Victoria Early Career Academic Programme (VECAP)
The Victoria Early Career Academic Programme offers professional and career development to early career academics on permanent contracts.
VECAP 2025
Applications for the 2025 VECAP intake (the Victoria Early Career Academic Programme) closed on 3 December 2024. VECAP is a professional and career development programme open to early career academics on permanent contracts in the first five years or so of their academic careers.
The 2025 programme runs from 27 January until June. It begins with an offsite retreat from 27–29 January and monthly meetings thereafter. There is no cost to schools or applicants.
For early career academics
The Victoria Early Career Academic Programme (VECAP) is open to early career academics on permanent contracts at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. It is designed to provide support and professional development for academics within the first five years of their career.
The programme provides opportunities for independent and collaborative learning about all aspects of the academic role, including teaching, research, leadership, service, and engagement. The programme encourages individual reflective practice with a community of supportive peers and mentors.
VECAP is designed for early career academics to develop and enhance the following areas of their academic lives:
- confidence in research and publishing
- confidence in teaching
- confidence in developing scholarly networks, relationships and connections
- opportunities for service, engagement and leadership
- time-management skills and work-life balance
- workplace satisfaction.
What the programme involves
Participants in the programme will be expected to commit to the following activities:
- a two-day, two-night expenses paid off-site retreat
- participation in monthly group meetings that will include seminars and workshops
- monthly peer mentoring
- completion of two questionnaires: one at the beginning and one at the end of the programme.
How to apply
Applications for the 2026 VECAP programme will be advertised and announced here in late 2025.
After online application, the applicant's head of school or director is immediately contacted to provide a statement of support. Participants selected for the programme will be notified of their acceptance in December 2025.
Contact
Email CAD-contact@vuw.ac.nz with any questions.