Waikato Institute Of  Technology

Wintec's Vision

Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) will provide innovative and high quality vocationally-oriented education and training. The aim is to meet the needs of business and industry and provide graduates who are work-ready and employable.

Wintec will have particular strength and reputation in the following applied teaching areas: 
Trades, science and technology - Wintec has traditional and nationally-recognised strengths in the trades, science, engineering, information technology and technical areas and provides a wide range of qualifications through to graduate level. Wintec's trade training facility is one of the largest in the country and, in several cases, Wintec is a prime provider of this training nationally. The programmes have close links to industry and are increasingly being sought by international students as well.

Health, education and human services - Wintec is nationally recognised at certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate levels in nursing, midwifery and other health services as well as counselling, social work, mental health support, applied social science, education and Mäori, including parallel pathways for Mäori in many qualifications. 
Sport and exercise science - Wintec has a recognised national presence, partly because of its foundation member status of the NZ Academy of Sport and is known for its postgraduate programmes. The emphasis of the Sport and Exercise Science programmes is on elite sports education and research.

Creative industries - Wintec has nationally recognised undergraduate and post-graduate programmes with specialisations in visual arts, communication and commercial music. The post-graduate area is enhanced by the recent launch of the Master of Arts in Media Arts which in turn built on the Bachelor of Media Arts (Hons) programme. It also has a strong research capability strongly supported by the Creative Industries Research Centre.

Business and management - Wintec's certificate to degree level programmes are well-recognised nationally and have strong relationships with the local business community. Of particular importance is the synergistic relationship that the business and management programmes have with most other major programmes within the organisation.

Within this mix of programmes, Wintec will be seen as a very strong regional provider and be nationally recognised in several areas. The extent of the "Wintec region" will vary depending on the relative strength and uniqueness of the particular programme in the national mix of qualifications and service delivery. For example, the Plumbing, Gasfitting and Drainlaying Industry Training Organisation has provided contracts for Wintec to deliver most of the North Island-based training in their subject areas. Apart from recognising Wintec's expertise, this also acknowledges the very large setup costs for any other provider to enter what is a relatively small market.

Flexible learning is seen as an important way of offering potential students programmes in a variety of ways that best meet their needs. This will be a major point of difference for Wintec compared to other Institutes of Technology/Polytechnics (ITPs). This is also seen to meet the Tertiary Education Strategy (TES) and Statement of Tertiary Education Priorities (STEP) requirements for greater access to learning. Flexible learning is defined as offering education and training in a manner that best meets the needs of students, whether this be in the standard face to face classes, after-hours (evenings and weekend) classes, block courses or blended learning through a variable mixture of face to face and distance delivery strategies such as paper-based, video and e-learning technologies.

Wintec will continue to develop strong collaborative links with specialist distance delivery, e-learning providers for the delivery of an increasing range of quality, assessed courses and programmes. Where appropriate, these courses and programmes will be delivered in partnership with other organisations to ensure consistently high standards of national delivery and quality assurance. ITPs will be preferred partners in this. Wintec will also continue to develop its own on-line programmes, using Moodle* as the delivery platform.

* Moodle has been chosen as an open-source option that meets the needs of on-line delivery without the massive annual costs of such proprietary software as WebCT or Blackboard. Other ITPs and some universities are also moving to Moodle as a delivery platform

Wintec's relationships with business and industry will continue to develop into an even stronger, close mutual involvement so that qualifications are closely aligned to industry needs.

Degree-level programmes will be maintained at approximately 30% of total Equivalent Full-time Students (EFTS). Current Bachelor degree programmes exist in areas of particular strength ie business, information technology, media arts, nursing, sport and exercise science and applied social sciences. A small number of postgraduate programmes are offered in media arts, nursing and in sport and exercise science. These programmes will be offered in the areas where there is evidence of business and industry need and the skill mix within Wintec and the Faculties is capable of supporting academic programmes and research at this level. Wintec provides clear pathways from certificates and diplomas into the degree and postgraduate level programmes.

