Manukau Institute Highbrook plans on track

Friday, 24 August 2007

Manukau Institute of Technology’s Highbrook plans on track

Business and industry demand lead to opening of top-notch education and training facility

Manukau Institute of Technology will move into its new training centre at Highbrook Business Park on 03 September, fulfilling its commitment to being the sole provider of education and training at the facility for the greater Auckland region.

“MIT has enjoyed a long-term relationship with the developers of Highbrook Business Park and in 2005 Macquarie Goodman signed an agreement for MIT to be the sole provider of education and training at Highbrook,” says MIT executive director External Relations and Student Affairs, Dr Stuart Middleton.

“This is a significant achievement for the institute and we believe it will have extremely positive results. The decision to open a facility at Highbrook indicates that MIT is in step with the region’s dynamic plans for further economic growth, as education, business and industry seek to create an empowered, smarter and more productive workforce.

“By being positioned within the hub of leading New Zealand companies in the country’s fastest growing city, MIT will be able to offer courses and programmes that are relevant to what business and individuals in the area are demanding for today’s market as we seek to carve out the face of tomorrow’s workforce.

“The companies setting up at Highbrook reflect where the country’s businesses are headed with regard to growth and development, and we will be looking at them to drive innovation across the greater Auckland region.”

To ensure that MIT clearly taps into what the market wants, the centre’s educational and training offerings have been tailored to fit with results of a survey that sought to establish what businesses and industry feel is necessary to operate successfully.

“Our enquiries have indicated strong support for: short courses (non-assessed); computer and information technology training; and first line management, supervisory or team leader training,” says Dr Middleton. “Other areas that show demand include small business development training, business administration training, business communications, and sales and service.”

Dr Middleton adds that the Highbrook facility aligns with key elements of MIT’s strategic plan on both a regional and national level. “MIT is committed to being alongside the business and industrial communities of Manukau as they work to build a strong foundation for the future of the region and of the nation.”

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Background Information

Features of the Highbrook Business Park

• 153 hectares of greenfields land located to the west of the East Tamaki industrial area
• A link to the southern motorway was opened in April 2007
• A “Link” bus service connecting Botany, Highbrook, and the Manukau City Centre is proposed
• 40,000 vehicles will travel through the area each day
• Macquarie Goodman Properties (soon to be known as Goodman Properties) will be the owner, developer, and manager of Highbrook which is zoned Business 5, special purpose
• The design is based on a “business town” concept which follows a worldwide move to decentralise, provide a better class working environment, and maximise efficiency by drawing all operations on to one site
• Highbrook is designed to create a seamless blend of a business district, with 40 hectares of parkland and a hub of recreation and retail into one development
• It is intended that the Highbrook square will become a daytime and evening hub
• It will include office space, a dental and medical centre, an international hotel, cafes and bars

MIT Centre for Business Development (CBD)

• The CBD will be offering the following:
o Business short courses
o Computer training
o Management training
o Customise training
o Assessment of prior learning

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