EIT Rated One of New Zealand’s Top Institutes of Technology

EIT Rated One of New Zealand’s Top Institutes of Technology

EIT has been ranked in the top two institutes of technology in New Zealand in the just-released official ranking of research capability at New Zealand universities, institutes of technology and other tertiary education providers.

Chief executive Chris Collins says this is a great result and provides an independent assessment of the high regard of EIT staff research performance.

Victoria University and the University of Auckland were the top two ranked universities, with Unitec, a large Auckland-based institution, and EIT, here in Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti, ranked the top two institutes of technology in New Zealand.

EIT was also one of only three institutions outside the major universities where staff achieved the gold standard ‘A’ ranking.

Mr Collins says “an ‘A’ ranking means a ‘world class’ scholar in their field of study and ‘at the top’ of their field of research judged by international standards. Only 13.2% of the 6311 researchers across New Zealand ranked in the PBRF achieved an ‘A’ ranking.”

The Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF) audit is the major independent and peer reviewed research evaluation exercise carried out by the Tertiary Education Commission every six years.

The PBRF process independently ranks and assesses academic researchers in degree-teaching institutions across New Zealand with funding determined by research performance. Mr Collins says EIT has worked hard to strengthen research activity over several years. This has seen the appointment of new professors and associate professors at EIT to support the institute’s degree and research programmes.

The number of staff who achieved PBRF research rankings has more than tripled at the institution. This will bring in $2.7m in PBRF funding for EIT over the next six years.

“EIT has 12 bachelor degrees and numerous post-graduate programmes, including a Master’s degree, so it is important our degree programmes are underpinned by quality research activity,” says Mr Collins, ”and this top ranking confirms that.”

Mr Collins paid tribute to the effort and work of all staff involved in this exercise as a lot of time was involved in preparing evidence portfolios. In particular he noted the leadership of Professor Bob Marshall, EIT’s Research Director, and Professor Kay Morris Matthews.

“Their role in readying staff and the institution for PBRF has been critical and played a strong part in our successful rankings,” says Mr Collins.

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