Tai Poutini Polytechnic recieves $3.9 million for change

 

Tai Poutini Polytechnic has started 2010 in positive heart with work commenced on three change projects funded through the TEC’s Supporting Change Fund. Confirmation of the $3.9 Million was received late in 2009.

The three projects will position Tai Poutini Polytechnic to ensure it is able to continue providing high quality education to the West Coast – and throughout New Zealand in its specialist provision areas. Each of the projects have a prime focus on West Coast provision and making sure that the Polytechnic is as efficient as possible to meet the challenges of the future.

· Project One – Portfolio Change – will enable TPP to review and redevelop the current programme portfolio by ‘right-sizing’ qualifications to ensure we continue to meet industry and student needs. There will be more shared courses that will improve staff to student ratios and that will allow better delivery.

· Project Two – Flexible Delivery – will enable the Polytechnic to fully connect all its campuses, and in particular the West Coast campuses at Hokitika, Westport and Reefton, through High Definition video conferencing. This will allow more courses to be delivered to the regions by the Polytechnic from the main campus in Greymouth as well as allowing students to access courses from other providers off-coast where it increases learning opportunities.

· Project Three – Institutional Development – provides the Polytechnic with funding to ensure that it has the right facilities and resources for the future. This project includes a review to ensure that the Polytechnic is the right size and shape, both in terms of people and positions as well as physical buildings, to meet our future needs. New building work is planned for 2010 to ensure that the other projects can be achieved over time.

Tai Poutini Polytechnic delivers high quality education. Our course completion rates have averaged over 85% for the past three years against a sector average of only 62%. Students are happy with the quality of education they receive, the qualifications they gain are relevant to, and widely accepted by, industry and the majority successfully find employment on graduation.

The Polytechnic no doubt has some challenges to face, indeed the whole tertiary sector does. But at the moment it is focused on the positive future we see for ourselves.