AARIA Contestable Funding Round 2025

The first stage of the 2025 Ako Aotearoa Research and Innovation Agenda (AARIA) Contestable Funding Round is now open.

Ako Aotearoa are seeking proposals that align with our AARIA Priorities (detailed below).

Value: $25,000 – $80,000 over the term of the contract
Duration: 5 months – 12 months
Total funding pool: $400,000

Key dates

The Contestable Funding Round opens on Tuesday 4 March 2025

The funding round will be divided into two stages:

Expression of Interest (EOI) Stage:

From Tuesday 4 March 2025, 1PM – Thursday 3 April 2025, 1PM

• Submit an overview of your proposal using our online form
• EOI submissions will be reviewed by the AARIA Team.
• Unless our team gets in touch and suggests differently, on or after Friday 4 April 2025, please visit this AARIA page to download the Full Proposal Form and the New Zealand Standard CV Template.

Full Proposal Stage:

From Friday 4 April 2025, 1PM – Friday 2 May 2025, 1PM

• Download the Full Proposal Form [coming soon]
• Download the New Zealand Standard CV Template [coming soon]
• Please ensure that your completed Proposal Form and New Zealand Standard CV Template are submitted by email to the AARIA Team at research@ako.ac.nz no later than Friday 2 May 2025, 1PM. Please note that we are unable to accept any late submissions.

Applicants will receive an email confirming receipt of their Full Proposal and CV(s). If you do not receive this email by the deadline, please contact Marvin Wu at marvin.wu@ako.ac.nz or call +64 9 213 6238 ext. 43238.

Submissions will then be evaluated by the selection panel.

AARIA Online Q&A Session | 18 March 2025

Ako Aotearoa Programme Manager, Research and Innovation – Dr Marvin Hao Wu, will host an online session for those interested in applying for the 2025 co-funding round.

The one-hour session will include an overview of the 2025 round from Dr Wu, followed by a Q&A where attendees can submit any questions they have around how to submit a quality proposal.

Register now 

Contact

If you are interested in either applying to the AARIA Contestable Funding Round 2025 or sharing this opportunity with your network of Tertiary Education Organisations, and have questions, please contact Dr Marvin Hao Wu (Programme Manager, Research and Innovation) and Dr Parisa Saadat (Research Programme Coordinator) at research@ako.ac.nz. We would be delighted to hear from you and assist with any queries you may have.

AARIA Priorities

We expect all applicants to align their research proposals with all of our four broader priorities, and at least with one of our targeted priorities, which are a key factor in our selection criteria. We encourage combining several targeted priorities into one research project.

Our Broader priorities are high-level funding priorities that bring together the strategic aims of Ako Aotearoa. Our Targeted priorities identify specific areas of research, learning, and teaching provision that we want to see growth or change in the year ahead.

Ako Aotearoa Broader Priorities

• Auaha (Innovation) | Driving system-level transformation in tertiary education with a learner-centred approach, addressing the evolving needs of ākonga and the broader education system. This includes the integration of technological developments (e.g., Artificial Intelligence), innovative and flexible programmes, and support for initiatives such as Te Pūkenga, the Reform of Vocational Education (RoVE), and work-based learning.
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi) | Honouring Te Tiriti o Waitangi through tertiary education, including Te Reo provision, Kaupapa Māori education, Mātauranga Māori provision.
• Ōritetanga (Equity) | Achieving system-wide equity for all ākonga, including Māori, Pacific, neurodiverse, disabled, youth, and learners from low-income backgrounds.
• Hua Akoranga (Learner Outcomes) | Education and training that delivers for all learners, including supporting work readiness of all learners, online and distance learning options meets the needs of all learners, providing learning opportunities for people who wish to change careers.

Ako Aotearoa Targeted Priorities

• Neurodiversity
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi (Treaty of Waitangi)
• Mātauranga Māori (Māori knowledge)
• Pacific Cultures
• Leadership of Teaching
• Artificial Intelligence
• Education Technology

Eligibility

Applications must:

1. Be made by an Aotearoa New Zealand-based tertiary education organisation (TEO)[1] or a New Zealand citizen / resident employed by an Aotearoa New Zealand-based TEO.
2. Be for research or related activities, the majority of which are to be undertaken in Aotearoa New Zealand.
3. Research and related activities are required to completely focus on Aotearoa New Zealand tertiary education. Proposals targeting on the compulsory sector (eg: secondary schools) are not eligible, even if the proposed research result can contribute to tertiary education.

[1] Definition: https://www.tec.govt.nz/teo/working-with-teos/about-teos/

AARIA Contestable Funding Aims

The 2025 request for proposals aims to catalyse systems-level change within the tertiary education sector, with the goal of advancing more equitable learner outcomes. We will invite proposals for innovative, ako-centred research projects that explore potential solutions and enhance support mechanisms for ākonga and kaiako, as well as teaching and learning strategies that contribute to the following objectives:

• Facilitate system-wide change across the tertiary education sector that enables a more responsive, flexible, and innovative system to meet the diverse needs of learners and communities. Proposals should contribute to transformational change that supports greater collaboration, adaptability, and alignment with the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) objectives, ensuring the system works for all New Zealanders.
• Ensure equitable outcomes for Māori, Pacific, neurodiverse, and disabled ākonga.
• Response to pressing global and local issues such as technological advances (eg: artificial intelligence); online learning; and the needs of learners from low socio-economic and low-income backgrounds.
• Improve systems and processes to support best practice tertiary education that focus on whole of organisational leadership and change to deliver the outcomes above, including organisational culture and design, the utilisation of data to support planning and action and review, and the connection between the organisation and its wider partners (such as iwi, industry and community).

Read the AARIA Workplan for further information, or check the AARIA Frequently asked questions (FAQ) page