Message from the Chancellor and Vice-Chancellor

Leading the way to a better future for New Zealand and the world

Increasingly, the world’s leading universities are focusing their intellectual power on solving major issues for the betterment of humankind, nationally and internationally. The University of Auckland is no exception.

Established in 1883, The University of Auckland is New Zealand’s premier research-led university. In 2008, the Times Higher Education Supplement ranked us in the top one percent of universities in the world.   We have the nation’s largest body of students engaged in advanced education, its largest group of top research-ranked academics, and its most comprehensive range of degree programmes and research activities.

Generating $4.4 billion of economic benefit annually, our University makes a significant contribution to New Zealand’s economic, as well as social and cultural, development. We also operate the largest university research company in Australasia. We thus have a strong foundation on which to build.

We recognise that we have opportunities to raise our sights even higher, and to achieve a level of performance and contribution to New Zealand and the international community, that is truly commensurate with our aspiration to be a “World Class University in New Zealand”.

Through consultation with our stakeholders, and an examination of our own capabilities relative to New Zealand’s and world needs, we have identified five key challenges to which, we believe, The University of Auckland can make a distinctive contribution.

We already have some outstanding scholars and researchers in these areas. Our challenge is to continue to build on such areas of excellence in the face of an increasingly intense world-wide competition for talent. There are about 1.15 million academics in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Canada.  Some 20-33% of these can be expected to retire in the next 10 years, creating up to 383,000 vacancies.  And that is without taking into account the increased numbers of academics required because of the projected growth in student numbers.  So, we can conclude that there is likely to be a huge demand for – and shortage of – academics over the next 15-20 years and probably beyond that as well.

To generate and nurture the best ideas, we must attract and retain the most talented people, through an uncompromising commitment to excellence in teaching, research and community engagement. And, because talent acts as a magnet for other talent, we will attract further outstanding academics, including expatriates attracted home, and the best and brightest students – those who will contribute most to our future.

We want to demonstrate how the enhancement of our research programme can make a real and immediate impact on the world. To achieve that, we’ll depend on the quality of our staff and our programmes to make us the natural home for outstanding students, both New Zealand and international students. We will provide them with the kinds of facilities and services that will support a vibrant and exciting intellectual community.

Your help is vital. Traditional sources of income – from Government funding, student fees and research contracts – will not support this level of excellence. The “step up” that we need to take can be achieved only through philanthropic support. That’s why we’re seeking your support and that of others who share our aspirations for this country, and are willing to commit their resources – financial, intellectual and political – to the pursuit of a better New Zealand, and a better world.

Through that support you are creating a long term opportunity for The University of Auckland to change lives for the better

Roger France                        
Chancellor

Stuart McCutcheon                       
Vice-Chancellor