Waikato University has become the third New Zealand university to join iTunes U, a dedicated area within the iTunes Store, offering free educational content including course lectures, language lessons, lab demonstrations, and campus tours, as downloads, in the same way individuals access music and movies.

Waikato University will have academic content, campus tours, student profiles, guest lectures and special lecture series – all available 24/7 to both domestic and international visitors to the site.

Professor Frank Scrimgeour, Dean of Waikato Management School and chair of the university's ITC Strategy and Policy Committee, says Waikato was keen to explore the latest technologies available to showcase material generated at the university to a global audience.

“As a progressive university, Waikato is keen to explore opportunities for international connectedness, and iTunes U is one channel with which we can share our academic excellence with an increasingly online audience.

The Waikato went live today, with more than 200 podcasts ready for download.