Staff + Student LoginSteady growth for Waikato University in BOP
11 May 2011
BOP Partnership: Waikato University's Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford (right) with guests at the University's stakeholder breakfast in Tauranga.
The University of Waikato’s presence in the Bay of Plenty is growing steadily every year, with 2011 student numbers attending the Tauranga campus already 15% up on last year.
Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford told attendees at a stakeholders’ breakfast on May 10 that the University has had its best ever financial result – a surplus of $9.4 million – and is committed to developing within the BOP region.
Professor Crawford highlighted the University’s unique partnership with the Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, and Whakatane-based Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi which became part of the partnership last year.
“In this partnership we have three autonomous, independent organisations working together to provide pathways for students and we are working with the community to identify your educational needs,” he said.
He said the partnership has delivered a high quality, co-operative tertiary education system for people of the region, which builds on the distinctive teaching and research strengths of each institution. Tertiary education and research is also matched to the region’s needs, he said.
Future developments of the partnership include creating a unique university campus experience in the Bay, developing linkages with other countries to promote international excellence which will benefit the region, and creating research opportunities with other sectors, such as horticulture.
Around 80 people attended the breakfast including Mayors Stuart Crosby and Ross Paterson, business and community leaders and school principals. They were joined by senior members of the University.
Professor Crawford also said by late March the University had 8215 Ministry-funded (ie domestic) Equivalent Full Time Students, up 2.5% on the same time last year.
All universities must work to a maximum of 103% of their Ministry-funded EFTS target and Waikato University finished 2010 on 102% of its target. The university is sitting on about 94% of its target for 2011 and continues to manage enrolments carefully, Professor Crawford said.
