“Whitireia In Kapiti” Action Plan Gets Go Ahead

“Whitireia In Kapiti” Action Plan Gets Go Ahead from Whitireia Council
 

Whitireia plans to improve tertiary education for the Kapiti region. Goals include a better fit with the demographic makeup of the Kapiti District, stronger alignment with industry and business development and consolidation of Whitireia as the preferred tertiary education provider in the Kapiti District.

The new approach is to provide services through more convenient locations and methods for students. “More complex lives require residents to balance work and learning. We want to cater for different needs throughout the district, including part time hours, flexible options,  and new course locations from Paekakariki to Te Horo including online” says Chief Executive Don Campbell.

New subject areas identified include: food production and processing, cookery and cuisine, specialist agriculture and horticulture, and food science, technology and research. Tourism destination development and transport, storage and logistics are also in the regional plan. Whitireia aims through partnerships to support advanced skills and knowledge needs in these areas, to support the district’s economic growth in the medium to long term.

Whitireia in Kapiti will include full-time courses, there will be evening and weekend classes, with part-time, short and block courses delivered from a hub or from specialist facilities early in the morning, during the evening and weekends. Blended or flexible learning options will be offered to suit partner organisations and students.

The Plan requires re-organisation of Whitireia bricks and mortar. The Kapiti Coast Strategy Research Report for Whitireia established that demand cannot be met through the current Lindale Campus, that the one point of access does not meet tertiary education needs. Whitireia Council voted to reinvest to meet provision needs, making clear the decision was to cease supporting a specific campus, but not to reduce activity in Kapiti. 

The Kapiti Action Plan is due to start from February 2010 with the intention of completing development of the infrastructure by December 2011 and rollout of targeted programmes by 2012.

“Whitireia in Kapiti” will be a stronger, more robust service by Whitireia. The polytechnic will enhance what it offers in Kapiti, offering more ways to access tertiary learning and developing subjects and courses to improve the advanced skills and knowledge, identified as key areas by stakeholders and regional planners.

ENDS/

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