"We are pleased to see the bold steps the minister has made on a number of fronts since taking on the portfolio.
"We hosted the minister on campus a couple of weeks ago which provided an opportunity to discuss EIT's educational activity across our region and the growing challenges in maintaining such strong provision."
Collins said there was positive engagement at the meeting, which was initiated by Napier MP Stuart Nash in support of EIT's concerns about the review of careers, the training education system and institutes of technology and polytechnics.
"We wanted the minister to have the chance to see what a strong and successful institution looks like, which is what EIT is known for. When you are the minister, much of your time can be soaked up by institutions that are in trouble, so this was a great opportunity for him to see one of New Zealand's top-performing institutions in action."
Collins said they were able to show the minister and his team the diversity of EIT by walking them through the science laboratory in the School of Viticulture and Wine Science and workshops in the School of Trades and Technology.
"Our programmes span from level 2 through to master degrees and post-graduate qualifications and we cover a wide geographical spread in delivering to Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti communities."
Collins said EIT remained in a strong financial position, but nearly a decade of almost no inflation adjustment on institutional funding by the previous Government had significantly undermined their stance.
"While we don't know yet how much the funding increase will mean for EIT, it will ease what has been an ongoing financial burden. It frees us up, as a high-performing polytechnic, to focus more fully on what we do best, which is meeting regional tertiary educational needs."