University of Waikato

Coordinates: 37°47′13″S 175°18′50″E / 37.78694°S 175.31389°E / -37.78694; 175.31389

University of Waikato
Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato

Coat of Arms of the University of Waikato
Motto Māori: Ko te tangata
Motto in English
 For The People
Type Public
Established 1964
Chancellor Jim Bolger, ONZ
Vice-Chancellor Neil Quigley
Administrative staff
 1,483 (FTS, 2014)[1]
Students 9,904 (EFTS, 2014)[1]
Location Hamilton, Waikato,
New Zealand New Zealand
Campus Urban
Affiliations ACU, ASAIHL,
AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS
Website www.waikato.ac.nz

The University of Waikato (Māori: Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato), informally Waikato University, is a comprehensive university in Hamilton, New Zealand, with a satellite campus located in Tauranga. Established in 1964, it was the first university in New Zealand to be designed from a blank canvas.[2]

History

The University of Waikato owes its existence to a determined group of Hamilton locals, who in 1956 launched a petition for a university to serve the needs of the South Auckland region. The group was led by Douglas Seymour, a barrister, and subsequently Anthony "Rufus" Rogers, a Hamilton GP and brother to long-time Mayor of Hamilton, Denis Rogers.[2]

Their campaign coincided with a shortage of teachers in the 1950s that prompted the New Zealand government to consider plans for a teachers’ college in the region. Where there was a teachers’ college, there needed to be a university to give students access to undergraduate courses.[3]

In 1960, the newly established Hamilton Teachers’ College opened its doors, and combined forces with the fledgling university (then a branch of Auckland University) to plan a new joint campus on farmland at Hillcrest, on the city's outskirts.[2]

In 1964, the two institutions moved to their new home, and the following year the University of Waikato was officially opened by then Governor-General Sir Bernard Fergusson.[2]

The first Vice-Chancellor, Dr Don Llewellyn, was keen to develop the shared campus as one and build a single academic programme, an approach welcomed by the Teachers' College Principal, John Allan. But even the idea of co-location flew in the face of established practice, and the formal merger of the two institutions did not take place until 1990.[3]

At this time the University comprised a School of Humanities and a School of Social Sciences.[2] In 1969, Dr Llewellyn succeeded in persuading the authorities to fund the establishment of a School of Science (now the Faculty of Science and Engineering).[4]

This was followed by the creation of Waikato Management School in 1972,[2] Computer Science and Computing Services (which ultimately became the Faculty of Computing and Mathematical Sciences) in 1973,[2] and the establishment of the School, now Faculty, of Law in 1990.[5]

From the beginning, it was envisaged that Māori studies should be a key feature of the new University,[2] and the Centre for Māori Studies and Research was finally set up in the School of Social Sciences in 1972, after many delays.[2] A separate School of Māori and Pacific Development was formally established in 1996.[6]

In 1999, the original Schools of Humanities and Social Sciences were merged to form the School (later Faculty) of Arts and Social Sciences.[7]

In 1998, the University formed an alliance with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic to facilitate teaching in the Western Bay of Plenty. The first students from the University of Waikato at Tauranga graduated at a ceremony held in Tauranga in 2001.

In 2010, the tertiary partnership was widened to include Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi in the Eastern Bay of Plenty,[8] and funding is currently being sought for a dedicated university-led campus in Tauranga.[9]

In 2014, the University became smoke-free, disallowing smoking on campus and in University-owned vehicles.[10]

General information

Structure and governance

The village green is the social hub of the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus.
One of three lakes on the University of Waikato's Hamilton campus.

The chief executive of the University of Waikato is the vice-chancellor, currently Professor Neil Quigley. The University is governed by a council, headed by the University’s Chancellor, who is currently former New Zealand prime minister Rt Hon James B Bolger ONZ.

The University Council works with Te Rōpū Manukura, made up of representatives of the 16 iwi (Māori tribal) authorities in the University’s catchment area. Te Rōpū Manukura is the Kaitiaki (guardian) of the Treaty of Waitangi for the University of Waikato, and acts to ensure that the University works in partnership with iwi to meet tertiary needs and aspirations of Māori communities.

The following list shows the university's chancellors:[11]

Campuses

The University of Waikato operates from two campuses – in Hamilton and Tauranga. The main Hamilton campus is spread over 64 hectares of landscaped gardens and lakes, and includes extensive sporting and recreational areas. In Tauranga, the University shares campuses with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic at Windermere Campus and the Bongard Centre in Tauranga's CBD.

