Unitec's Department of Computing makes another innovative alliance
Unitec Institute of Technology, Auckland and Nara Institute of Science and Technology (NAIST) in Japan have signed a
Memorandum of Understanding that will enhance co-operation between the two institutions by offering a dual doctoral
programme. Signed during a visit to Japan by Unitec Chief Executive Dr Rick Ede, this initiative will enrich research
collaboration, strengthen international relationships and encourage academic exchanges of doctoral students.
Internationally more tertiaries are encouraging students to study at institutions in different countries, by either
offering joint degrees or double degrees.This venture with NAIST has the potential to enhance student research and
employment prospects. Unitec hopes the initiative will enable students who complete the doctoral residency requirements
at both institutions to achieve both the Unitec DComp and the NAIST PhD.
NAIST has been the top-ranked national university in Japan over the past three years for both research and education,
based on the quality of its postgraduate programmes.
As a national university consisting solely of graduate schools that specialise in teaching and research in advanced
science and technology, NAIST tackles problems at the frontiers of science in an environment of interdisciplinary and
international cooperation. Students and researchers have access to world-class facilities in a stimulating environment,
integrating individual research achievements with collaboration between different fields and offering a globally
flexible education for scientists and technologists.
Says Unitec Head of Department of Computing Hossein Sarrafzadeh, "Through this initiative Unitec students will get the
opportunity to undertake high-level research in cutting-edge areas of information science and build on the experience
gained at Unitec's cyber security research facility."
ENDS