The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand
Encyclopedia
The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand or Open Polytechnic (Māori
: Kuratini Tuwhera) is a Government-owned tertiary education
institution operating as the specialist national provider of open and distance learning (ODL).
The Polytechnic began life as the Technical Correspondence School in 1946, providing resettlement training for returned servicemen and women following World War II. In 1963 it became the Technical Correspondence Institute offering mainly theory training in trades subjects.
The institution underwent a major transformation in 1990 when it was renamed The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, going on to become a multi-faceted provider of ODL courses and services.
Located in Lower Hutt
near New Zealand’s capital city Wellington
, The Open Polytechnic now provides tertiary education at a national level for 30,000 students each year. Programmes have a strong vocational emphasis and staircase from certificate to diploma, degree and graduate diploma level.
Study is based on learning resources custom-designed for the distance learner, with freephone and email access to lecturer, library and other support services.
Along with supporting individual learners, the Polytechnic works with Industry Training Organisations, schools, other education institutions, and a range of public and private sector clients.
In 2004 The Open Polytechnic received the Commonwealth of Learning
’s Award for Institutional Excellence in Distance Education.
Maori language
Māori or te reo Māori , commonly te reo , is the language of the indigenous population of New Zealand, the Māori. It has the status of an official language in New Zealand...
: Kuratini Tuwhera) is a Government-owned tertiary education
Tertiary education
Tertiary education, also referred to as third stage, third level, and post-secondary education, is the educational level following the completion of a school providing a secondary education, such as a high school, secondary school, university-preparatory school...
institution operating as the specialist national provider of open and distance learning (ODL).
The Polytechnic began life as the Technical Correspondence School in 1946, providing resettlement training for returned servicemen and women following World War II. In 1963 it became the Technical Correspondence Institute offering mainly theory training in trades subjects.
The institution underwent a major transformation in 1990 when it was renamed The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, going on to become a multi-faceted provider of ODL courses and services.
Located in Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt
Lower Hutt is a city in the Wellington region of New Zealand. Its council has adopted the name Hutt City Council, but neither the New Zealand Geographic Board nor the Local Government Act recognise the name Hutt City. This alternative name can lead to confusion, as there are two cities in the...
near New Zealand’s capital city Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, The Open Polytechnic now provides tertiary education at a national level for 30,000 students each year. Programmes have a strong vocational emphasis and staircase from certificate to diploma, degree and graduate diploma level.
Study is based on learning resources custom-designed for the distance learner, with freephone and email access to lecturer, library and other support services.
Along with supporting individual learners, the Polytechnic works with Industry Training Organisations, schools, other education institutions, and a range of public and private sector clients.
In 2004 The Open Polytechnic received the Commonwealth of Learning
Commonwealth of Learning
The Commonwealth of Learning is an intergovernmental organization of the Commonwealth of Nations headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada...
’s Award for Institutional Excellence in Distance Education.
External links
- Open Polytechnic Official website
- Commonwealth of Learning: Learning for Development