The broad scope of research projects funded through this year's investment from the Mardsen Fund demonstrates the value to society from university research, according to the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee.

International developments have once again demonstrated that university education is a critical investment for economies, individuals and societies at large, according to the body which represents the New Zealand university system.

Universities' significant commitments to creating and applying knowledge to drive innovation in New Zealand are noted in Ministry of Education monitoring of the current tertiary education strategy.

18 June 2009 - Universities are extremely active in employing programmes to ensure increased Māori participation and success in university education.

29 May 2009 - Budget measures affecting research, science and technology have given universities a solid indication that the Government recognises their key role in the research and innovation system and the need to maintain it.

29 May 2009 - The full implications of the Budget for universities are now becoming apparent and the institutions are deeply concerned about immediate funding cuts and the signals from the Government over a lack of future support for the university system.

27 May 2009 - Conductor Gemma New, a University of Canterbury Bachelor of Music with Honours student, is the winner of the Patricia Pratt Scholarship in Musical Performance for 2009.

The Australian budget has delivered that country's universities A$5.3 billion of investment in teaching, research and innovation over six years and New Zealand university heads say that investment principle must now be followed here.

7 May 2009 - Calls for the Government to do more to create a highly-skilled workforce are supported by the New Zealand Vice-Chancellors' Committee, representing the country's eight universities.

Disappointing is the university reaction to a ministerial speech made to a tertiary education summit in Wellington focussed on "Contributing to the Nation's Future".