UNITEC and Waitakere City sign up to joint future

7 October 2002

UNITEC and Waitakere City sign up to joint future

A Memorandum of Understanding between UNITEC and the Waitakere City Council will be signed at the institute's Waitakere campus in Henderson on Friday.

The memorandum formalises the current working relationship between the two organisations, which began with the opening of UNITEC Waitakere in 2001.

UNITEC Waitakere Campus Principal Dr Andrew Codling said the memorandum acknowledged that the two organisations would be working together for the benefit of the people of the region. "With our Mt Albert campus being the closest tertiary institute to Waitakere City, UNITEC has long been the tertiary provider of choice for West Aucklanders. This document strengthens our commitment to the area."

Dr Codling said UNITEC Waitakere's first year of operation in Henderson had been a success. "Participation rates among Waitakere people in tertiary education have historically been quite low and the introductory programmes offered here over the past year have been the first step for a lot of the students.

"As we expand our operations in Waitakere they will have the opportunity to staircase into diploma and degree programmes in an institution in their own region, rather than having to commute to our Mt Albert campus or more distant institutions."

Areas of common interest relating to Henderson Town Centre were identified during talks between the two organisations, Dr Codling said. There was the potential for a number of joint projects, including a library, further building space for learning, and a conference venue.

He also felt UNITEC's strong interest in sustainability fitted well with Waitakere's Eco City direction. "We are currently working on an institute-wide environmental policy to make all of our practices sustainable and eco-friendly. This will be easier to implement at UNITEC Waitakere because we have started this campus from scratch."

The Speaker of the House, Jonathon Hunt, several local MPs, the Mayor of Waitakere City, Bob Harvey, and key representatives from the Waitakere community will join senior staff and council members from UNITEC at the memorandum signing.

What: Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Waitakere City Council and UNITEC. Where: UNITEC Waitakere, Ratanui Street, Henderson. When: 5pm, Friday, 11 October. --

ENDS

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