Education & Training

Hangaia te ā mua

Create the future

Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland’s Faculty of Arts and Education is ranked as one of the top in the world. It’s helping set the national agenda in educational research areas including Māori and Pacific education, educational leadership, curriculum innovation and student wellbeing.

Research centres include the Marie Clay Research Centre, which innovates in early literacy, Te Pūtahi Whakatairanga Hapori Ako Angitu, the Woolf Fisher Research Centre, which researches educational success for diverse communities within New Zealand, and the Research Unit in Pacific and International Education.

Education & Training Contacts

John Eyles

Strategic Growth Manager - Education Innovation

More about John

John joined UniServices in 2024. His focus is leading growth opportunities in education and learning.

Pedro van der Ent

Director, Business Development - Pacific

More about Pedro

Pedro van der Ent leads Pacific strategic engagement and partnership development for UniServices, connecting the University’s research capability with the priorities of Pacific governments, regional organisations, and international funders to develop impactful programmes across the region.

He works closely with Pacific Island governments, CROP agencies, and development partners including ADB, the World Bank, MFAT, DFAT, SPC, and SPREP on initiatives spanning climate resilience, infrastructure, environmental governance, health, education, and economic development.

With more than two decades of senior leadership experience across the public, private, and research sectors, Pedro specialises in building trusted partnerships and mobilising collaborative programmes across the Pacific and Asia-Pacific. Of Pacific heritage, he is committed to advancing Pacific-led solutions that translate research into practical outcomes for communities.

Simon Crook

Partnerships & Innovation Manager - Business Innovation

More about Simon

Simon is a UniServices Partnership and Innovation Manager focused on enabling applied research in the areas of Infrastructure and Logistics. His background is in business engagement, communications, and media analysis. By translating academic research into tangible solutions for industry and government partners,
Simon ensures that the hard mahi undertaken by research professionals at Waipapa Taumata Rau reaches the people and problems where it can have the greatest positive impact. Contact Simon about unlocking research opportunities in the areas of Infrastructure, Business Logistics, and/or Geoeconomics.