Whakatāne High School has embarked on an exciting international collaboration, signing a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the National Marine and Fisheries Vocational High School in Penghu, Taiwan.

Lena Cassidy-Clark, head of science at Whakatāne High School, said the MOU was finalised recently, connecting Whakatāne with the Taiwanese school located on Penghu, an island off Taiwan's southwestern coast.

Given Whakatāne High School’s popular marine studies programme, the connection with Penghu’s marine-focused school is a natural fit.

“Penghu is home to a marine reserve, and their curriculum is dedicated to marine studies and fisheries. And the schools share similar sizes and social demographics,” said Ms Cassidy-Clark.

Whakatāne High School offers senior marine studies students' annual trips to Heron Island for snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef, and Fiji for junior students. However, Ms Cassidy-Clark said there was a gap for Year 11 students: “An exchange to Penghu would fill that gap. Students could experience the local marine reserve and the educational environment at Penghu,” she said.

Students would gain a new experience of marine reserve education and educational and cultural experiences that come with studying overseas.

The teacher said the exchange was still in the early stages, with the MOU signed recently between a representative of the school in Taiwan, Renee Bates, deputy director of the NZ Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, and the principal of National Penghu Marine and Fisheries Vocational High School, Chia-ho (Kelvin) Yen.

Whakatāne High School principal Martyn Knapton and Ms Cassidy-Clark took part via a Zoom call in the ceremony, which was attended by the Mayor of Penghu and Taiwanese media.

The concept of the exchange was initially proposed by Richard Heraud, a Kiwi researcher based in Taiwan.

“Richard's interested in fostering the relationships in the education sector between New Zealand and Taiwan.”

Planning is ongoing, with Ms Cassidy-Clark eager to visit Penghu before the student exchanges commence. “We’re keen to take a small group of students on our initial visit to gather their views,” she said.

“This MOU is a bridge connecting the young minds of Taiwan and New Zealand across the vast Pacific,” said Mr Knapton. “It represents a shared commitment to collaboration, cultural exchange, and the pursuit of knowledge that will empower the next generation of global leaders.”