CEO writes to reassure students on merger plan

Waiariki Institute of Technology chief executive officer Professor Margaret Noble Photo/File

Waiariki Institute of Technology's chief executive has penned an open letter reassuring students a proposed merger with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic will not affect their 2016 courses.

The letter from Professor Margaret Noble was posted on the institute's Facebook page.

Some students completing qualifications through Waiariki have expressed concerns they will no longer be able to study at the Rotorua campus if the controversial merger goes ahead.

"Questions have been raised by students about the potential impact of a merger with Bay of Plenty Polytechnic and Waiariki on our courses and qualifications. I would like to reassure all students that all programmes of study that you are now enrolled on, or may be considering for 2016, are completely safe," Professor Noble wrote.

"There are a lot of exciting developments planned for 2016 and beyond, including new programmes of study and new buildings. Merger or no merger, Waiariki's campuses are not going anywhere."

Professor Noble told the Rotorua Daily Post yesterday the letter had nothing to do with the institute's enrolments for next year which were "in line with what we would expect at this time of year".

"All of our programmes being offered in 2016 across Waiariki's delivery locations are open for enrolment. We have had strong levels of inquiries and enrolments for 2016 programmes.

"We are aware there has been some misinformation regarding the impact of the potential merger on Waiariki programmes and delivery locations and we are here to say categorically that, merger or no merger, we will be offering all of our current programmes of study and at the current delivery sites where these programmes are offered."

Waiariki currently has campuses in Rotorua, Taupo, Tokoroa and Whakatane. Professor Noble said she wanted to reassure anyone considering enrolling that it was "business as usual" at Waiariki for 2016.

"The only changes are the addition of some exciting new programmes of study, including a Bachelor of Creative Technologies, and postgraduate programmes such as the Master of Applied Professional Studies."

Waiariki student Mericia Waqanimaravu helped organise a public protest about the merger last month and said the letter was "too little too late".

"Our aim was never to discourage people from enrolling at Waiariki. Our concerns were about the process around the merger and this letter has come after the fact.

"What I don't understand is why Margaret is putting this letter out now, after the public consultation has closed. If students are still expressing concerns about the merger, the student consultation obviously wasn't effective."

Ms Waqanimaravu said the letter did not address her concerns about losing Waiariki's identity. "It's great she's reiterated students will still be able to study in Rotorua but we're more concerned about no longer being able to study at Waiariki as an institute."

Open letter details

- All students will be able to complete their chosen programme of study at the location selected - guaranteed.

- No programme offering will change in 2016.

- Some new local qualifications will expand the existing range available for 2016 study.

- If a merger is approved, qualifications awarded previously by Waiariki and in future by the new institution will carry the same assurance of quality and recognition by employers.