The Hamilton campus was originally farmland. Designed by architect John Blake-Kelly in 1964, the open space landscaping contains extensive native plantings, including a fernery, centred around three artificial lakes, created by draining marshy paddocks.[2]

The lakes play a vital role in the University’s stormwater system, but they are shallow, making them susceptible to eutrophication. Each spring harvesting takes place to remove excess water weed and remove pest fish.

The social heart of the Hamilton campus is the new Student Centre, which was officially opened in 2011 by Waikato alumnus Governor-General Lt Gen The Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae. Designed to incorporate the existing University library, the $30 million building has been awarded five green stars for sustainable design, the first five-star project in the Waikato region.[13]

The Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts.

The Hamilton campus is also home to the Gallagher Academy of Performing Arts. Overlooking Knighton Lake, the award-winning building was built through public subscription and opened in 2001. It provides teaching and performance facilities for music, drama, dance and kapa haka as well as exhibition space, and attracts internationally renowned performers and artists.

Accreditations and rankings

Accreditations

Waikato Management School achieved Triple Crown status in 2006 by gaining accreditation from the three leading international business school accreditation bodies, AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA - only 1% of the world's business schools, 59 worldwide, have met the strict standards of all three accreditation bodies. The school's public relations undergraduate programme also gained accreditation from the Public Relations Society of America in 2009, and is currently one of only five institutions outside of the United States to have won CEPR certification.[14]

In 2011, Waikato Management School’s MBA programme for Māori leaders won AMBA’s inaugural MBA Innovation Award.[15] The Waikato MBA is delivered in partnership with the Waikato-Tainui College for Research and Development. In 2012, the Centre for Corporate and Executive Education received re-accreditation for its MBA[16] programme from AMBA for five years, the maximum length of accreditation available. Its full-time MBM programme also received the highly regarded AMBA accreditation, the first MBM in New Zealand to receive this honour.[17]

The University’s Bachelor of Engineering degrees are all internationally accredited by the Institute of Professional Engineers of New Zealand (IPENZ).[18] The BE qualifications include 800 hours of work experience and cover chemical and biological engineering, electronic engineering, materials and process engineering, mechanical engineering, and software engineering.

Rankings

In 2015, the University of Waikato is ranked 338 in the world by the QS (Quacquarelli Symonds Limited) World University Rankings 2015. This sees a climb in the rankings of over 60 places from 2014 in which it was ranked 405 in the world.

In 2013-2014, the University of Waikato was ranked in the 301–350 band in the world by Times Higher Education World University Rankings[19] and in the 401–410 band by QS World University Rankings.[20] The QS Subject Rankings put five subject areas taught at the University of Waikato in the top 150 worldwide. They are Computer Science and Info Systems (101–150), Economics and Econometrics (101-150), Education (46), Law and Legal Studies (101-150) and Languages (101-150).[21]

In 2013, the University of Waikato was ranked 46th of the universities under 50 years old in the world by UK-based Times Higher Education World University Rankings,[22] up from 58th in 2012. The list is an offshoot of the Times Higher Education World University Rankings and used the same indicators for judging including research, citations and teaching. THE says the analysis of young universities is designed to examine future potential as much as current excellence. It uses objective performance indicators and focus less on reputation, saying older universities enjoy established alumni networks and graduates in senior positions around the world which have a large impact on reputation.

Organisation

Library

The University of Waikato Library/Te Whare Pukapuka o Te Whare Wānanga o Waikato is a complex and dynamic academic library. It is the University’s gateway to knowledge, providing information and resources for staff and students. It aims to stimulate and encourage within the University community a culture of lifelong learning and intellectual independence. The Library offers a comprehensive user-education programme ranging from orientation tours at the beginning of each semester to in-depth tutorials on information retrieval and access. One-to-one research consultations are provided for graduate students and academic staff. Library staff are directly involved in teaching and assessment of information literacy, both within degree-level programmes and also through individual and group tutorial programmes.

The Library is situated centrally on campus and serves both on-campus and distance students. There is a separate Education Library, a collection based at the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic Library in Tauranga, and collections in storage off-campus in Hamilton. The Library contains about 1,059,000 print volumes, receives 2,144 print serial titles and subscribes to a large number of networked databases and electronic journals, providing access to over 162,000 electronic resources. There is a policy to move to digital content where there is choice. The Library is a member of the LCoNZ consortium.

