Open Polytechnic named a finalist in public sector awards

Tuesday, 21 June 2011, 11:24 am
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

The Open Polytechnic
Media Release: Immediate
Date: 21 June 2011

Innovative distance learning delivery sees Open Polytechnic named a finalist in public sector awards

The Open Polytechnic, the nation’s specialist provider of distance learning, is a finalist in New Zealand’s premier public sector awards being held in Wellington this week (22 June).

Sponsored by Gen-i, the IPANZ Public Sector Excellence Awards recognise the best initiatives and projects from across New Zealand’s public sector.

The Open Polytechnic’s nomination in the awards comes as a result of its rapid response to the up-skilling needs of the financial services sector.

The Open Polytechnic developed a suite of innovative and interactive distance learning materials for the National Certificate in Financial Services (Financial Advice) in a short-time frame to help advisors meet tight professional registration time-frames introduced under the Financial Services Act.

Using the economies of scale of distance learning, the Open Polytechnic was able to offer the courses without Government funding last year to stay within its enrolment cap. As a result it enrolled around 2,000 individual financial advisors in 8,100 course enrolments in 2010.

Open Polytechnic Chief Executive Dr Caroline Seelig says the Open Polytechnic’s distance learning services provide a range of solutions for industries and employers who need access to flexible up-skilling options to suit their workforce.

“We have been developing learning solutions to suit New Zealand’s workforce for 65 years. We are proud of the suite of online learning materials and resources we developed to suit the financial services sector, and that we were able to deliver them rapidly and in the most cost-effective way for the sector and the Government.”

The Open Polytechnic was able to offer extra value to corporate clients by customising learning materials to suit their internal training regimes. “It’s an example of how we are aiming to work with organisations in more customised ways”, says Dr Seelig.

Enrolling around 29,000 learners nation-wide each year, the Open Polytechnic provides access to vocationally applicable courses and qualifications to mainly adult learners who are upskilling for a current or future job, and need access to flexible learning in their own time and place.

The winners of the 2011 IPANZ Gen-i Public Sector Excellence Awards will be announced on 22 June.

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