NZ’s first world-class education alliance signed

The University of Canterbury and Microsoft New Zealand have announced a partnership that will see the formation of a world-class education centre of excellence in the region.
The alliance is the first of its kind in NZ, but joins 50 other public-private partnerships already in place around the world.
These educational alliances have been designed to transform education, foster local innovation and enable jobs and opportunities.
Using technology as the foundation, the agreement provides a framework for Microsoft and the University of Canterbury to work together in a number of different ways.
Microsoft will provide the tools, support and expertise, while the University provides a world-class research centre and some of the country’s best minds to make the most of such resources.
Paul Muckleston, managing director of Microsoft NZ says they are committed to helping students and education providers reach their full potential.
“Education is vital to NZ’s sustainable social and economic progress. The opportunity to partner with an educational institution of such a calibre as the University of Canterbury provides a great chance for us to support Kiwis.
“We are very excited about the alliance and look forward to providing students and researchers with the tools and capabilities to empower them to unleash their knowledge and creativity. We want Canterbury students and researchers to be connected, communicating and collaborating.”
University of Canterbury vice-chancellor, Dr Rod Carr says, “Microsoft is entering a partnership with an institution that seeks to promote a world-class learning environment that allows talented students and faculty to realise their full potential.”
“As our University seeks to be fit-for-purpose in the 21st century, we are guided by our strategic intent to challenge ourselves harder, concentrate on what we are good at and connect better.
“I am truly delighted that this commitment we are making on behalf of our talented students and faculty of today – and the future – has been acknowledged in such a way by Microsoft.”
The education alliance will remain in effect for three years and offers the University access to a range of Microsoft technologies and resources.
Key elements of the agreement include an annual Research Intern Award which will provide the opportunity for two post graduate students to undertake a three to six month internship at Microsoft Research’s Beijing lab.
This will lift the University’s research competitiveness and build on research collaboration with Microsoft Research.
In an effort to support the transformation of education (and the vision for Canterbury to be an Educational Centre of Excellence) both Microsoft and the University will participate in a proposed Canterbury Education Network that links student and teacher communities across the region.