The NZ University System

Universities are a vital part of modern society and are important not just for teaching but also for research and the development of society as a whole.  As centres of research excellence they play an important role in economic transformation and development.

Under Section 162 of the Education Act (1989) a university is defined as having the following characteristics:

(i) They are primarily concerned with more advanced learning, the principal aim being to develop intellectual independence:

(ii) Their research and teaching are closely interdependent and most of their teaching is done by people who are active in advancing knowledge:

(iii) They meet international standards of research and teaching:

(iv) They are a repository of knowledge and expertise: and

(v) They accept a role as critic and conscience of society. 

Universities help society by increasing the skills and knowledge base and in the acquisition of the skills necessary for the professions such as medicine, law and engineering.

As institutions of higher learning, universities are involved not only in the basic skills needed in the profession but also in what can be called basic life skills – analysis, flexible thinking, communication, adaptation and innovation.

That is, universities don’t just train, they educate. Universities also enhance society through their contribution to our understanding of social issues and our achievement of social, economic and physical well-being.

NZ Universities

There are eight universities in New Zealand, offering a wide range of tertiary education.  They are:

• Auckland University of Technology

• Lincoln University

• Massey University

• University of Auckland

• University of Canterbury

• University of Otago

• University of Waikato

• Victoria University of Wellington

Further details of the courses available from each university can be found on each university’s website.

The eight universities in New Zealand teach approximately 180,000 students (part and full-time) and employ around 19,500 staff.

Student numbers are usually counted in terms of Equivalent Full-Time Students (EFTS).  A breakdown of the full-time equivalent (FTE) staff and EFTS in universities for 2011 was:  

Funding

The New Zealand universities receive approximately 40% of their annual income from government grants - $1.3 billion of the combined total income of $3.1 billion recorded in 2010.  The remaining income is split evenly between student fees and other sources – principally research contracts and trading income.  Nearly 60% of the sector’s expenditure of $3.0 billion went on staff salaries and related costs.

Research

The universities play a prominent part in the New Zealand research environment, a role in keeping with their statutory obligations.  Under the Education Act (section 162) the research and teaching functions of universities are required to be closely interdependent and they are expected to meet international standards of research.

The biennial Research and Development Survey, last conducted in 2010 by Statistics New Zealand and the Ministry of Research, Science and Technology, showed that the universities accounted for one-third of the research and development produced in this country.

Source: 2010 R&D Survey

In addition, the universities are home to the majority of the country’s researchers, as the following figures from the 2010 survey show:

Source:  2010 R&D Survey

All of the universities have established commercialisation entities to capitalise on the fast-growing research outputs of the universities.  These activities are worth $350 million a year.