Otago Polytechnic
Encyclopedia
The Otago Polytechnic is a public New Zealand tertiary education institute, centred in Dunedin
with campuses throughout the region of Otago
including Cromwell
, Wanaka
and Queenstown
.
Otago Polytechic focuses on skills based, technical education and occupational training, offering a range of New Zealand accredited degrees, diplomas and certificates in many areas of interest.
, which was established in 1889 to provide evening classes for working people. In 1909 it expanded to offer day classes for secondary school pupils. In 1914 the name was changed to the King Edward Technical College
.
In 1921 the college took over the Dunedin School of Art, which had been established in 1870. The college expanded further by taking on the evening and day time education of apprentices, technicians and professionals. In 1966 the college was split into a secondary school (later re-named Logan Park High School
) and Otago Polytechnic, which opened on 1 February 1966.
Further information on the history of Otago Polytechnic is available in Ian Dougherty's books: "Bricklayers and Mortarboards: A History of New Zealand Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology" (Dunmore Press, Palmerston North, 1999) and "Continuing Education of Quality: A History of Otago Polytechnic and its Predecessors 1870-2006" (Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, 2006).
and Central Otago
in Cromwell
and Queenstown
. The Polytechnic also carries out distance-based learning in areas ranging from Veterinary Nursing to Midwifery
.
The Dunedin Campuses are sites on Forth Street and Anzac Avenue in Dunedin North
, and Cumberland Street in the central city.
The Forth Street campus buildings are situated within a reasonable walking distance from the University of Otago
campus and the still-in-development Forsyth Barr Stadium, close to the edge of Logan Park
. The campus includes the recently moved School of Hospitality Training Restaurant (TECHnique). The Schools of Architecture, Building and Engineering and Natural Resources are located on the old Rehabilitation League site on Anzac Avenue, and the prestigious School of Art is located on Riego Street. Plans have been developed to move the Schools located on Anzac Avenue onto land currently occupied by the old School of Art buildings on Albany Street http://www.odt.co.nz/on-campus/otaUo-polytechnic/92143/25m-redevelopment-over-12-years-otago-polytech. The Otago Polytechnic's main library is the Robertson Library on union Street, which it shares with the University of Otago College of Education.
In 2009, the Otago Polytechnic vacated buildings in Tennyson Street, close to Stuart Street
in the central city. These buildings had previously housed the School of Hospitality, Languages and Fashion, and are owned by the Ministry of Education. Plans for these buildings are yet to be determined.
The Department of Design's Fashion section is located within the old Big Fresh
supermarket building on the corner of Cumberland Street and St. Andrew Street in Central Dunedin. The School of Natural Resources also holds training activities on the city's Botanical Gardens. There are also three "Community Learning Centres" located across Dunedin - these being on George Street
, at Cargill's Corner in South Dunedin
, and in Mosgiel
. These sites deliver free or inexpensive computer training to the public, as well as holding short computing courses.
. These include internal services such a Childcare Centre, Student Learning Centre, Disabilities Services and Student IT Services. In conjunction with Otago University, Polytech students have access to Unipol Recreation Centre and the Robertson Library. Otago Polytechnic students and staff are also allegeable for the Otago City Council’s Scarfie Rideshare scheme.
on the corner of Molyneux Ave and Erris St. Programmes on offer include long and short courses in Cookery, Business, and Horticulture. Qualifications in Ski and Snowbord instruction and Avalanche Safety are delivered from Cardrona Alpine Resort and Mount Aspiring College. There are two "Community Learning Centres" which hold computing courses as well as being able to provide career guidance and study assistance for Otago Polytechnic students - these are on the Central Otago Campus and in Queenstown
. In 2009, the two Community Learning Centres in Wanaka and Alexandra were closed.
All students are members of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
, an independent organisation run by the students and offers support, social events and clubs, access to facilities and services, and the free student magazine, Gyro
http://www.gyro.org.nz.
and maintain a standard of safe work practices and environments, free from prejudice and harassment.
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
with campuses throughout the region of Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
including Cromwell
Cromwell, New Zealand
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.It is situated between State Highway 6 and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge...
, Wanaka
Wanaka
Wanaka is a town in the Otago region of the South Island of New Zealand. It is situated at the southern end of Lake Wanaka, adjacent to the outflow of the lake to the Clutha River. It is the gateway to Mount Aspiring National Park. Wanaka is primarily a resort town but has both summer and winter...
and Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
.
