Cardiff University and the University of Waikato sign strategic partnership

International opportunities will be developed between Cardiff University and the University of Waikato in New Zealand as part of a new strategic partnership.

The agreement, which was signed at simultaneous events being held at both universities, builds on a successful Student Exchange agreement between the two institutions.

The Cardiff event was attended by Wales’s Minister for Education.

It is hoped the partnership will continue to grow mutual benefits for students, as well as leading to short and long-term teaching exchanges for academics. There will also be new research collaborations and opportunities for academic and professional services staff from both countries to work more closely together.

This the fifth international collaboration Cardiff University is involved in, as part of its overarching The Way Forward strategy.

Vice-Chancellor Professor Colin Riordan said: “This partnership builds upon and strengthens our commitment to put outward mobility and student exchange at the heart of our offering to students, while ensuring the benefits are seen and felt here in Wales.

“As we move out of the pandemic, it is vital that we continue to provide opportunities for students and staff to collaborate with colleagues around the world. There are many cultural and geographical ties between Wales and New Zealand, and I’m looking forward to seeing how the partnership leads to wider research, education, and civic benefits for both countries.”

The initial areas of research and teaching focus for the partnership will be:

• Language, Culture and Arts
• Artificial Intelligence and Data Science (Robotics)
• Business and Management
• Water, Environment and Climate Change

The University of Waikato was founded in 1964 and has grown into a comprehensive, research-led university with a strong Māori identity, a thriving student community and a focus on sustainable development. It has 13,000 students and 1,500 staff, operating from two campuses on the North Island of New Zealand, Hamilton and Tauranga. It also has a Joint Institute in Hangzhou, China.

University of Waikato Vice-Chancellor, Professor Neil Quigley, says the relationship with Cardiff will enrich both staff and student opportunities at both universities and bring world-class expertise from Cardiff into Waikato and New Zealand.

Professor Quigley said: “Our partnership has already shown what can be achieved through international collaboration between committed academics in a short space of time and during a global pandemic. There are many synergies between Waikato and Cardiff and this partnership is already enriching staff experience and research performance.”

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: “Wales remains an outward-looking nation, welcoming those from around the world who choose to study here and supporting international mobility for our young people and academics.

“This agreement between Cardiff University and the University of Waikato demonstrates how our universities are globally connected institutions, and I look forward to seeing the partnership grow and deliver benefits in both Wales and New Zealand.”

Wales Education Minister Jeremy Miles said: “An area of particular interest to me in this new agreement is the promotion and study of our native languages. There are many areas of synergy between Wales and New Zealand, but I particularly hope that we can collaborate and learn from each other on ways to further the advances already made in the promotion of the Welsh and Maōri languages.

“Furthermore, I hope that the strategic partnership that is being signed today will be a catalyst to increase and strengthen the collaboration and most of all the friendship between our two nations.