Māori at Waikato

Waikato is unique among New Zealand universities in its partnership with Tainui on whose land the University stands. At governance level, Te Rōpū Manukura, the Kaitiaki (guardian) of the Treaty of Waitangi for the University, acts to ensure the University works in partnership with iwi to meet the tertiary needs and aspirations of Māori communities.

The University’s marae, Te Kohinga Mārama, was opened in 1987 as part of the then College of Education, and comes under the mantle of Kīngi Tuheitia, the Māori King. The marae is under the stewardship of the people of Ngāti Haua and Ngāti Wairere, and the University community of staff and students.

The University enrols approximately 15% of New Zealand’s Māori university students, the highest proportion of any New Zealand university. These students make up 17% of all equivalent full-time students (EFTS) at Waikato. Māori academic staff make up 10% of the total, and hold one-quarter of all senior positions throughout the University.

Each year in April, the University celebrates its commitment to kaupapa and tikanga Māori on Kīngitanga Day. It is also a strategic partner in Te Matatini, the biennial national kapa haka competition.

Alumni

The University delivers an annual programme of alumni events, publications and benefits to nurture an ongoing relationship with its former students. Waikato Alumni Representatives are volunteers based in cities around the world and are helpful contacts for providing social or business networking opportunities. In 2007, the Distinguished Alumni Awards were launched to celebrate Waikato graduates who have made outstanding contributions in their careers or communities.

Graduate Nathan Cohen (BMS; 2012) is a two-time world champion and Olympic champion in rowing.[23]

Scholarships

The University offer a large number of scholarships, for school leavers through to graduates. The Sir Edmund Hillary Scholarship Programme, launched in 2005, assists students who are talented sports people or artistic performers while they undertake tertiary study. Each year, the University accepts around 50 new Hillary Scholars, who receive a full-fee scholarship, personalised academic support, leading tutors in their area of sports/arts, funding for specialised skills development and leadership training.

Notable Hillary Scholars include:

Student associations

The Waikato Students' Union represents all students on campus, and publishes the student magazine Nexus.[24] Law students are represented by the University of Waikato Law Students' Association,[25] Te Whakahiapo (the Māori law students' association),[26] and the Pacific Law Students' Association.[27]

References

  1. 1 2 "University of Waikato Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Retrieved 10 June 2015.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Day, Paul. (1984) From The Ground Up: An informal chronicle of the genesis and development of the University of Waikato 1964-1984. University of Waikato, pp 6, 18,-27, 30, 55, 56, 58-60, 157-9, 172-5, 219.
  3. 1 2 Celebrating 50 years of Teacher Education, 1960-2010, University of Waikato (2010), pp 2, 3-4
  4. ↑ Celebrating 40 years of Science & Engineering, 1969–2009, University of Waikato (2009), p1
  5. ↑ "New Name for Faculty". Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  6. ↑ University of Waikato Calendar 1996, p31
  7. ↑ University of Waikato Calendar 1999, p16
  8. ↑ "Chancellor's Overview". Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  9. ↑ "Tauranga Uni Campus One Step Closer". Bay of Plenty Times. 26 January 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2014.
  10. ↑ "Smoke Free Policy - Official Information Index : University of Waikato". Waikato.ac.nz. Retrieved 2015-06-19.
  11. ↑ "Former Chancellors of the University of Waikato". University of Waikato. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  12. 1 2 "Former Prime Minister elected Chancellor of Waikato University". University of Waikato. 15 February 2007. Retrieved 19 April 2014.
  13. ↑ "University of Waikato Student Centre – Portfolio". Warren and Mahoney. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  14. ↑ "List of Schools that currently hold PRSA Certification". PRSSA. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  15. ↑ "The Inaugural MBA Innovation Award". University of Waikato. 2011-10-21. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  16. ↑
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ "IPENZ Accredited Engineering Degrees". IPENZ Engineers New Zealand. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  19. ↑ "World University Rankings 2013–2014". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  20. ↑ "QS World University Rankings 2013-2014". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  21. ↑ "QS World University Subject Rankings 2013-2014". Quacquarelli Symonds Limited. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  22. ↑ "THE 100 Under 50 Universities 2013". Times Higher Education. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  23. ↑ "Waikato Alumni Named in New Year Honours List". University of Waikato. 2013-03-08. Retrieved 2014-03-26.
  24. ↑ "Waikato Student Union". wsu.org.nz. WSU. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "University of Waikato Law Students' Association". waikato.ac.nz. University of Waikato. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Te Whakahiapo". waikato.ac.nz. Waikato University. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Pacific Law Students' Association". waikato.ac.nz. University of Waikato. Retrieved 22 December 2015.

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