Otago Polytechic focuses on skills based, technical education and occupational training, offering a range of New Zealand accredited degrees, diplomas and certificates in many areas of interest.
History
Otago Polytechnic traces its ancestry back to the Dunedin Technical SchoolKing Edward Technical College
King Edward Technical College is the former name for a school and technical college in Dunedin, New Zealand, which was established as the Dunedin Technical School in 1889. It renamed itself the King Edward Technical College after King Edward VII, and new buildings on Stuart Street officially opened...
, which was established in 1889 to provide evening classes for working people. In 1909 it expanded to offer day classes for secondary school pupils. In 1914 the name was changed to the King Edward Technical College
King Edward Technical College
King Edward Technical College is the former name for a school and technical college in Dunedin, New Zealand, which was established as the Dunedin Technical School in 1889. It renamed itself the King Edward Technical College after King Edward VII, and new buildings on Stuart Street officially opened...
.
In 1921 the college took over the Dunedin School of Art, which had been established in 1870. The college expanded further by taking on the evening and day time education of apprentices, technicians and professionals. In 1966 the college was split into a secondary school (later re-named Logan Park High School
Logan Park High School
Logan Park High School is a high school in Dunedin, New Zealand. It was opened in 1975 on the site of a former rifle range in a small wooded valley adjacent to Logan Park, an area of land reclaimed from the former Lake Logan and now largely converted into a park and playing fields in Dunedin North...
) and Otago Polytechnic, which opened on 1 February 1966.
Further information on the history of Otago Polytechnic is available in Ian Dougherty's books: "Bricklayers and Mortarboards: A History of New Zealand Polytechnics and Institutes of Technology" (Dunmore Press, Palmerston North, 1999) and "Continuing Education of Quality: A History of Otago Polytechnic and its Predecessors 1870-2006" (Otago Polytechnic, Dunedin, 2006).
Locations
Otago Polytechnic is spread over a large geographical area with campuses in DunedinDunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
and Central Otago
Central Otago
Central Otago is the inland part of the New Zealand region of Otago in the South Island. The area commonly known as Central Otago includes both the Central Otago District and the Queenstown-Lakes District to the west....
in Cromwell
Cromwell, New Zealand
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.It is situated between State Highway 6 and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge...
and Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
. The Polytechnic also carries out distance-based learning in areas ranging from Veterinary Nursing to Midwifery
Midwifery
Midwifery is a health care profession in which providers offer care to childbearing women during pregnancy, labour and birth, and during the postpartum period. They also help care for the newborn and assist the mother with breastfeeding....
.
Dunedin Campuses
Dunedin North
Dunedin North, also known as North Dunedin, is a major inner suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin, located to the northeast of the city centre. It contains many of the city's major institutions, including the city's university, polytechnic, main hospital, and largest museum...
, and Cumberland Street in the central city.
The Forth Street campus buildings are situated within a reasonable walking distance from the University of Otago
University of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
campus and the still-in-development Forsyth Barr Stadium, close to the edge of Logan Park
Logan Park, Dunedin
Logan Park is a sporting venue in the city of Dunedin, New Zealand. It lies on land reclaimed from the former Lake Logan.- History :Lake Logan was reclaimed in the early 20th century...
. The campus includes the recently moved School of Hospitality Training Restaurant (TECHnique). The Schools of Architecture, Building and Engineering and Natural Resources are located on the old Rehabilitation League site on Anzac Avenue, and the prestigious School of Art is located on Riego Street. Plans have been developed to move the Schools located on Anzac Avenue onto land currently occupied by the old School of Art buildings on Albany Street http://www.odt.co.nz/on-campus/otaUo-polytechnic/92143/25m-redevelopment-over-12-years-otago-polytech. The Otago Polytechnic's main library is the Robertson Library on union Street, which it shares with the University of Otago College of Education.
In 2009, the Otago Polytechnic vacated buildings in Tennyson Street, close to Stuart Street
Stuart Street, Dunedin
Stuart Street is one of the main streets of Dunedin, New Zealand. As with many of Dunedin's streets, it is named after a main street in Edinburgh, Scotland....
in the central city. These buildings had previously housed the School of Hospitality, Languages and Fashion, and are owned by the Ministry of Education. Plans for these buildings are yet to be determined.
