Picture For Education Within Counties Manukau

11 January 2007

New MIT Chief Executive Paints Big Picture For Education Within Counties Manukau Region

Manukau Institute of Technology’s new chief executive, Dr Peter Brothers, is fully committed towards ensuring that participation in tertiary education within the Counties Manukau region increases – across all communities.

Dr Brothers, who takes up his position as MIT’s new chief executive from Thursday, 01 March, says his appointment will provide him with the unique opportunity to not only serve the country’s fastest-growing city but New Zealand’s most diverse range of communities.

“The Counties Manukau region defines the great challenges and opportunities that face us on a national scale, and success here in achieving enhanced vocational education and opportunity will unlock major positives in the lives of the communities of Manukau,” says Dr Brothers.

“MIT’s objectives are to link students into meaningful careers and to provide openings to further education. This requires the institute to remain sensitive to the needs and aspirations of diverse groups of potential students of all ages. It is also imperative that MIT continues to foster strong links with business and industry, while providing programmes and courses that meet demand for skills and employment opportunities in the region.

Announcing the appointment, chair of MIT’s governing Council Mrs Margaret Cole says Dr Brothers was selected from a field of strong applicants following an extensive national and international recruitment campaign.

“This is a highly sought-after role in what is widely regarded as New Zealand’s leading institute of technology,” says Mrs Cole. “Peter brings to MIT an impressive record of academic achievement, valuable hands-on experience in business management, and a period of sustained leadership success as Dean of Engineering at the University of Auckland.”

Mrs Cole adds that Council welcomes Dr Brothers’ focus on targeting wider educational opportunities and achievement for Maori and Pasifika students.

“This focus is an important component of MIT’s ongoing development,” says Mrs Cole. “We also place considerable weight on Peter’s ability to forge strong, positive relationships with a wide range of outside stakeholders. In MIT’s case, these include community and cultural groups, the regional business community, central and local government, and collaborating educational entities.”

“Dr Brothers brings a strong combination of the vision, broad-based experience and social empathy that will enable MIT to realise its huge potential in New Zealand’s rapidly changing polytechnic sector,” she says. “Important to that transition has been the valuable custodial role played by Dr Peter Coolbear as acting chief executive over the last six months.”

Dr Brothers joins MIT after nine years of successful tenure as Dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Auckland. His earlier career included 20 years in the US, involving not only university research and teaching but also 10 years of senior management in industry. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from Colorado State University in addition to ME and BE degrees (Engineering Science) and a BSc (Mathematics and Physics) from the University of Auckland.

The appointment of chief executive follows the death in August 2006 of previous chief executive Dr Geoffrey Page.

ENDS

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