The students at their farewell event.
The 10-week course saw 41 Korean university students who are majoring in agriculture, horticulture and food technology engage in practical learning experiences, lectures, and visits to farms, wineries and other relevant primary production sites. Throughout the course the students also engaged in English lessons.
During week eight of the course, the students visited Te Hotu Manawa O Rangitāne O Manawatū Marae in Palmerston North, where the local iwi were impressed by the students’ Korean rendition of Pokarekare Ana, which they call Yeon-ga.
Massey works closely with the Korea Agency of Education, Promotion and Information Service (EPIS), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Korea, Education Korea, Education New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI), local farmers, businesses and host families to enable the course to take place.
To mark the end of the course, a farewell event was held at Wharerata, where the students were presented with course completion certificates. Also in attendance was Palmerston North Mayor Grant Smith, Ockchae Yoon from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, and College of Sciences Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Raymond Geor.
Programme Co-ordinator Hey-Jeoung Choi says the students thoroughly enjoyed their time in Aotearoa New Zealand.
“Most of the students were able to travel around the North and South Island while they were here and were so impressed that random people would say hello to them and were always willing to help. They experienced the wind, lots of rain, a cyclone, an earthquake and some very cold ‘summer’ days, but they loved every moment.
“It was a lovely farewell. Seven students gave speeches and a few of them got emotional. Some told us that they didn’t want to leave New Zealand, and one of the students said his introduction to our agriculture and horticulture programmes made him proud of his major, as in South Korea subjects relating to the primary industries aren’t well respected. He is going to come back to Massey to do his master’s degree.”
Ms Choi says she received great feedback from lecturers, farmers and site visit hosts about the students.
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