New Zealand universities explore FISU Healthy Campus Programme

Representatives from five New Zealand universities came together in Auckland to participate in a FISU Healthy Campus workshop, facilitated by FISU Executive Committee Member Martin Doulton.

Attendees from Auckland University of Technology, the University of Auckland, Lincoln University, University of Waikato, and Victoria University of Wellington, as well as University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand (UTSNZ) convened ahead of the ANZSSA Conference (Australian and New Zealand Student Services Association Conference), an international forum for advancing best practice in student experience, well-being, and success.

Strong alignment in terms of direction and values

As FISU’s recognised member organisation in New Zealand, UTSNZ plays a key role in ensuring that all New Zealand universities have the opportunity to engage with the Healthy Campus framework. UTSNZ Executive Director Sarah Anderson said the programme strongly aligns with the sector’s direction and values:

“While UTSNZ’s focus is primarily on the Physical Activity and Sport criteria, there is considerable overlap across many of the Healthy Campus domains – all of which contribute to our shared goal of healthier campuses and better experiences for students. Having a framework that encourages collaboration between different university departments – sport, health, sustainability, and student services, ensures we are all working towards a unified goal. That’s a powerful foundation for change.”

For New Zealand universities, the Healthy Campus model offers a multidisciplinary and globally connected approach to well-being, one that supports institutional strategies around student success, sustainability, and community engagement.

With the ANZSSA Conference providing an immediate opportunity to continue discussions on well-being, the workshop marked an exciting step toward national collaboration on healthier, more active campus communities, and potentially, the start of New Zealand’s formal participation in the global FISU Healthy Campus network, which already includes more than 200 universities worldwide.