Parul University inaugurates the India–New Zealand Centre of Excellence during International Week 2026, partnering with seven New Zealand universities to advance joint research, academic collaboration, and global engagement.
Vadodara-based Parul University becomes the first university to partner with faculty members from seven New Zealand universities by inaugurating the India–New Zealand Centre of Excellence during International Week 2026. The University also achieved a national milestone by becoming the first private university in India to establish a New Zealand Centre of Excellence. Under this MoU, the partners will agree on joint research and academic collaborations, along with shared infrastructure and cultural exchange programs.
Building the idea of a worldwide dialogue platform, International Week 2026 brought together 22+ countries and 70+ international academic leaders on the university's campus. Significant institutions such as Education New Zealand, Estero Education Services, University of Otago, Auckland University of Technology, Massey University, Victoria University of Wellington, Lincoln University, and University of Canterbury were part of this international academic exchange. The India–New Zealand Centre of Excellence highlights the university’s focus on global engagement, measurable academic outcomes, and long-term academic value creation in the international education space.
The centre was officially launched in the presence of senior officials from Education New Zealand (ENZ) and top New Zealand government universities. The launch was graced by Matthew Ayers, Deputy High Commissioner of New Zealand to India, along with senior academic leaders representing six of New Zealand’s eight universities, highlighting the depth and institutional seriousness of the partnership. INSPIRE NZ aims to create long-term institutional partnerships that transcend short-term mobility programs, promoting sustained academic collaboration between Indian and New Zealand universities.
This knowledge-sharing initiative aims to leverage co-teaching and collaborative methods to promote faculty development programs, encouraging new research frontiers and innovation-driven program development. INSPIRE NZ has been built on three years of substantial academic, student, and research engagement, making it an outcome-driven initiative rather than intent-driven. The MoU promotes joint research infrastructure, policy alignment, and academic excellence, along with industry-centric, future-ready education, addressing emerging global challenges. This collaboration has been strategically facilitated by Estero Education Services, ensuring integration of institutional priorities and sustainable international outcomes.
Speaking about the collaboration, Dr. Preeti Nair, Director, Centre for International Relations and Research, stated, “Through this INSPIRE NZ initiative, we are further delineating our constant quest and efforts towards going beyond mobility to meaningful and collaborative global engagements focusing on research, innovation, and academic growth.”
Dr. Geetika Patel, Vice-President, Parul University, added, “The establishment of this centre reflects our resolve towards building international collaborations with long-term, quantifiable academic impact.”
The launch also aligns with the growing momentum in India–New Zealand bilateral relations, particularly following the recent India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement, under which education has been identified as a priority area of cooperation.
Parul University continues to expand its global footprint through strategic international collaborations, academic partnerships, and innovation-led initiatives. With INSPIRE NZ, the university reaffirms its commitment to developing sustainable global ecosystems, delivering measurable academic value.
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