western Cape
Botswana	University of Botswana Botswana International University of Science and Technology
Lesotho	Lesotho College of Education
The Philippines	University of Mindanao De La Salle University Ateneo de Manila University
Vietnam	Can Tho University

A group of Philippine academic staff and students visiting the Faculty in 2010 through a special partnership arrangement

A group of Philippine academic staff and students visiting the Faculty in 2010 through a special partnership arrangement.

Representatives of NingDe Normal University and NingDe Municipal Government meeting staff of the Faculty of Education and Arts, August 2011.