Hawaii Centre “Proud Of Its N.Z. Students"

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30543, 11 September 1964, Page 10

Hawaii Centre “Proud Of Its N.Z. Students"

The East-West Centre’s Institute for Student Interchange in Hawaii was very proud of its New Zealand students. They made good students and good members of the international groups, Dr. J. R. Hendrickson, vicechancellor of the institute said in Christchurch yesterday. The New Zealand students produced leaders of groups. They were well accepted by Asian students, one reason being that they made it clear they were closely associated culturally and geographically with Asian countries, said Dr. Hendrickson. New Zealand was becoming widely known for its representation in South-east Asian countries, such as its participation in the Colombo Plan and other activities. 600 Students The centre, which awards scholarships to the University of Hawaii, began four years ago. It had the only foreign scholarship scheme on a residential basis and it operated multilaterally. In this way a student from say, New Zealand, got a clear understanding of say, Japan, as well as of the United States. The object of the centre was to foster international understanding. The centre had about 600 students at any one time, 400 being from Asian and Pacific countries and 200 being young Americans. No two students from the same country roomed together. The students came from, about 23 different countries. The centre considered it was just as important to the Filipino student to get a clear understanding of Korea, for instance, as of America. Dr. Hendrickson said he was visiting New Zealand to find what studies were most wanted by New Zealand students and also to examine the prospects of more New Zealand graduates taking part in the scholarship programme of the East-West Centre. Dr. Hendrickson said he was also inquiring into the prospects for placing American students in New Zealand. Before he went to the EastWest Centre Dr. Hendrickson

was a prominent zoologist in Kuala Lumpur.

When he arrived at Christchurch yesterday he was met by Professor G. A. Knox, head of the University of Canterbury zoology department, with whom he visited the buildings at Ilam. He was the guest at lunch yesterday of Mr and Mrs W. D. Brownscombe, of Acacia avenue, whose daughter, Miss Kay Brownscombe, is at present a scholarship student at Hawaii. Another Christchurch student is Miss Lois Tucker, daughter of Mr and Mrs T. A. Tucker, of Idris road. Dr. Hendrickson will leave Christchurch today for Wellington.