The University of Auckland has signed on as an official Commitment Partner to the US Generation Study Abroad movement, in an effort to further its goal to have one in four students graduate with overseas experience by 2020.

The new partnership will boost the number of students from the United States, providing a scholarship program which offers 100 scholarships worth NZ$1275 each for students coming from the university's partner institutions, travel discounts through US travel agency Student Universe and Air New Zealand and more short-term opportunities for international students.

Those opportunities include short courses run over the northern hemisphere summer break, research opportunities and internships.

More than 630 institutions, organisations and governments across the United States and the world have signed on to the US Generation Study Abroad movement, with Education New Zealand the first organisation outside of the United States to join.

Professor Stuart McCutcheon, University of Auckland vice chancellor, says innovation and creativity are vital to New Zealand's future.

“We encourage our students to learn from other cultures through the diversity of students on campus as well as by learning abroad during their degree,” McCutcheon says.

“This helps to develop their ability to see issues from different angles and work collaboratively across cultures.

“International understanding is important to our students' career development and will strengthen our country's ability to compete in the global marketplace of ideas.”

Brett Berquist, University of Auckland director international, says the university aims to increase the flow of students in both directions. "The United States is an important market for New Zealand, and its demands for shorter, highly experiential opportunities reflects what our own students are seeking,” Berquist says.

“In addition to top-rate teaching, today's students want hands-on, intensive experiences that make a difference outside the classroom.

“As we work toward our goal of 25percent participation in learning abroad for Auckland students, our focus on attracting more United States students will leverage our efforts to support our own students' work to incorporate overseas learning into their career development plans.