Open Polytechnic of New Zealand

The Open Polytechic of New Zealand (OPNZ - but you will sometimes still see TOPNZ) is a specialist institution of distance learning based near Wellington, New Zealand, in the area of Lower Hutt, with Learning Centres in Auckland and Christchurch.

It has just over 34,000 students, equating to around 7,000 equivalent full time students. There are rather more women than men students (57:43), and around 13% of students declare themselves to be of Maori ethnicity.

There are three Schools:

• School of Business
• School of Information and Social Sciences
• School of Workplace Learning and Development

There are 180 full-time academic staff and over 300 Adjunct Faculty (mostly off-campus) with relevant expertise.

The Open Polytechic of New Zealand web site is at http://openpolytechnic.ac.nz

OPNZ is a member of AAOU.

More details

Strategy

(sourced from http://www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/aboutus/strategyandpolicy)

The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand has carefully analysed the proposed Tertiary Reforms as defined in the New Zealand Cabinet papers released in July 2006, and our proposed strategic direction is designed to align with these reforms.

We propose that The Open Polytechnic forms a significant component of the network of provision by providing education through a variety of delivery modes to learners across the country, in conjunction with regional providers. Some of this learning will be by fully distance delivery (eLearning, paper-based, eSupported) and some through a blended delivery mode whereby regional providers support the distance education materials from The Open Polytechnic through face-to-face workshops, seminars and tutorials. This will be particularly relevant where the programme of study requires learners to undertake practical work in laboratories or workshops. The regional provider would provide this programme component.

The proposed direction would capitalise on The Open Polytechnic’s specialist capability and national role to enhance the Network of Provision and deliver value for the nation.

OPNZ repository

(sourced from http://repository.openpolytechnic.ac.nz/)

OPNZ Repository is The Open Polytechnica of New Zealand's institutional digital repository for publications, research, and teaching materials. Deposited material covers a very wide range of subjects and disciplines. The repository holds the full text of many peer-reviewed published articles and conference papers, as well as book chapters, theses and other forms of written research from OPNZ academic staff and postgraduate students. It contains working and discussion papers, technical reports and some preprints. Research datasets, sound and image collections, multimedia, software and other forms of research data are also held. Learning objects and other course-related materials are welcome.

OPNZ Repository provides free, searchable access to openly available OPNZ research, publications and teaching materials and manages their long-term archiving. OPNZ staff and students must log in to deposit materials.

OPNZ Repository runs on Fez software. Fez is part of a wider project entitled eScholarshipUQ, which is the local testbed for the Australian Partnership for Sustainable Repositories. The aim of this DEST-funded project is to make all of UQ's openly available research visible, accessible and usable over the long term. The project also aims to make UQ's research accessible through a global network of interlinked services such as OAIster ands ARROW. See the Fez Wiki for more information. Check publishers' copyright policies at SHERPA.

Other aspects

OPNZ is a partner in the Commonwealth Computer Navigator's Certificate.

PONZ signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Open University in 1999.

Reports

(Add any links to reports here.)

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> New Zealand
> Programmes