Manukau's new uni lists its first-year courses

Manukau City's first university campus has announced the programmes it will have on offer when it opens its doors for the first time in March next year.

Up to 400 pupils will be accepted into the programmes, which will include first year undergraduate courses in business, sport and recreation, midwifery and health science.

A three-year course for the bachelor of Pasifika early childhood teacher education programme will be available.

The courses announced officially yesterday are based on information gathered earlier in the year, when schools, university staff and community groups throughout the Manukau City region were consulted to find out what the public wanted to be offered at its local university.

AUT vice-chancellor Derek McCormack said the thorough consultation was important so that the new campus was giving local people what they wanted.

"[It] made it clear to us that a university campus is very welcome and provided strong direction in terms of the type of programmes that would best serve Manukau."

Developments on the campus - on the former Carter Holt Harvey site in Great South Rd - have been going on since the Labour Government announced last year that it was putting $25 million towards an Auckland University of Technology campus site in Manukau City, South Auckland.

Mr McCormack said that the new university would be an important contribution to the people of Manukau City and would also benefit the wider Auckland community.

AUT plans to expand the new campus so that up to 1000 students will be able to attend.

Enrolments for next semester - to start on March 1 - are now open.

Programmes on offer

* Business.

* Health science.

* Midwifery.

* Sport and recreation.

* Pasifika early childhood teacher education.