The Southern District Health Board approved a new memorandum of understanding with the University of Otago on Thursday.
The memorandum has been drafted to standardise the agreements between the Southern, Canterbury and Capital and Coast boards, which all have links to Otago University medical schools.
The memorandum seeks to encourage close working relationships to enhance business, educational, and social results.
Improving interaction between health and education sectors helped both institutions' endeavours.
The memorandum acknowledged the benefits of sharing facilities, personnel, students, and access to patients.
"The university personnel and students contribute to the clinical services provided by the DHB, and to the research and training activities of the DHB."
The memorandum's key objectives are to encourage best clinical practice, excellence in teaching, delivery of quality health services, improvements in health service delivery, research excellence, good learning environments, continuing education of health professionals, recruitment of high-quality teaching and research personnel and continued co-operation.
