They have also opened a refurbished teaching facility, which is located on Queen Street in Auckland, and will be called the University of Auckland International College.

Hybrid classes will be offered to “allow international students to prepare for future study” at the university – the in-person facility is also a “stone’s throw” away from the university’s University Central City location.

The renewed partnership provides a “clear and strong pathway to university education” that is compelling for international students, and the partners have been taking steps together to “keep international education open via online learning” since the beginning of the pandemic.

“We value our partnership with UP Education and acknowledge the investment they have made as part of this to refurbish teaching facilities in central Auckland to enhance the student learning experience,” said University of Auckland provost Valerie Linton.

The partners have also previously collaborated on a study hub in the Vietnamese city of Ho Chi Minh City.

“Our foundation/pathway programs have proven to deliver excellent results to prepare international students to succeed in their University of Auckland degree,” Linton added.

According to UP Education’s CEO of university partnerships, the education sector in the country is “working with the government to plan a border reopening” to welcome students from abroad back to Aotearoa.

“Since the pandemic began, some 700 students across a range of countries have fully or partially completed the foundation programs; online learning has been crucial since the beginning of the pandemic,” said Craig Jones.

“Online learning has been crucial since the beginning of the pandemic”

“To prepare for a new era, we have invested in a purpose-designed education facility with uniquely Aotearoa influences, that provides a safe, modern and welcoming space for international students to excel.”

The partnership has also previously worked on study hubs offshore for student, including the one in Vietnam.

“We recently launched the Vietnam Study Hub alongside the University of Auckland and local partner LightPath in Ho Chi Minh City to provide a learning community and shared services for Vietnamese students studying online,” Jones explained.

“This gives international students more flexibility in how they can start their international education journey, and allows them to gain the knowledge, skills and confidence to study at the University of Auckland while the world continues to navigate the pandemic.”