EU-New Zealand co-operation in higher education and training
New Zealand and the EU have worked together on a number of higher education and vocational training initiatives since 2004.
The first of these involved four universities from the EU and three universities from New Zealand working on a pilot project in 2004.
Co-operation stepped up a gear with the signing of an EU-New Zealand Joint Declaration on relationships and co-operation in September 2007,and resulted in the funding of a bilateral co-operation project in 2008.
The aims are to:
- Promote better understanding between the peoples of the European Union and New Zealand and knowledge of each other's languages, cultures and institutions;
- Equip citizens with the skills required for the global knowledge-based economy.
Co-operation currently includes several curriculum development and student exchange projects. These involve consortia of at least three higher education institutions from the EU and two from New Zealand.
Students and staff usually spend one semester abroad in the EU or in New Zealand. While these stays abroad do not lead to the awarding of joint or dual degrees, the home universities give accreditation for time spent abroad.
So far, the programme has supported two joint projects, involving 12 European and New Zealand institutions and over 150 student exchanges.
