Open Polytechnic wins technology and innovation award

Posted on 18 March 2020

Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s leading provider of online and distance learning, has scooped the Technology and Innovation award at the 2018 Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards.

The awards, organised by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, seek to showcase the diverse, progressive and vibrant business community in the Wellington region.

Supporting 30,000 learners nationwide, Open Polytechnic is a leader in the field of online and distance education both nationally and internationally. 

The Open Polytechnic’s entry into the Technology and Innovation section of the awards focused on the highlights of the organisation’s achievements over the last few years.

These included the in-house development of iQualify, a next generation online learning platform which is being used by the tertiary education provider with its own learners, and for education and continuing professional development training by other tertiary education providers, government and commercial partners.

Other highlights included the work the organisation is undertaking to transform itself in an increasingly technology driven world, and its focus on creating the most advanced student-focused open and flexible distance learning experience possible for its learners.

In her acceptance speech for the award, Open Polytechnic Chief Executive Dr Caroline Seelig noted the exceptional dedication shown by the organisation’s staff to ensure Open Polytechnic remained at the top of its field.

“This award is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff who created iQualify, design our learning materials, and teach and support our learners.  My thanks to our staff, they are brilliant at what they do, and achieving this award is a fantastic acknowledgement of that.”