A "bold" move by a university to offer higher qualifications at a local tertiary institute has been well received by Rotorua educators.
The University of Canterbury's campus at Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology is looking to extend its range of Teacher Education courses to include postgraduate and masters papers in 2017.
Professor of Maori Research Dr Angus Macfarlane, along with Dr James Graham and Dr Richard Manning, recently presented the options to more than 40 teachers from Rotorua schools.
"There was a general feeling of optimism. This is about the academy going out to the regions and allowing teachers to upskill in a way that breeds innovation and creativity."
Professor Macfarlane said the qualifications would be taught face to face, not via correspondence like other programmes.