Massey University Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter and Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University President Professor Wu Pute.
Massey University already operates a successful JEI in partnership with Nanjing University of Finance and Economics, which currently educates more than 2000 students. The newly approved institute will expand Massey’s offshore transnational education portfolio by a further 1200 students when fully established.
The new JEI will be established in partnership with Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University (NWAFU), a nationally recognised public university located in Shaanxi Province. NWAFU is one of China’s top agricultural universities with established collaborations with globally renowned institutions including Wageningen University & Research in the Netherlands, and Cornell University, the University of California, Davis, and Texas A&M University in the United States.
Massey University’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter was in Shaanxi for the formal launch of the JEI by China’s Ministry of Education. He says the approval, which makes Massey the first New Zealand university to be awarded a second Joint Education Institute by the Chinese Government, is significant recognition of the success and quality of Massey’s offshore delivery.
“This is a major achievement for our university and a testament to the dedication of our teams. It reinforces our position at the forefront of transnational education globally and highlights the strength of our international partnerships.”
Facilitated by Massey University’s Office of Global Partnerships, in close collaboration with the College of Sciences, the institute will focus on programmes aligned to global agricultural priorities. The first student intake, up to 300 students, is scheduled to begin in September 2026, comprising:
- 100 students in Horticulture Production
- 100 students in Horticulture Management
- 100 students in Plant Science
By 2029, enrolments are projected to grow to approximately 1200 students across four cohorts.
The announcement builds on more than a decade of collaboration between the two institutions, dating back to early engagements in 2011. The partnership has included academic exchanges, joint programmes, and collaborative initiatives across agriculture, business, and science.
“This Joint Education Institute represents a shared commitment to delivering high-quality international education and advancing research and teaching excellence. It will help prepare graduates to address critical global challenges in food security, environmental sustainability, climate resilience, and rural development,” Professor Venter explains.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Pierre Venter speaking at China's Northwest Agriculture and Forestry University.
The partnership will deliver three degree programmes in China (Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Horticultural and Plant Systems, and Bachelor of Agribusiness), combining the strengths of both institutions while fostering cultural exchange and long-term connections between New Zealand and China.
Professor Venter thanked staff across both institutions who played a key role in bringing the new JEI to fruition.
"I would like to congratulate the teams and individuals that have worked to get us to this point. It is a major coup for our university and maintains Massey’s position as a leader of transnational education.”
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