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Grants

Whakatere | Navigation Grants for 2027

Following the success of the 35th AAEE Conference in Ōtautahi | Christchurch and with the financial support from the New Zealand Council of Engineering Deans, the Whakatere | Navigation Grants have been established to support engineering education research in Aotearoa | New Zealand and the Pacific. Backed by AAEE and Engineering New Zealand, these grants are aimed at fostering collaborative research with significant impact on engineering education. The grants support teams, led by a Principal Investigator at an Engineering New Zealand Accredited Institution in New Zealand or the Pacific, with the aim to:

  1. identify engineering educational issues and to facilitate an evidence-based approach to address these issues
  2. raise the profile of engineering education research
  3. show leadership in promoting and enhancing engineering education research
  4. establish and build on national and international partnerships in engineering education research
  5. foster national collaboration and collegial networking for sharing research, innovation and good practice in engineering education
  6. contribute to the growing community of engineering education researchers in higher education

The total funding pool for all projects commencing in 2027 is NZD$25,000 ex. GST. One or two projects will be funded. The scheme is designed for early to mid-career academics, though senior researchers may participate in mentoring or advisory roles. Applications must include institutional support and a clear plan for impact and dissemination.

Applications close: Friday, 30 October 2026, 5 pm AEST.

 For full details, including eligibility, selection criteria, and application instructions are available from Whakatere Navigation Grants for 2027.

2026 AAEE Engineering Education Grants

The 2026 AAEE Engineering Education Grants are open for application! Three grants of up to $10,000 each are available for projects that address the outcomes of the ACED Engineering Futures 2035.

The grants support teams in building their skills and capacity in engineering education scholarship and/or research in higher education (or equivalent), encouraging excellence in scholarly practice with a particular focus on developing emerging scholars in the field. Funded projects will:

The grants encourage excellence in engineering education scholarship and/or research in higher education (or equivalent), recognising demonstrable capability and prioritising the development of emerging scholars. Funded projects will:

  1. Identify engineering education issues across the higher education system and facilitate approaches to address them.
  2. Devise and undertake a programme of activities that will have positive impact on engineering students, staff, and/or institutions.
  3. Raise the profile of engineering education in higher education and the prestige associated with scholarly excellence and/or research.
  4. Show leadership in promoting and enhancing engineering education and exploring new possibilities.
  5. Establish and build on national and international partnerships in engineering education in higher education or equivalent.
  6. Foster national collaboration and collegial networking for sharing research, innovation, and good practice in engineering education.
  7. Contribute to the growing community of engineering education scholars in higher education or equivalent.

Who should apply?

Applications are welcomed from early and mid-career academics engaged in scholarly practice and/or engineering education research at Australian Academic Levels A–C, or NZ Academic Level Associate Lecturer, Lecturer, Senior Lecturer, or polytechnics equivalent. Applicants must be AAEE members employed by an eligible higher education institution in Australia, New Zealand, or Oceania (PNG/South Pacific). A PhD is not required, though demonstrable capacity or experience in engineering education research and/or scholarly work will strengthen an application.

Senior and established researchers, including previous grant recipients and AAEE Award winners, are encouraged to participate in a mentoring or advisory capacity, supporting emerging scholars who are leading the work.

Applications close: Monday, 7 September 2026.

Further information about eligibility, selection criteria, and the application process is available from 2026 AAEE-Engineering-Education-Grants_final. Please use the Application Form Template available here: AAEE_Full_Application_Form. The assessment crtieria is also available here: 2025 AAEE Grant Evaluation Template rev 4.8.2025

The Final Reporting Template is available here: AAEE Engineering Education Grant Reporting Template