Arana hosts sister college in milestone visit

In a milestone moment for international collaboration, the University of Otago’s Arana College last week welcomed the first-ever cultural exchange visit from its sister college – Choi Kai Yau College (CKYC) from the University of Macau in China.

Arana hosted a delegation of 10 CKYC students and a resident academic fellow from 8-12 February – a visit that stemmed from a memorandum of understanding signed by the respective colleges in late 2025.

Arana College Warden Ruben Katigbak says that during their stay, CKYC students lived at Arana where they engaged closely with the college’s kaiāwhina team and met student residents and guests from around the world.

Ruben says the visit included guided tours of several other Otago residential colleges, a visit to Mellor Laboratory hosted by Emeritus Professor Lyall Hanton and an in-depth tour of the Faculty of Dentistry, led by Associate Dean (China) Professor Peter Mei.

The group also enjoyed a campus tour featuring visits to Unipol, the Central Library and the Wellbeing Hub before exploring some of Ōtepoti Dunedin’s most iconic landscapes on a trip to the Otago Peninsula.

But Ruben says the five-day visit was far more than just a programme of tours and activities.

“It was a shared journey of learning, connection and global understanding, laying the foundation for an enduring relationship between the two colleges,” he says.

“The visit marks the beginning of what both colleges envision as a meaningful and enduring partnership, with future exchanges, cultural events and collaboration planned under the MOU agreement.”

Winky Cui, a second year biomedical PhD student at Macau, says she enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Arana, Otago’s other residential colleges and all the teaching and learning facilities the University has to offer.

“What impressed me most was the chemistry laboratory – its facilities are truly magnificent and inspiring,” Winky says. “I also really appreciated everyone at the University of Otago – they are kind, friendly and very supportive.”

Another visitor, second year Macau law student Oak Luo, says the exchange was both memorable and rewarding.

“During one of our organised visits, we toured the Dental School where I had the chance to communicate with professors, learn about the professional facilities and practical operations, and gain inspiring insights into dental education and research.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the exchange programme – it gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in the local culture and connect with the friendly people here,” Oak says.

-Kōrero by Communications Advisory Service Manager Jamie Shaw