Minister Appoints Places On Whitireia Council

Minister Appoints Places On Whitireia Council

Today Stephen Joyce, Minister of Tertiary Education, named the ministerial appointments to the Whitireia Council. Alongside four community appointments, this board will govern the polytechnic from 1 May 2010. This completes the requirements of the Education (Polytechnics) Amendment Act 2009, restructuring polytechnic governance across New Zealand.

“I welcome incoming Chair Roger Sowry and Dr Alan Barker (Deputy Chair) who, alongside myself, are ministerial appointments to the Councils of both Whitireia and Weltec,” says outgoing Chair Dennis Sharman. “Their experience in public sector strategy, financial management and evaluation will benefit the distinctive services polytechnics offer the region and will help Whitireia in particular to advance its expertise in culturally diverse learning and community-focused contribution to tertiary education.”

During April the outgoing Council will select remaining councillors who will complete the new board. Nominations for the Whitireia Council were sought from the community in March, in a public process.

The new Council will inherit the strong relationships Whitireia has with Ngati Toa Rangatira and Pacific communities.

“I commend the outgoing Council for achieving challenging goals,” says Sharman. “This Whitireia Council has overseen development of a complex tertiary provider that achieves a wide range of outcomes, from literacies in our communities to advanced industry-focussed qualifications. Whitireia was established in 1986 to serve our diverse communities and our outstanding student success rates demonstrate the Council’s commitment to this promise. Whitireia has benefitted from strong financial management and the new Council will find the polytechnic starts 2010 with a healthy surplus from 2009.”

Whitireia is a national leader in health degrees and postgraduate study, paramedic, communications, arts and international student qualifications and delivers industry-aligned qualifications in education, social work, trades, services, tourism, culinary, business, music, office management, information technology, Māori language, beauty, hairdressing, transport and aviation. In 2009 Whitireia had over 10,000 students at campuses in Porirua, Wellington, Kapiti and Auckland.

ENDS

© Scoop Media