Tower is pledging $45,000 over three years to support students in a world-first Bachelor of Climate Change degree at the
University of Waikato.
The three-year degree offers a unique combination of scientific knowledge, socio-economic understanding, and cultural
diversity of climate change issues. Students will not only learn from expert researchers at the university, but also get
the chance to see real-world cases where climate change is impacting groups and individuals.
Tower’s contribution will help the university nurture a workforce with a comprehensive understanding of climate change
to lead New Zealand’s transformation towards a zero-emissions society.
“Our research and data tell us the frequency and severity of floods and storms has increased, and the cost of insurance
over the past 10 years has reached $1.4 billion – the equivalent to the previous 45 years, even after adjusting for
inflation,” says Tower’s Chief Executive Officer Blair Turnbull.
“As part of our focus on a sustainable future, we are looking to partner with like-minded businesses and universities to
better understand climate change, and to help support plans and actions for our customers, communities and councils to
mitigate the impact.”
“We are delighted to be the first corporate supporter for the University of Waikato’s Bachelor of Climate Change, and to
support the next generation of climate change thought-leaders. It is through research, innovation and education that we
will move towards the solutions needed.”
Tower’s partnership with the University of Waikato involves three scholarships for first-year students worth $5,000 each
year for three years. The three-year agreement means a total of nine first-year Bachelor of Climate Change degree
students will receive a helping hand. Scholarship winners could also get the chance to see first-hand the work the Kiwi
insurer is undertaking on key initiatives around coastal flooding and erosion, and potentially gain an internship with
Tower.
Professor Bryony James, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research at the University of Waikato, says “Concerns over climate change
are growing around the world, across all industries and new graduates that join the workforce will soon discover that
every aspect of work life will involve climate change.”
“Tower is the first company to pledge a dedicated scholarship for the Bachelor of Climate Change degree. This will help
students gain a valuable entry into this comprehensive, interdisciplinary degree.”
University of Waikato’s Bachelor of Climate Change is currently open to application for its first semester scheduled to
begin in March 2022.
About Tower Insurance
Born and bred in New Zealand, Tower has been supporting Kiwis when they need it most for 150 years. In that time, we’ve
grown to operate across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, providing our customers with cover for their houses, cars,
contents, businesses and more.
While our heritage is important to us, we’ve also set our sights on the future. Our goal is to meet the 21st century
head-on with customer focussed, digital-first insurance solutions for Kiwis and their communities.