Entrepreneurship could help New Zealand’s universities thrive

Earlier this month, the government released two major reports from the University Advisory Group, chaired by Sir Peter Gluckman, on the future of New Zealand’s universities. Blink and you could miss the one word in the reports that could radically shape universities’ future: entrepreneurship.

The interim report, completed last October, mentioned it three times, recommending entrepreneurship training for undergraduates, embedding doctoral students in industry, and expanding co-op style courses that put students directly into workplaces. These were practical proposals about curriculum and capability, equipping students to think and act entrepreneurially.

By April, when the group delivered its final report, the focus had broadened. The call was no longer directed only at students. Universities themselves, it argued, must act entrepreneurially by being nimble, outward-facing and innovative, while sustaining their role as society’s critic and conscience.

Taken together, the reports offer a hopeful vision. They suggest a future where entrepreneurship is not an optional add-on, but a thread that runs through how universities teach, research and engage with their communities. If acted upon, their recommendations could energise the sector and give students and institutions alike the confidence to navigate uncertainty.

There are already examples to build on. The University of Auckland’s Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship has helped launch nearly 300 ventures, created thousands of jobs, and contributed billions in capital raised. Each year, thousands of students gain entrepreneurial skills through its programmes. If one centre can do this, imagine the impact if entrepreneurship were woven across all universities.

The Applied Doctorates Scheme is another promising initiative. Each year, around 30 PhD candidates will work with industry partners on pressing issues such as energy transition. While modest in scale, it shows what is possible when research training bridges academic and commercial worlds. With expansion, it could become a powerful pipeline of researchers fluent in both.

The reports also highlight the potential of co-op learning, a proven model overseas. Canada’s University of Waterloo demonstrates how students can graduate with both academic knowledge and entrepreneurial experience gained through multiple industry placements. If New Zealand takes that model seriously, scaling co-op education could transform the way our graduates contribute to firms, government and start-ups alike.

The next steps will matter. If entrepreneurship is treated as a core capability threaded through undergraduate courses, doctoral training and university strategy, the benefits will be profound. Students will graduate ready to act with initiative. Universities will strengthen their partnerships with society and industry. And New Zealand will grow the innovation capacity it urgently needs.

The University Advisory Group’s reports should be seen as the start of a conversation, not the end. If government and universities seize the opportunity, we can look forward to a future where entrepreneurship is embedded across the sector, producing graduates who not only adapt to change but lead it.