Students will choose Wintec because of its excellent programmes, its delivery is student-centred and its modern campus provides excellent learning facilities. The student-friendly environment will provide a supportive learning experience with strong pastoral care, modern technology and with close links to business and industry in the academic design of qualifications and the related teaching experiences. Students will be aware of the ability of staff to provide an excellent education in all areas and in research that is closely related to the expertise required by students and industry. Classroom and extra-curricula activities will enable students from a wide range of countries to share their cultural and life experiences with students from New Zealand. Wintec will provide services that support student learning within an environment that recognises cultural diversity and aspirations. Wintec will recognise the different styles of learning that such diversity brings.

Wintec's central Hamilton campus will be enhanced to make it more accessible to the community and better fit the teaching requirements of a 21st Century teaching and research institution.

Wintec recognises tangata whenua as having a special significance in the organisation's activities. The historical significance of the main Hamilton site, especially to Tainui, will be considered in determining the organisation's future interactions with Mäori. Situated near the centre of Hamilton city, Wintec will become a powerhouse for the conjunction of iwi, industry, business and schools.

Wintec will contribute to regional economic development by nurturing and expanding existing relationships with business, industry, community and public organisations. Such relationships will provide Wintec with the ability to develop innovative approaches to learning in response to new trends in industry and business.

Wintec recognises that it must meet the fast changing requirements of today's and tomorrow's workers. The organisation seeks to make its courses and programmes accessible to all people regardless of their personal, geographical, economic or social circumstances. Future training will require that technology and other skills be provided to a broadening base of learners of all ages so they may meet the workforce requirements of the 21st century. Some specialist education options will be available through the satellite campuses that are already in existence and through the use of the mobile classroom. These will continue to provide alternative access options for students in areas at a distance from Hamilton.

Strong educational leadership and management and excellent governance will ensure that Wintec retains its positive financial position to ensure its long-term viability.

Wintec's Values

Wintec values, as stated below, provide a framework within which it will operate.

Responsive 

Wintec is committed to understanding and meeting the needs of communities that it provides education and career development to through the commitment to:

• Regional (Waikato) and national needs
• Tertiary Education Priorities
• Stewardship and governance for efficient utilisation of the resources
• Responding to the needs of the students
• Continuous development of relationships with industry and external stakeholders
• Meeting the needs and aspirations of Maori and Pasifika peoples

Achievement oriented 

Wintec is orientated towards quality as a realistic and achievable challenge for its organisational development. Emphasis is placed on a culture of self-reliance that builds pride and self esteem through the pursuit of excellence amongst the staff and students. Wintec will actively seek to incorporate the views of industry specialists into its activities. Wintec is innovative in its approach to research and in the development of activities that benefit the community.

Collaborative

Wintec works with others, sharing expertise and ideas, creating flexibility and a cooperative nature towards the needs of the community through the working partnership with schools, industries, businesses, other educational providers, iwi and community and government agencies.

Respect for people

Wintec is an organisation that celebrates the values of others and provides an environment where others feel they belong through the development of the organisation with: 

• Cultural diversity
• Partnerships with Maori
• Customer focus

Take Responsibility

Wintec takes ownership, makes decisions, is accountable, reliable and seeks to empower others. This creates focus for Wintec to work towards organisational goals.

Accessible

Wintec is approachable and recognises the needs of the students and external stakeholders. It provides strong support services, to support the customers. Wintec is accessible with centralised enrolment processes and the development of flexible learning opportunities.

Integrity

Wintec is an organisation that operates in an ethical and credible manner. Wintec behaves with integrity and professionalism in all aspects of operation.

Wintec's Goals

The following are Wintec's goals for the period 2006-2008 inclusive. There is no implied priority in the order of these goals.

• Provide excellence in student centred teaching and learning, and in research.
• Provide increased relevance in meeting regional and national vocational skills and education needs.
• Provide access to quality learning pathways for students, culminating in employment or further study. 
• Strengthen internal capabilities & external relationships to achieve increased quality and relevance in teaching and research and effective and sustainable systems.