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In 2017 the Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence (CAPEs) were established to enhance Aotearoa New Zealand's engagement with North Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America.
The CAPEs programmes were delivered by a consortium of four New Zealand universities: University of Auckland, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, University of Otago, and University of Waikato. Working together, the CAPEs harnessed evidence-based research, stakeholder experience, academic expertise, and industry acumen to deliver practical education and knowledge, resources, and support to New Zealanders. They were funded through the Tertiary Education Commission until June 2024.
The CAPEs consist of three regional centres: North Asia, South-East Asia and Latin America and the education team encompassing all the regions.
With the end of the TEC funding the Education team, based in Te Whai Toi Tangata at the University of Waikato, has expanded their brief to include Global citizenship education throughout planet Earth, but has maintained its particular focus on the Asia-Pacific.
North Asia CAPE
The North Asia (Japan, greater China and Korea) centre worked to develop language abilities, cultural knowledge, and commercial capabilities related to the north-Asia region. They worked to upskill New Zealand businesses to become more confident and capable of succeeding in north Asia. Some programmes included business workshops, digital study tours, expert seminars, targeted support for Māori and Pasifika businesses, and networking opportunities.
They supported the development of North Asian language and cultural skills, especially to equip students for success in their future careers. They also supported the professional development of North Asian language teachers in New Zealand and linked New Zealand students through digital exchanges with counterparts in Japan and Korea.
They created New Zealand curriculum-focused Chinese-language resources and provided tertiary students with digital study-tour experiences to China and Japan.
South-east Asia CAPE
The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) - Brunei, Myanmar, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as Timor-Leste - make up the culturally and ethnically diverse region of Southeast Asia.
The Southeast Asia Centre works in two main areas, business and education.
Business
They provide workshops, internships, expert seminars and resources to develop business skills and capability to promote success in Southeast Asian markets. This includes a Market Readiness Programme (MRP) which introduces New Zealand’s entrepreneurs, founders and small business managers to the marketplaces of Southeast Asia.
Education
The centre has developed immersive programmes and resources for students and educators from primary to tertiary level. Their Tertiary Market Immersion Programme (TMIP) provides an opportunity for business-savvy tertiary students from across New Zealand to engage with Southeast Asia and to broaden their understanding of doing business in the region.
Latin America CAPE
The Latin America Centre of Asia-Pacific Excellence (Latin America CAPE) was committed to bringing New Zealand closer to Latin America and to raising New Zealanders’ awareness of this region.
Through a range of innovative programmes, the Latin American Centre inspired a passion for Latin America among young Kiwis, fostered business interest in Latin American markets, deepened connections between New Zealanders engaged with that region, supported trans-Pacific capability, and enabled intercultural learning. The Latin American Centre delivered a range of in-country and digital learning and professional development opportunities.
They developed interactive workshops, expert seminars and accessible resources to help exporters grow their Latin American relationships - identifying areas of focus, developing and refining ideas, and discussing how those ideas can be turned into action.
They also provided in-depth research about New Zealanders’ perceptions of Latin America, as well as Latin Americans’ perceptions of us, to support better understanding and key points for business engagement and trade.
Online tools and resources for teachers were developed, including an award winning digital tool, allowing students to virtually visit Machu Picchu Pueblo in Peru. Bespoke programmes were designed to support teachers and students with Spanish language learning from primary to tertiary levels.
The Latin America CAPE's ‘Winds of Change’ programme brought together New Zealand and Chilean postgraduate students to investigate common climate change issues and how sustainable development strategies could be created for the future. One example was a 2023 trip where Winds of Change members from Chile, China, and New Zealand journeyed through Doubtful Sound to collect ancient carbon as part of a momentous climate science field trip.
(c) 2024
Images (c) Centres of Asia-Pacific Excellence
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