Matapihi ki te Ao doors open for more PTE students

Doors open at Matapihi ki te Ao for more PTE students

Around 200 students from private tertiary education providers have been welcomed to the Matapihi ki te Ao campus in the latest phase of the Wanganui region’s ground-breaking collaborative education venture.

They were welcomed at a powhiri this morning (Monday), attended by Whanganui UCOL staff and students, with Whanganui iwi representative John Maihi as speaker. The students, from education providers Tupoho Whanau Trust, Wai Ora Christian Community Trust, Trade and Commerce and Land Based Training, are the latest to benefit from the project, which is hosted by Whanganui UCOL.

Last year an initial 200 PTE students gained access to the range of facilities on campus, in the first phase of the One Stop Shop initiative .It is part of the Whanganui Tertiary Education Collaborate Venture which sees Whanganui UCOL working in partnership with private providers and education-related agencies in the region. Pilot providers Bedford Ave Developments, YMCA Wanganui and Training for You continue to benefit from use of campus equipment and facilities.

It is the first such collaboration in New Zealand, and was funded by the Tertiary Education Commission in the expectation that it will lead to similar ventures in other regions, to help make regional tertiary education more accessible and sustainable.

“We call this part of the collaboration ‘One Stop Shop’ because it’s all about giving tertiary students in the region access to the UCOL Learning Commons and associated services,” says Project Manager Tim Snape.” Basically it means they can access the campus and use UCOL facilities as well as the agencies such as, Career Services, StudyLink and Work and Income New Zealand, based all in one place.”

The One Stop Shop also provides anyone interested in studying in Wanganui a unique on-site portal to access information on around 130 available courses as well as links to providers, external agencies, ITO websites and information on pathways through courses and careers.

Tim says last year’s pilot which included 200 PTE students, was very successful. “Provider students and staff felt comfortable on campus and made good use of the facilities, especially the Library.”

ENDS

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