Jiangxi Scholarship, and Study Holiday Programmes

Background

The Jiangxi Scholarship Programme is a cornerstone initiative under the Jiangxi–Bay of Plenty Sister Province relationship, coordinated by Eastern Bridge in partnership with the Jiangxi Provincial Education Bureau. The programme provides short-term, fully funded cultural and educational visits for high-achieving students from Jiangxi Province to the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand.

Originally launched in 2019, the programme was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2024. It now forms a key element of the sister province engagement strategy—bringing Chinese students into direct contact with New Zealand communities, schools, and culture, while generating measurable economic benefits for the host region.

Each visit involves approximately 40 students, accompanied by teachers and chaperones, staying for two weeks. The focus is on immersive cultural and educational activities, including classroom experiences in local high schools, English language workshops, and community engagement—particularly marae-based cultural exchange.
Programme Design and Delivery

The programme is delivered at zero cost to participating local councils, made possible by funding from the Jiangxi Provincial Government, contributions from participating Jiangxi schools, and coordination by Eastern Bridge.

Student groups are billeted with local homestays or accommodated in group lodges. Educational sessions are hosted at local secondary schools and tertiary campuses. Each visit includes a structured itinerary of activities such as:

• English language immersion classes
• Cultural exchange events with Māori communities
• Educational site visits (e.g., museums, libraries, marae, local government facilities)
• Outdoor and tourism experiences (e.g., geothermal parks, beaches, farms)

Eastern Bridge handles all logistical planning, liaison with host schools, and pastoral care, ensuring a high-quality experience for both visitors and local partners.

Cultural and Community Impact

One of the programme’s defining features is its emphasis on people-to-people connection. Each visit includes extended time on local marae, where students participate in pōwhiri, kapa haka, and workshops on Māori history and tikanga. Feedback from students and their chaperones has consistently highlighted this experience as one of the most powerful and unique aspects of the trip.

The programme has built strong relationships between participating schools in Jiangxi and the Bay of Plenty. In several cases, this has led to the signing of sister school agreements, the development of ongoing digital exchanges, and reciprocal visits.

Local communities benefit not only from the cultural exchange but also from increased awareness of internationalisation in their schools and institutions. For many New Zealand students, the Jiangxi visits are their first personal contact with international peers, sparking interest in language learning, international study, and future travel.

Economic Impact

Each Jiangxi student group visit generates an estimated $140,000 in direct local economic activity. This includes expenditure on:

• Accommodation and meals (homestays, lodges, and hotels)
• Transport and tourism attractions
• Cultural and educational service providers
• Hosting contributions for marae and community groups

These benefits are widely distributed across participating communities, supporting local hospitality businesses, tourism operators, schools, and iwi-based organisations. With four groups scheduled to visit in 2025, the programme is projected to bring in over $560,000 of new regional revenue without requiring financial support from local government.

Additionally, the programme serves as a strategic pipeline for international student recruitment. Based on pre-COVID data from similar programmes, approximately 5% of visiting students subsequently return to New Zealand as full-fee-paying high school or tertiary students. This represents a longer-term revenue opportunity for the education sector, particularly for schools with established pastoral care and international departments.

Strategic Outcomes and Future Growth

The Jiangxi Scholarship Programme supports a number of strategic objectives:

• Strengthening the Sister Province Relationship through regular, high-profile engagement
• Promoting the Bay of Plenty as a destination for international education and tourism
• Providing young leaders in Jiangxi with a deeper understanding of New Zealand society, culture, and education systems
• Deepening cultural understanding through sustained Māori–Chinese engagement
• Building school-level partnerships that can grow into long-term academic and economic collaboration

Looking ahead, Eastern Bridge is working with education providers and community groups to enhance the programme’s delivery model. Planned improvements include bilingual learning resources, enhanced marae-based programming, and the inclusion of alumni support to track long-term outcomes.