Our partnership with The University of Newcastle focuses on research, teaching, and global opportunities that benefit students, staff, and communities.
The University of Waikato and the University of Newcastle have a long-standing relationship. Building on academic and research collaboration, the two universities progressed their relationship establishing a Student Exchange Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding. To create additional opportunities for collaboration in research, teaching, and professional services, Waikato and Newcastle progressed discussions about a strategic partnership agreement, which was formalised in 2024.
The strategic partnership agreement between The University of Waikato and The University of Newcastle focuses on research collaboration, exchange programmes, joint programmes, and partnerships with industry in New Zealand and Australia. These activities aim to promote academic and professional excellence through innovative collaboration and cooperation.
The University of Newcastle - Global-Partnerships@newcastle.edu.au
University of Waikato - global@waikato.ac.nz
The University of Waikato and The University of Newcastle invite all staff members to take advantage of our partnership seed fund. The fund is intended to support collaborative research, teaching, and/or professional services projects between our two institutions. Applicants will need to clearly demonstrate measurable outcomes of their projects and how their collaboration will develop going forward.
The Fund particularly encourages applications that are led by, or meaningfully include, Early Career Researchers (ECRs), Early Career Professional Staff, Indigenous staff, and doctoral candidates. These groups are central to the Fund’s role in supporting international professional development, building global citizenship capabilities, and nurturing emerging academic and professional talent.
Since its launch in 2022, the Seed Fund has supported 21 collaborative projects involving more than 110 staff, approximately half of whom were ECRs, across a diverse range of fields including health and wellbeing, Indigenous and cultural studies, technology and innovation, education, sport, and environmental research.
Waikato staff should visit the Global Engagement and Partnerships Toolkit on Te Hononga for guidelines, FAQs, and application details.
| 2026 | |
| Applications open | 19 January 2026 |
| Applications close | 9 March 2026 (midnight AEST) |
| Peer review and funding panel | March/April |
| Applicants notified | 18 May 2025 |
| Project time | June-December 2026 |
If you are interested in being involved as a peer reviewer, please contact global@waikato.ac.nz.
Interested in collaborating with your counterpart at the University of Newcastle/University of Waikato?
Our student exchange agreement with the University of Newcastle allows Waikato students to spend a semester or year studying in Newcastle and Newcastle students to do the same in Hamilton.
To find out more, please visit the Waikato Global Experiences website.
Studying at the University of Newcastle gives students the chance to open up their world, expand their academic horizons, and connect with people from around the globe.
To celebrate the strategic partnership that exists between The University of Newcastle and the University of Waikato we are offering two (2) students the opportunity to receive a $2,500 Trimester Exchange scholarship for a B Trimester 2025 exchange.
Find out more on the Waikato Global Experiences website.
Innovative technology empowers farmers
Dr Harish Devaraj from the School of Engineering Teaching and Research at the University of Waikato and Dr Shaleeza Sohail from the School of Information and Physical Sciences at the University of Newcastle are working together to combine artificial intelligence (AI) and federated learning to empower farmers to enhance productivity and sustainability.
Virtual Reality in Stroke Rehabilitation
Virtual reality (VR) is rapidly emerging as a tool in rehabilitation for neurological conditions such as stroke.
Indigenous wisdom enhances learning and teaching
A seed funded project between the University of Waikato and the University of Newcastle aims to improve Indigenous student engagement in science and health education.
Art History scholar and academic leader joins Waikato as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic
The University of Waikato has appointed Professor Jennifer Milam as Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic, effective 4 November.
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