The Spotlight
Geopolitics Provides Impetus For Renewed Educational Connections
By Professor Frank Bloomfield Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research and Innovation University of Auckland
“New Zealand has long looked to Latin America as a natural partner for higher education."
The rapidly evolving geopolitical and geoeconomic environment is driving new behaviours among nations, higher education institutions and students. In some parts of the world, this polarised landscape has led countries to retreat inward. In contrast, others have intentionally chosen to enhance partnerships and collaborations with institutions and people with shared values.
Globally minded Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, and its New Zealand counterparts remain outward-looking, actively building for more robust Latin American collaborations through formal agreements, engagement letters, and extended visits to Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay and Mexico. This approach is supported by New Zealand Government visa policies, which make the country highly attractive compared to peer nations such as the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, the United States and Australia.
This ambition to strengthen research and study connections across the southern Pacific Ocean comes as interest is renewed in what is called the Southern Link – a potential new supply chain linking Latin America with New Zealand and Asia, with the capacity to develop extensive trade links and, in particular, new opportunities for international education and research alliances. New Zealand’s Auckland International Airport announced that China Eastern Airlines would launch a twice-weekly service connecting Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland at the end of the year.
New Zealand has long looked to Latin America as a natural partner for higher education. A shared attachment to the land and associated agriculture, agri-industry and agri-research is the starting point. Sharing an ocean-facing existence brings the natural focus on marine science, ecology and the blue economy. A common commitment to indigeneity, indigenous-related research and shared values, such as democracy, human rights and the international rules-based system, strengthens the connection. This is further highlighted in a shared focus on addressing climate change and protecting the environment.
The University of Auckland's Leigh Marine Laboratory is adjacent to the country’s oldest marine reserve and an hour’s drive from its city campus
Underscoring these shared interests is a mutual commitment to research and innovation that is relevant and purposeful, with impact that responds to challenges from within our communities about the value of universities. This is reflected in the University of Auckland’s Vision 2030 strategy document, Taumata Teitei, and in its adoption of Elsevier’s 4th Generation University concept, which focuses on local impact.
These shared values saw me lead a delegation of New Zealand university representatives to Latin America last year. In September, I will lead a delegation of all eight New Zealand universities to Brazil, following on from the recent visit to New Zealand by a large delegation from the Brazilian Association of Presidents of State and Municipal Universities (ABRUEM). This visit will explore our shared research priorities on climate impacts to production, and how sustainable AgriTech and energy solutions can add value and mitigate environmental effects – through new partnerships in research, and student and staff mobility.
When the University of Auckland hosted the delegation from ABRUEM, areas of common research interest were clear. Both countries are interested in emerging technologies that offer economic benefits for their core industries while also driving social change and advancing discoveries for the betterment of society.
Agri-research is a common field of interest for New Zealand and Latin American researchers
Brazil has developed several technology and innovation ecosystems, while the University of Auckland has a proud record of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship through its wholly owned commercialisation subsidiary, Auckland UniServices, and its Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It has successful MedTech and Product accelerators, a Space Institute and is expanding its Newmarket Innovation Precinct.
Our international research collaborations are guided by a commitment to excellence with impact, partnerships founded on equity, trust and shared values, and grounded in a clear strategic direction that is open to opportunities. Given the University of Auckland’s globally recognised expertise in indigenous research, we actively seek research collaborators in the Global South and from within indigenous research networks.
Country-to-country agreements supporting collaborations and student exchange were signed with Chile, Brazil and Colombia in 2015. More recently, agreements have been signed with Mexico, Chile and Paraguay to enable postgraduate students with scholarships to study in New Zealand and with Brazil’s Paraná Province.
The Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship is part of the University’s successful innovation ecosystem
PhD students are mainly drawn to the discipline-specific expertise at institutions like the University of Auckland, along with a government agreement that allows international students to pay the same tuition fees as domestic PhD students, effectively acting as a scholarship. Furthermore, doctoral students and their families are entitled to generous in-study and post-study work rights and can access the same school benefits as New Zealand children. This appealing combination has attracted Latin American scholars to New Zealand, yet many people are unaware of the opportunity.
Looking forward, the deepening ties between New Zealand and Latin America represent a strategic and values-driven opportunity for higher education. With complementary strengths, shared priorities and a growing framework of institutional partnerships, both regions are well-positioned to co-develop impactful solutions to global challenges. As the University of Auckland continues to invest in joint research, knowledge exchange and outreach initiatives, Latin American scholars will find not only academic excellence but also a welcoming and forward-thinking environment.