Open Polytechnic of NZ hosts Indian Delegates

The Open Polytechnic

Media Release: Immediate

Date: 11 July 2013

Open Polytechnic of New Zealand hosts Indian Delegates from one of the world’s largest education organisations

Leading distance education provider, the Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, is this week hosting delegates from India’s National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS), the largest open schooling system in the world.

NIOS’s Dr Krupankar  Wasnik , Director, Vocational Education and Dr ( Ms) Mamta Srivastava, Deputy Director, Vocational Education are visiting the Open Polytechnic’s campus in Lower Hutt for four days.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the two organisations in 2011 under which the Open Polytechnic is working with NIOS as it takes up an expanding role in vocational schooling within the Government of India’s wide-ranging national skills strategy.

The Open Polytechnic has also provided two scholarships for NIOS staff to study its Certificate in Designing and Facilitating E-Learning.

During the visit the two organisations are planning the next phase of collaboration including online course development, a ‘train-the-the-trainers’ programme and taking forward a recognition of prior learning framework developed with Open Polytechnic support last year.

NIOS delegates will also gain an understanding of New Zealand’s vocational training landscape.

NIOS’s Dr Wasnik says the relationship between the two organisations is founded on genuine friendship and cooperation. “We place the highest value on the Open Polytechnic’s support and there is a very strong base as we work together to extend vocational education in India.”

The Open Polytechnic’s Executive Director responsible for international affairs, Doug Standring, said the two organisations shared the same tradition and philosophy as open learning organisations. “We share the same mission of making education and skills accessible for all and that is the guiding principle for our work together.”

Chief Executive, Dr Caroline Seelig, said the Open Polytechnic is delighted to work with NIOS in building international partnerships and business opportunities. “We are developing a number of exciting initiatives for providing vocational education and training at scale.”

ENDS

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