Tertiary partnership sees Bay education go from strength to strength

Ongoing collaboration between the Bay of Plenty tertiary partnership and local business and industry continues to seek relevant study programmes for Bay students and strengthen tertiary education in the region.

BOP Partnership

The tertiary partnership is made up of University of Waikato, Bay of Plenty Polytechnic, and Te Whare Wānanga o Awanuiārangi, which joined the partnership last year.

University Vice-Chancellor Professor Roy Crawford and Bay of Plenty Polytechnic CEO Dr Alan Hampton spoke at the Chamber of Commerce networking event, Business After 5, which both institutions hosted last night at the Bongard Centre in Tauranga.

Professor Crawford said the partnership was working closely with the Bay’s business, industrial and primary production sectors, to look for new study pathways that will continue to contribute to the economic and social well being of the region.

Regional Development

“We are working together to determine what is best for the region, and what programmes are needed to drive the economy,” he said.

The partnership now offers nine degrees in Tauranga so that students have the opportunity to study at diploma level right through to degree and post-graduate level.

Next year, the partnership will offer a new Bachelor of Science degree with a major in Biological Sciences. Students will begin a two year Diploma in Marine Science through Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and go on to complete the third year of the degree through the University of Waikato. Students will be able to complete the full degree in Tauranga.

Another pathway under development is the Bachelor of Engineering, which would offer Bay of Polytechnic Diploma in Engineering students an opportunity to complete a degree through the University of Waikato.

Academic Research

Dr Hampton said Tauranga was attracting considerable research and development opportunities. He referred in particular to the high value titanium metallurgy products being developed by the Titanium Industry Research Association (TiDA), now located on the Windermere campus.

“The partnership is working with TiDA and other industry partners to develop pathways for students to develop their skills in these areas,” he said.

Windermere’s on-campus marine and aquaculture research facility and the new skills brought to the partnership through new Chair in Coastal Science, Professor Chris Battershill, would also be important to building new programmes in the science and technology field, he said.

Professor Crawford said the partnership was currently seeking community support via TECT and Bay of Plenty Regional Council funding to assist with the development of a new partnership campus in Tauranga city.

Business After 5 is a Tauranga Chamber of Commerce networking event where, every month, different member organisations take turns to host the evening at their own premises.