Outreach events

Find out about student experience days, teacher days, and other outreach events hosted by the Faculty.

Teacher’s Days

November 2026

To celebrate and foster the community of subject teachers in Aotearoa New Zealand, and to share our learning and teaching experiences.

University-wide events

Other events

We run a wide range of events, ranging from focused school visits to public talks and conversations.

Teacher days

We invite secondary school teachers to our annual series of Teacher Days. Each day focuses on a specific discipline, offering tailored experiences designed to support and inspire classroom teaching.

Teacher Days include:

  • interactive workshops or labs—featuring hands-on activities and resources aligned with each subject area
  • panel discussions—exploring strategies to promote STEM and social science engagement among students
  • networking opportunities—to connect with fellow educators, share ideas, and build lasting professional relationships.

These days give you the chance to connect with your peers, explore innovative teaching approaches, and gain fresh ideas to bring back to your classroom.

These typically occur in November, so stay tuned for date confirmations. We will be running the following Teacher’s Days:

AI professional development for high school teachers

When:  TBC

Hosted by:  Te Kura Mātai Pūkaha, Pūrorohiko—School of Engineering and Computer Science

Biology teacher’s day

When:  26 November 2026, 8.30 am–5 pm

Hosted by:  Te Kura Mātauranga Koiora—School of Biological Sciences.

General Information:

  • Hands-on Biology lab
  • Biology Educators of Aotearoa New Zealand (BEANZ) workshop
  • Science in Society workshop

Biology Teacher’s Day is a professional development opportunity to enhance your lab skills and science communication. In the BEANZ workshop you will receive practical, ready-to-use teaching resources to enhance your classroom delivery. You will spend the day networking with other educators, sharing learning and teaching experiences and gain fresh ideas to bring back to your classroom.

Watch this space and the BEANZ newsletter for more details once they are confirmed.

Contact:  diane.ormsby@vuw.ac.nz

Chemistry teacher’s day

When:  November (TBC)

Hosted by:  Te Wānanga Matū—School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

Contact:  alex.hamilton@vuw.ac.nz

Geography and earth sciences

When:  November (TBC)

Hosted by:  Te Kura Tātai Aro Whenua—School of Geography, Environment and Earth Sciences

Mathematics teacher’s day

When:  November (TBC)

Hosted by:  Te Kura Mātai Tatauranga—School of Mathematics and Statistics

Physics teacher’s day

When:  November (TBC)

Hosted by:  Te Wānanga Matū—School of Chemical and Physical Sciences

Contact:  alex.hamilton@vuw.ac.nz

Open day

21 August 2026

Open Day is our biggest outreach and engagement event for the year. It's an opportunity for secondary school students, their teachers, and whānau to visit all 3 campuses and explore all we have to offer. This vibrant and interactive event showcases the subjects, support services, faculties, and accommodation options that make up the Wellington study experience in the world’s coolest little capital.

You’ll find us at STEM Town on the ground floor of the Cotton Building.

Year 10 and 11 STEM day

21 and 22 October 2026

Are your students trying to figure out if they should study science? Bring them along to the Year 10 and 11 STEM Day on Wednesday 21 October or Thursday 22 October 2026 for a full day of interactive activities in subjects, including:

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Engineering
  • Earth Sciences
  • Geography
  • Mathematics
  • Physics
  • Psychology
  • Science Communication

Your students will get a taster of three different interactive subjects* throughout the day and experience life as a student at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Lunch and a dessert of liquid nitrogen ice cream will be provided.

Enrolments open the last week of May.

*Note: Due to high demand, the activities will be randomly assigned to your students. However, we will aim to keep school groups together as much as possible.

Other events

Café Scientifique (dates and topics TBC)

Café Scientifique is a place where, for the price of a cup of coffee or a glass of wine, anyone can come to explore the latest ideas in science and technology in a relaxed, friendly environment. The evening consists of a short talk, followed by a question-and-answer session.

Marine Lab Open Day (7 March) (as part of Sea-week)

Your local coastal ecology lab will be open to the public on 7 March. Bring your friends and family for a fun-filled day of interactive displays, VR, a sausage sizzle, and more.

NZIC Chemistry Quiz (17 June, 6 am–9 am)

Get your quizzers ready for the High School Chemistry Quiz!  We will have spot prizes for the best team name, team outfit, and whatever else chemistry-related we can think of. Snacks and pizza will be provided to keep those brains sharp.

Where: The Hub, Victoria University of Wellington

Sign-up link:  NZIC Secondary School Chemistry Quiz Night – Fill out form

Contact:  j.robin.fulton@vuw.ac.nz

NZIC Titration Competition (17 June, 2 pm-5 pm)

Partake in our NZIC Scholarship Titration competition.

Sign-up link:  NZIC (Wellington Branch) Titration Competition Registration 2025 – Fill out form

Contact:  joanne.harvey@vuw.ac.nz

School visits

We offer a range of opportunities for high-school teachers and students to engage with us. Activities include Experience days, Teacher days, and casual visits.

Fill in a form with your details, so we can set up a visit—either at your school or on the University campus.

Click the box below to access the form.