The Department of Design's Fashion section is located within the old Big Fresh
Big Fresh
Big Fresh was opened in 1988 with its first store in Mount Wellington Auckland. Big Fresh offered a wide range of fresh foods, discount groceries in large market-style store. The concept for Big Fresh was based on a Farmers Market with their focus being on their extensive range of fresh foods...
supermarket building on the corner of Cumberland Street and St. Andrew Street in Central Dunedin. The School of Natural Resources also holds training activities on the city's Botanical Gardens. There are also three "Community Learning Centres" located across Dunedin - these being on George Street
George Street, Dunedin
George Street is the main street of Dunedin, the second largest city in the South Island of New Zealand. It runs for two and a half kilometres north-northeast from The Octagon in the city centre to the foot of Pine Hill. It is straight and undulates gently as it skirts the edge of the hills to its...
, at Cargill's Corner in South Dunedin
South Dunedin
South Dunedin is a major inner city suburb of the New Zealand city of Dunedin. It is located, as its name suggests, to the south of the city centre, on part of a large plain known locally simply as "The Flat". The suburb is a mix of industrial, retail, and predominantly lower-quality residential...
, and in Mosgiel
Mosgiel
Mosgiel is an urban satellite of Dunedin in Otago, New Zealand, fifteen kilometres west of the city's centre. Since the re-organisation of New Zealand local government in 1989 it has been inside the Dunedin City Council area, but was physically separate from the contiguous suburbs until...
. These sites deliver free or inexpensive computer training to the public, as well as holding short computing courses.
Student Services
Otago Polytechnic offers student services both itself in conjunction with University of OtagoUniversity of Otago
The University of Otago in Dunedin is New Zealand's oldest university with over 22,000 students enrolled during 2010.The university has New Zealand's highest average research quality and in New Zealand is second only to the University of Auckland in the number of A rated academic researchers it...
. These include internal services such a Childcare Centre, Student Learning Centre, Disabilities Services and Student IT Services. In conjunction with Otago University, Polytech students have access to Unipol Recreation Centre and the Robertson Library. Otago Polytechnic students and staff are also allegeable for the Otago City Council’s Scarfie Rideshare scheme.
Central Otago Campuses
In Central Otago the main Otago Polytechnic campus is in CromwellCromwell, New Zealand
Cromwell is a town in Central Otago in the Otago region of New Zealand.It is situated between State Highway 6 and State Highway 8 leading to the Lindis Pass, 75 km northeast, and Alexandra, 33 km south. The road to Alexandra winds through the Cromwell Gorge...
on the corner of Molyneux Ave and Erris St. Programmes on offer include long and short courses in Cookery, Business, and Horticulture. Qualifications in Ski and Snowbord instruction and Avalanche Safety are delivered from Cardrona Alpine Resort and Mount Aspiring College. There are two "Community Learning Centres" which hold computing courses as well as being able to provide career guidance and study assistance for Otago Polytechnic students - these are on the Central Otago Campus and in Queenstown
Queenstown, New Zealand
Queenstown is a resort town in Otago in the south-west of New Zealand's South Island. It is built around an inlet called Queenstown Bay on Lake Wakatipu, a long thin Z-shaped lake formed by glacial processes, and has spectacular views of nearby mountains....
. In 2009, the two Community Learning Centres in Wanaka and Alexandra were closed.
Studying at Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic offers education and training to both New Zealand and international students. As of June 2011, Otago Polytechnic has 130 full time international students. http://www.otagopolytechnic.ac.nz/students/international-students.htmlAll students are members of the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association
Otago Polytechnic Students' Association is an independent organisation founded in the 1960s that all Otago Polytechnic students become members of when they enrol, it is the sole students' association at OP.OPSA's aims include:...
, an independent organisation run by the students and offers support, social events and clubs, access to facilities and services, and the free student magazine, Gyro
Gyro (magazine)
Gyro is the official magazine of its owners the Otago Polytechnic Students' Association at Otago Polytechnic in Otago, New Zealand. Gyro is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association , and was the first polytechnic publication to fully join.Gyro is printed monthly and covers news,...
http://www.gyro.org.nz.
Working at Otago Polytechnic
Otago Polytechnic aims to be one of the best employers in the education sector in New Zealand 2005 - 2007 Profile. All staff are required to undergo up to date training on New Zealand's Treaty of WaitangiTreaty of Waitangi
The Treaty of Waitangi is a treaty first signed on 6 February 1840 by representatives of the British Crown and various Māori chiefs from the North Island of New Zealand....
and maintain a standard of safe work practices and environments, free from prejudice and harassment.