Platinum partnership celebrates 20 years
20 November 2019
A 20 year partnership between the University of Auckland and UP Education has been celebrated this year to acknowledge the special relationship between the two organisations.
In 1998, Ian King, Deputy CEO of what was then known as ACG Education, was fortuitously delayed with a member of the University of Auckland academic staff while flying out of Indonesia. Before long they had devised a plan to create a new programme to support the pathway of international students into the University via a Foundation course.
UP Education Group Chief Executive, Mark Rushworth said, “The first cohort was just ten students. Since then, more than 5,500 students have studied the University of Auckland Certificate in Foundation Studies, which then opens doors into further study and careers. It’s a powerful combination that changes lives, and we’re really proud of our partnership with the University of Auckland.”
This year marks the platinum anniversary of that first intake, and celebrations with agent networks have been taking place across Asia and New Zealand.
We value this partnership very highly and look forward to continuing to work productively with the newly renamed UP Education.
Professor John Morrow, Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academic) at the University said “During our 20 year partnership more than 4,500 well prepared students completed our foundation qualification through ACG and enrolled at the University of Auckland. We value this partnership very highly and look forward to continuing to work productively with the newly renamed UP Education.”
In June, the UP Education team joined key agents and senior University staff to celebrate the successful partnership at Old Government House. Foundation and University alumna Teri Fong spoke, attributing her current career success as a staff member of the University Schools Partnership office to the high standard of teaching and care she received during her Foundation Studies at the Auckland campus.
The Foundation programme is extremely flexible and prepares international students with the language, communication, research and study skills necessary for a successful transition to university and continued academic and career success.
Brett Berquist, Director International at the University of Auckland, said, “The International Office holds the strong partnership we have built with UP Education in very high regard, and we look forward to another 20 years of close collaboration with their team.”
UP Education opens the doors to an English-speaking university education in the stable, scenic, culturally diverse countries of New Zealand and Australia. UP Education offers the option of four University foundation programmes, with four intakes per year and a variety of programme lengths from 6 to 18 months depending on students’ level of English.
