Open Polytechnic wins at Wellington Region Business Awards

Monday, 7 November 2016, 2:53 pm
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

Open Polytechnic

Media Release: Immediate

Date: 7 November 2016

Open Polytechnic wins at Wellington Region Business Awards

The Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s largest provider of flexible distance learning at tertiary level, won the Professional Services category at Friday night’s (4 November) Wellington Region Business Excellence Awards.

Organised by the Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce, the annual awards acknowledge organisations and individuals who make a significant contribution to business activity throughout the Hutt Valley and Wellington region. This year’s event saw more than 40 companies celebrated for their excellence.

From leadership, people management and development to customer relations and satisfaction, the organisation’s entry covered every aspect of business excellence, showcasing how Open Polytechnic has made a positive impact locally and nationally for the past 70 years.

It has been a big year for the Open Polytechnic. In addition to celebrating its seventieth anniversary, the organisation also launched its next generation online learning platform, iQualify.

Dedicated to continually motivating and engaging learners, iQualify was developed to allow students access to their courses from any device, whenever it is convenient for them.

Each year over 30,000 individual learners start their study journeys with the Open Polytechnic, working towards certificate, diploma and degree level qualifications.

From business and accounting to early childhood education, communication and social work the Open Polytechnic prides itself on being one of the largest educators of the current workforce, allowing students the flexibility to fit their study around their family and work commitments.

In addition to continually improving flexible learning delivery, this is also the second year running that Open Polytechnic has not increased tuition costs for fee- paying students.

Open Polytechnic Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Seelig, says the decision to not increase fees is part of Open Polytechnic’s commitment to reducing financial barriers for students to get the skills they need to progress in their jobs and careers.

"As New Zealand’s leading provider of flexible distance learning, our role is to widen access as much as possible for our mainly adult learner constituency that are balancing a wide variety of work and financial pressures as they seek to upskill themselves for today’s rapidly changing workplace. Holding our fees for the last two years is one way we are showing our commitment to our learners.” says Dr Seelig.

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