Sponsored tertiary research project: A case study

Author: Arti Triveni

Abstract: There is a substantial amount of information available on sponsorship but not much on long-lasting relationships between tertiary education providers and industry. In 2000, Hawke’s Bay Today, the regional newspaper, approached the Faculty of Business and Computing at the Eastern Institute of Technology with an offer of sponsoring a student research project. What started as sponsorship for a specific project turned into a value-based ongoing tertiary institute and industry relationship. A win-win situation developed. A tertiary education provider’s objective of having an interesting, challenging and funded research project for students to experience real-world situations without cost burdens was achieved. At the same time, an industry objective of getting research done on some aspect of their business was accomplished.