Taranaki construction students to benefit from WITT and Open Polytechnic collaboration

Posted on 3 March 2020

From next year Taranaki students who are interested in a construction career will be able to access a wider range of qualifications thanks to a collaboration agreement between the Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki (WITT) and the Open Polytechnic.|

From 2011 WITT will be offering a Diploma of Construction that will prepare graduates for a career in the construction and building industry.

Graduates of the WITT programme will be able to articulate into any of three construction related diplomas – the National Diploma in Construction Management, the National Diploma in Architectural Technology or the National Diploma in Quantity Surveying - offered by distance learning with the Open Polytechnic.

As part of the collaboration agreement students will receive course materials and tutor support from the Open Polytechnic, while still being able to access additional WITT tutorial support, library and computer access and classroom facilities.

The agreement is the latest in a round of partnerships WITT has formed with polytechnics and universities around New Zealand to ensure they are able to service the education needs of the Taranaki region in the best way possible.

“Partnerships with specialist educational providers are a critical component of WITT’s strategy to meet more of the wide and varied educational needs of Taranaki in Taranaki.” says WITT Chief Executive Richard Handley. “Innovative solutions like these give Taranaki greater choice and access to tertiary learning without the need for learners to leave the region.”

Open Polytechnic Chief Executive Dr Caroline Seelig says she is delighted that the two institutions have been able to collaborate for the benefit of local students, industry and business. 

“As a national provider of flexible distance learning the Open Polytechnic is a natural fit to partner with regional polytechnics who need access to a wider range of vocationally applicable courses and qualifications.”

“WITT construction students who decide to enrol with the Open Polytechnic will be able to choose full or part-time study, which means they can continue to work towards their qualification while also being able to seek work in their field of interest.”

Anyone interested in finding out more about the construction diploma offering will be able to talk to tutors at the upcoming Careers Expo being held in Taranaki at the end of August.