- By Sarju Saran Tiwari
- Tue, 18 Mar 2025 08:38 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
New Delhi: New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon unveiled a NZ$260,000 scholarship package under the New Zealand Excellence Awards (NZEA) 2025 at IIT Delhi. The initiative includes 29 scholarships for Indian students and a Virtual Internship Programme for IIT Delhi students to work with New Zealand companies remotely. The event also marked collaborations in research and academic exchanges.
Scholarships and Eligibility Details
At an education-focused event hosted by IIT Delhi, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon announced the NZ$260,000 scholarship package under the NZEA 2025.
A total of 29 scholarships will be offered across eight New Zealand universities, including undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) programs.
Universities such as AUT, Lincoln University, and the University of Auckland are participating. Eligibility criteria include Indian citizenship, residency in India during application, being at least 18 years old, and holding an unconditional admission offer from a New Zealand university. Applications close on April 30, 2025.
Additionally, the event introduced a Virtual Internship Programme enabling 30 IIT Delhi students to intern remotely with New Zealand companies.
This initiative aims to provide cross-border industry exposure and insights into New Zealand's innovative work culture.
Research Collaborations and MoUs
The event also celebrated the establishment of the New Zealand Centre at IIT Delhi, fostering collaborations between all New Zealand universities and Indian institutions. A notable project involves the University of Canterbury and IIT Delhi working on climate change mitigation using geospatial data.
Several Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) were signed between institutions like the University of Auckland and Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), as well as IIT Kharagpur. The University of Auckland also partnered with Tech Mahindra for a pilot internship program to bridge academia and industry.
Prime Minister Luxon emphasized the shared commitment between India and New Zealand to academic excellence and global talent development. These initiatives aim to strengthen educational ties while equipping students with skills for global challenges.