Students can now swap cities in NZ
Three New Zealand universities are serving up a new kind of study experience, tailored especially for travel-hungry Gen Z – and it’s one that doesn’t involve Kiwis hopping across the ditch.
In a first-of-its-kind collaboration, Te Herenga Waka – Victoria University of Wellington, AUT – Te Wānanga Aronoui O Tāmaki Makau Rau, and the University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka today announced a pilot programme, Uni Exchange Aotearoa, which will give second-year domestic undergraduates the opportunity to experience a different NZ city by swapping universities for a semester.
AUT Vice-Chancellor Professor Damon Salesa says Uni Exchange Aotearoa will offer adventurous students an enjoyable academic experience in a welcoming city, while improving their skills and employability.
“This is a new and innovative collaboration in which our universities provide opportunities for students that translate into an advantage in their studies, personal growth, and future aspirations. This exchange is a way for students to broaden their horizons. These exchanges will be lived experiences where students will not only learn about new people and places, but about themselves and their own ways of living, thinking, and learning,” he says.
Victoria University of Wellington Vice-Chancellor Nic Smith says it is imperative for universities to collaborate like this for the greater good.
“In a turbulent world, this kind of collaboration is about ensuring we can all thrive. Through the Uni Exchange, students will get to be part of a different community where they’ll hear a range of worldviews while also learning new skills. And for us universities, there is a huge benefit in collaborating more and celebrating each other’s academic strengths. It goes to the heart of a university’s role to foster constructive debate that advances society.”
University of Otago Vice-Chancellor Grant Robertson says the initiative shows the ability of universities to innovate for the benefit of students.
“We are lucky to have high-quality universities in Aotearoa with world-class teachers. Uni Exchange Aotearoa gives our students an opportunity to experience this breadth of excellence. It also sets them up well for the future. Our graduates will enter a world where change is constant and adaptability is essential. Learning in a different city and community builds exactly those skills – resilience, curiosity, and collaboration. This exchange is an inventive way to develop those attributes close to home and it’s a smart step towards future-ready graduates and a stronger tertiary sector.”
For the pilot, each university will offer a total of 10 places for students to swap cities in Semester 2. They can choose courses from a wide range of subjects that fit their major, from Classics and Criminology to Marketing and Maths. Accommodation scholarships are available for students needing a place to stay in their new host city. The three universities will also be offering successful applicants $1,200 towards travel and/or course costs.