MEDIA RELEASE
June 11 2009
Wintec Wins Three Categories In Tertiary Awards
ITP New Zealand, the national association for institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs), held its annual
education awards last night, to recognise excellence in the sector.
Wintec (Waikato Institute of Technology) won three of the six categories :
· Innovative Support Services - SODA Inc., our creative industries business incubator in partnership with the
Hamilton City Council
· Relevant Learning – our stakeholder engagement strategy; specifically our employer partnership groups (EPGs)
· Global Role – our internationalisation strategy; in particular the partnerships we’ve developed in China and
the work of our Beijing Office and International Centre.
The awards recognised Wintec’s active leadership role in helping to strengthen the local community and to contribute to
the economic growth and social development of the city, its international initiatives and its commitment to industry
and community engagement.
In the Innovative support services category Wintec was recognised for its collaboration with Hamilton city Council in
the establishment of SODA Inc., the country’s only business incubator for the creative industries. This is a unique
and successful collaboration between Wintec and Hamilton City Council and Wintec aimed at developing Hamilton as
vibrant creative city by expanding the creative industries sector.
In the Relevant Learning Category Wintec was recognised for its significant industry engagement which has become a
highly visible focus of its activities. Following a review of the role and effectiveness of its industry advisory
committees, the institute moved to a new employer partnership model to improve the relevance of its teaching to
industry.
The institute’s global role was also acknowledged. Wintec's partnership strategy with tertiary institutions in China
has been extremely successful, enabling Wintec to maintain or grow its international student numbers against the sector
trend. It is based on the model of an office in Beijing to provide local contact and expertise, and “pathway” study in
which students study in their own institution in China and then complete their qualification with Wintec in Hamilton.
ENDS