Qi Lu University graduates celebrated their graduation and the success of the joint education programme together with EIT representatives.

Last week representatives from EIT were in attendance for the graduation of their China partner, Qi Lu University of Technology’s first 80 graduates of their joint education programme.

Qi Lu University is situated in Jinan, the heart of Shandong province, China’s premier wine growing region.

EIT’s School of Viticulture and Wine Science have been working in collaboration on the partnership over the last four years.  Qi Lu students have studied a customised wine science programme developed with EIT since September 2015.  The 2015 student cohort graduated last week with Qi Lu’s Bachelor of Brewing Engineering (Wine Science).

The teachers from EIT have flown 12,000 km into China each year to teach eleven specialist wine science and viticulture courses.  Newly appointed Head of School for Viticulture and Wine Science, Sue Blackmore said “the students and staff from Qi Lu feel just like family, they are part of us”.

Eighty Qi Lu students graduated on a warm Jinan day in a celebration full of pomp and ceremony.  Top EIT student Tianzhou Xing was awarded a special prize by EIT programme coordinator Carolyn Russell.  Tianzhou achieved straight A’s from the EIT courses.

Faculty of Commerce and Technology Dean, Fred Koenders was privileged to be the guest speaker at the graduation ceremony.  He recognised that Jinan, which is known as the City of Springs, and Napier City have created a deep, trusting relationship.  Relationships between EIT and Qi Lu staff and students have formed and friendships have developed that will be everlasting.

EIT will be teaching five cohorts of students in this joint education programme.

Staff from both EIT and Qi Lu are also engaging in cooperative research projects.  Dean Fred Koenders said that from the annual review meeting held last week that new cooperation projects are likely to spring from this special relationship.  In addition to the joint education programme over ten Qi Lu students have enrolled or have applied to enrol in EIT’s Bachelor of Wine Science delivered at EIT Hawke’s Bay.  These students will achieve a double degree, EIT’s Bachelor of Wine Science and Qi Lu’s Bachelor of Brewing Engineering.