Open Polytechnic to become part of Te Pūkenga

Posted on 31 August 2022

Open Polytechnic will become part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, on 1 November, 2022.

“The decision to move on 1 November enables us to complete the transition process well before our very busy end of year processes and activities and the Christmas and New Year holiday period,” says Open Polytechnic Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Seelig.

“There is no change to the day-to-day teaching and learning activities of kaimahi (staff) and ākonga (learners). All relationships with kaiako (tutors), and the services ākonga receive will continue. We remain committed to providing ākonga with an exceptional learning experience.

“Our relationships with employers, industry, and communities, are an integral part of delivering vocational education that meets the needs of our distance learning ākonga throughout Aotearoa New Zealand, and we value the work we do together to support ākonga. These relationships, and the mahi we achieve together, will continue. Supporting successful outcomes for ākonga remains our priority. That won’t change.

“We look forward to formally acknowledging our transition from Open Polytechnic with our mana whenua partners,” says Dr Seelig.

Te Pūkenga brings together the existing Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs) and Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) into one organisation, and, over time, will develop the capability to provide online, work-based and campus-based learning as a unified system. We believe this will enable us to provide a comprehensive network of studying opportunities for our ākonga, as well as increase collaboration opportunities between our programmes.