Investment in top doctoral students reaches $70m

Twenty-eight top New Zealand doctoral students have been awarded just under $3 million in scholarships for the next three years, Tertiary Education Commission Chief Executive Janice Shiner announced today.

“This takes the government’s investment in our best and brightest scholars through the Top Achiever Doctoral scholarships to over $70 million since 1999,” Ms Shiner said.

“These scholarships are a real investment in not only the future of these very talented individuals, but also New Zealand’s knowledge economy.”

The scholarships are awarded to students undertaking research in a variety of disciplines at a New Zealand or overseas tertiary institution. If the research is undertaken overseas, the student must return to New Zealand on the completion of the scholarship for a period equal to that of the scholarship.

Some examples of the newly awarded Top Achiever Doctoral Scholarships include:

• Research on the effects of exercise on tobacco cravings, withdrawal symptoms and smoking cessation in pregnant women
• Research on damages for human rights breaches
• Development of a GP/clinical decision support system interaction model for use in chronic disease management
• An analysis of the representation of women artists in film
• Developing tests which indicate early response to treatment in severe depression
• Research into oral history and tradition
• Integrating physical and digital workspaces

“There is a rich variety of research across many disciplines in this round of recipients, and taken as a whole, it is the kind of investment in research that meets the government’s goals for tertiary education – developing a socially, culturally and economically richer, more dynamic New Zealand,” Ms Shiner said.

The Tertiary Education Commission administers the scholarships. The next round of applications closes on 12 December. The list of successful recipients can be found here

Ms Shiner also announced that the TEC has awarded Enterprise Scholarships to 76 students, with a total value of more than $1 million over the next three years.

The Enterprise Scholarships encourage graduate and postgraduate students to study and research in New Zealand in partnership with New Zealand-based businesses or public organisations, such as crown research institutes.

ENDS