Manukau Institute of Technology Limited is a category one vocational and technical education provider located in Auckland. Research is an important academic activity at the Institute as it reinforces both the value and integrity of an educational institute.

The Institute offers numerous programmes at degree level or higher within the disciplines of arts and education, business, digital technologies, engineering, health and counselling, nursing, social work, sport and exercise science, and logistics and supply chain.

More than 100 experienced academics undertake research in their areas of expertise and interest. Many of them also engage with other institutes, universities, local industries and communities for applied research and various scholarly activities. The Institute’s Strategic Research Fund supports a diverse and noteworthy range of research projects, many of which are undertaken in collaboration with local industries and communities.

The heads of schools and the academic leads (research) manage research projects and activities at the school level. The schools are supported by a dedicated research office, a research committee and an ethics committee.

The Institute has a strong governance, leadership and management structure. The academic committee and a research sub-committee and an ethics sub-committee oversee overall governance issues, and the research office manages the institute-wide research activities and administers research projects. Each school has its own research support infrastructure.

Manukau Institute of Technology has an established ethics process for assessing research and coursework ethics including but not limited to research involving human subjects and/or involving a Te Ao Māori or Te Tiriti o Waitangi dimension. Researchers must comply with all of the institute’s research and ethics requirements. Researchers conducting projects that have been approved by an external ethics committee but are wanting to access MIT data and/or participants, must refer to the institute’s Ethics Guidelines, can apply using this Application Form – D and can email MITethics@manukau.ac.nz for further information and details about the application process.

Research goals, values and themes

Our research goals are to add value through targeted research, to deliver a research-driven curriculum, and to become a champion of living and working in a safe and sustainable world.

Our research is underpinned by the institute’s values, which are manaakitanga – caring for others to nurture achievement, excellence – getting great results and celebrating success, connectedness – being connected, open and approachable, and being real – being genuine, honest and down to earth.

Our academics usually undertake research in teams that benefit the long-term well-being of our communities and local organisations. Our core research projects and activities are aligned with the following strategic themes (page 9) to address the short-term and long-term issues in New Zealand and abroad.

  • Orientation to the disrupted future of work
  • Dedication to diversity and inclusiveness
  • Commitment to Māori aspirations and Te Tiriti o Waitangi
  • Commitment to Pasifika aspirations
  • Commitment to Whānau, communities and workplaces
  • Focus on sustainability, safety and wellbeing
  • Promote scholarship of learning and teaching.

The central Research Office supports the Institute’s schools in regards to research collaboration, preparation of grant proposals, contract administration, and coordination of events. The key contact for all research-related activities is the Research office.

The Ethics Committee considers all ethics applications for research projects that involve human subjects, a Te Ao Māori or Te Tiriti o Waitangi dimension, our staff or students, or any use of the Institute’s data which is not in the public domain. Researchers who are not our staff nor enrolled students who wish to access the Institute for research purposes need to first apply to the Ethics committee.

Academic Leads (Research) are the first point of contact for discipline-specific projects and collaborations:

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