Open Polytechnic At The Forefront Of Flexible Learning

Tuesday, 27 August 2024, 12:33 pm
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

Open Polytechnic, a business division of Te Pūkenga, and New Zealand’s leading tertiary online learning institution, is proud to sponsor and be involved in this year’s Flexible Learning Association of New Zealand (FLANZ) conference, which started on Monday at the University of Auckland.

The FLANZ 2024 conference theme is the Evolving Practice in Flexible Learning, with Open Polytechnic contributing 13 kaimahi (staff) presenting papers at the three-day conference, while also being represented on the Executive Committee, which organises the biennial event.

“Since Open Polytechnic is at the forefront of online, flexible learning in New Zealand Aotearoa, it is great for us to be heavily involved in this event, which brings together the flexible learning industry leaders in one place to look at the latest research and trends,” says Alan Cadwallader Open Polytechnic Executive Director.

This year’s conference has different flexible learning topics including evolutionary practice, flexible methods and pathways; technologies and models; professional development and training; sustainable practices and diversity, equity and inclusion.

It features two keynote speakers, Associate Professor Rhys Jones (University of Auckland) speaking on "Radical flexibility: Centring relationality and justice in pursuit of emancipatory education”, along with Associate Professor Michael Cowling from CQ (Central Queensland) University Australia on "Technology enhanced learning and scholarly practice".

“FLANZ and the FLANZ conference are for anyone involved in open, flexible and distance learning,” says Ralph Springett, Manager, Assessment Centre at Open Polytechnic and FLANZ Secretary.

“It provides an opportunity to connect with and learn from others particularly across Aotearoa New Zealand and our local Pacific region.”

Open Polytechnic is a main sponsor of the conference which runs until Wednesday, along with University of Auckland, Anthology, Ako Aotearoa and Ocean Browser.

For further details on the conference, go to the FLANZ Conference website.

About Open Polytechnic

Open Polytechnic is a business division of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology, together with all other polytechnics in New Zealand. As New Zealand’s specialist provider of open and distance learning, Open Polytechnic enrols over 35,000 mainly part-time learners per year. The majority of learners are adult learners, combining work and study.

Website: www.openpolytechnic.ac.nz

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