Wintec Annual Report 2009

HIGHLIGHTS
WORKING WITH OTHER
EDUCATION PROVIDERS
STREAMLINING THE
TERTIARY SECTOR
In June, New Zealand’s six largest
metropolitan-based institutes of technology/
polytechnics formed the Metros Group.
While the Metros Group members continue
to collaborate with the other 14 institutes
throughout the country, the move has
enabled us to be more effective by focusing
on the similar nature, challenges and interests
of larger, city-based institutions. One of the
fi rst tangible outcomes of the move is the
fi rst national degree offered by the Metros
Group members, the Bachelor of Engineering
Technology, on offer in 2010. The group is
also working on an initiative to rationalise
the number of qualifi cations to reduce
costs and ensure consistency for students
and employers.
UNIVERSITY PARTNERSHIP KEEPS
DOORS OPEN FOR STUDENTS
After years of working together, Wintec and
the University of Waikato formalised their
intentions to work collaboratively for the
benefi t of the Waikato region. Initially, the
two organisations are focusing on delivery
and research in the areas of land-based
industries and health.
As part of this agreement, towards the end
of 2009 we arranged to take on the majority
of their Certifi cate of University Preparation
(Level 3) delivery from 2010. This full-time,
one-semester formal qualifi cation is aimed
at students who narrowly miss gaining
University Entrance through NCEA, with more
than 40% of its participants Māori or Pasifi ka.
SECTOR-WIDE COLLABORATION
CONTINUES
Our ongoing relationship with Western
Institute of Technology (WITT) in New
Plymouth has seen us take on the delivery
of their online National Diploma in Journalism
this year; this is the only online journalism
diploma offered in New Zealand.
We have also agreed to enable them to
deliver a number of our IT qualifi cations (all
below degree level), which will staircase into
our Bachelor of Information Technology.
We have been given approval by ITP Quality
to deliver years one and two (in addition to
our current approval to deliver year three)
of the Bachelor of Applied Social Science
(Social Work) at both WITT and Tairawhiti
Polytechnic in Gisborne in 2010.
Bay of Plenty Polytechnic (BOPP) has been
licensed to use our proprietary student survey
software programme and both BOPP and
Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua will be using
our online research repository in future.
We hosted a successful ITO expo at the
Gallagher Hub during September with 23
ITO participants, with over 150 visitors and
groups attending the event. It was targeted
at the SME sector, providing information
on training and development solutions
focused on staff productivity and increasing
transferable skills.
Wintec Annual Report 2009 _ 27