Pioneers of Ara and Chinese university partnership complete nursing study

Ara Institute of Canterbury is celebrating a major milestone as five nursing ākonga (students) from Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (LNUTCM) complete their Bachelor of Nursing studies in New Zealand.

They are the first to complete the transnational ‘3+2’ joint programme launched in 2020, which sees ākonga study three years at LNUTCM in China - during which they complete 11 Ara first-year nursing papers - followed by two full years of study in Ōtautahi (Christchurch).

Upon graduation, they will receive nursing degrees from both institutions - a unique qualification that blends Eastern and Western medical education and clinical practice.

“This is a proud moment for Ara and for our partnership with LNUTCM,” said Rox Will, Manager of Nursing at Ara. “These ākonga have shown immense resilience, perseverance and dedication. We’re incredibly proud of them and this significant collaboration.”

LNUTCM, founded in 1958, is the only tertiary institution in Liaoning Province focused on integrating traditional Chinese and Western medicine in health education. The joint programme was approved by the Chinese Ministry of Education in 2020, making Ara one of only two New Zealand institutions to gain such endorsement.

Of the eleven first-year Bachelor of Nursing courses required for the degree, four are taught by Chinese academic Wendy Jiang at LNUTCM, with the remainder delivered by visiting Ara tutors in four teaching blocks. Students achieve entry-level academic English before they commence the New Zealand-based portion of the programme.

During their time at Ara, the students completed clinical placements, academic study and immersed themselves in New Zealand’s bicultural healthcare environment. They are now preparing to join the New Zealand health workforce, bringing their valuable cross-cultural competencies and bilingual skills.

Programme lead and senior academic Rose Fitzgerald-Carter, who visits China twice yearly to support the programme rollout, described the inaugural cohort as “pioneers.”

“They’ve navigated a whole different system here in New Zealand, managing the challenges while remaining dedicated to their studies. We have an enormous sense of pride in them and in Liaoning University,” Fitzgerald-Carter said.

Will agreed, noting that the initial cohort had also strengthened the development of the programme by providing valuable feedback along the way.
“They’ve not only paved the way for their own futures but have also created a pathway for future students of this partnership and their insights will contribute to future learner success,” she said.

Celebrating with the entire Bachelor of Nursing cohort now preparing for state finals, Yuxin Si (Sunny) said learning at Ara had been a positive experience. Highlighting the approachable lecturers, interactive classes, and placements that applied theory to real-life situations, she said she’d “grown a lot.”

“Not just in nursing skills but also in confidence, communication and understanding different cultures,” she said.

Xinglin Ci (Lynn) described the programme as both challenging and rewarding.
“It gave me plenty of clinical placement opportunities, which allowed me to put theory into practice, work alongside experienced nurses, and grow my confidence step by step,” she said.

Students continue to join the partnership, with at least one student in every current Ara Bachelor of Nursing cohort and a group of at least five expected for the first intake in 2026.

Ara Executive Director Darren Mitchell said the future of the joint programme looks strong.

“We look forward to welcoming future cohorts, continuing to build global connections and supporting the development of skilled, compassionate nurses for Aotearoa and beyond,” he said.