Christchurch tertiary institutes reopening from next week

The University of Canterbury's Christchurch campus will progressively reopen from next Monday. Photo / Star Canterbury

Tertiary education institutes in Christchurch are set to start opening from next week, although in some cases from alternative sites.

Lincoln University, which sustained little significant damage in last month's devastating earthquake, will reopen to all students for semester one on Monday.

Student exchange programmes have been established between the University of Canterbury and five New Zealand universities, and around 300 students have applied for this option.

More than 160 first-year students from the university have started a first semester exchange at the University of Adelaide. The Christchurch campus will progressively reopen from next Monday.

Otago University, which has a large medical campus in Christchurch, will progressively reopen from Monday - largely from alternative sites.

Christchurch Polytech Institute of Technology, which has its main campus within the cordoned off area, will also begin to restart courses next week. The Sullivan Avenue Campus will from Monday start trade programmes as well as International English and Te Puna Wanaka.

Minister for Tertiary Education Steven Joyce says students should keep an eye on their institute's website to ensure they are aware of what is happening and what it means for them.

There are 122 registered Private Training Establishments in Christchurch. Forty nine of them have reopened to date.

Mr Joyce says many PTEs are still unable to operate from their buildings or do not have a detailed understanding of their students' plans.

"That's why we're now asking those students, along with Christchurch-based trainees from industry training organisations, to contact their providers to confirm that they are safe and to get the most up to date information about when, where and how studies will get back to business as usual."

- NZ Herald staff