Queenstown Resort College will offer its adventure tourism management diploma at a Malaysian college from Monday.
QRC, a private tertiary institution, has been contracted by the owners of Malaysian college Kolej Yaysan Saad to provide the 21-month course.
QRC chief executive Charlie Phillips said the Asian partnership showed the respect accorded Queenstown's tourism industry.
''It's a tick in the box for Queenstown Inc, so to speak.''
The initiative has the support of Malaysia's Government, which wants to develop the country's adventure tourism industry and tourism generally.
The first 22 students, who will be kitted out in QRC uniforms, are on Malaysian Government scholarships.
QRC has approval from the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to offer its diploma offshore.
Mr Phillips said his new joint venture partner approached him in late 2013.
Tan Sri Halim Saad, who was behind the college, built Malaysia's North-South Expressway, and Kuala Lumpur's airport and sport stadium, Mr Phillips said.
Mr Halim attended Wellington's Victoria University in the 1960s.
Mr Phillips said Malaysian students taking the QRC diploma would fly to New Zealand for nine-month internships with Queenstown adventure operators.
''As businesses develop over there, there'll be the ability to take more interns there.''
Courses will be delivered in English and the students starting on Monday have been studying the language for six months.
Initially, QRC staff would teach the diploma in Malaysia.
''In the long-term, we'll probably employ some expats or some Malaysians, but at the moment we'll fly staff over.''
Mr Phillips said the next intake, of 24 students, would be in July.
Under the partnership, five Malaysian students have started the full course in Queenstown.
In Queenstown, QRC's main focus is training Kiwis to increase New Zealanders' involvement in the country's tourism industry.
-by Philip Chandler
