Massey University

Overview

Massey University, in Palmerston North, is a public university renowned for its veterinary medicine, agriculture, and aviation programs. It was established in 1926 through the New Zealand Agricultural College Act as the sixth college of the University of New Zealand. When UNZ became defunct in 1961, it became part of the Victoria University of Wellington system. The Massey University Act of 1963 allowed it to transform into an independent institution as the Massey University of Manawatu. It adopted its current name three years later.

The university has five colleges: the College of Creative Arts, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, the College of Sciences, the College of Health, and the Massey Business School. Within those are 25 departments, schools, and centers, among which are the Centre for Defence and Security Studies, the School of Food and Advanced Technology, the School of Agriculture and Environment, the School of Aviation, and the School of Veterinary Science. Aside from agriculture, veterinary science, and aviation, Massey University is also known for its Art and Design, Development Studies, Communication and Media Studies, and Education programs.

Research activities at Massey University are vigorous. It has a solid track record in its five research themes: 21st-century citizenship, future food systems, health and wellbeing, design for community, commerce and culture, and resource development and management. As well, there are 46 research centers and institutes that are concerned with those key research areas and other fields. Among these are two centers of research excellence established by the government of New Zealand: the Farm Business Management Center and the Riddet Institute. The former looks into innovations in the field of farm business management while the latter is concerned with food science.

Researchers at the university have been recognized for their innovative ideas as well. Three researchers received Career Development Awards from the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Students and researchers at Massey University can take advantage of the research facilities at the university. One of these is the Massey Genome Service, which helps individuals and groups in sequencing DNA and RNA. Additionally, they can receive assistance from the Research and Enterprise Office. There, they can seek help with contracts, finding awards and grants for their research, develop their skills and knowledge as researchers, and ensure the ethics of their projects.

Outside of academics and research, the institution is active in society with its subsidiaries and commercial ventures like the Massey University Foundation and the Nutrition Laboratory.