Open Polytechnic students celebrate graduation in Wellington

Wednesday, 11 May 2016, 10:47 am
Press Release: Open Polytechnic

11 May, 2016

Open Polytechnic students celebrate graduation in Wellington

Open Polytechnic, New Zealand’s leading provider of online and distance education, held the second of their 2016 national graduation ceremonies yesterday (10 May) in Wellington at the Michael Fowler Centre.

The ceremony allowed students to don their cap and gowns to celebrate their achievements among their families, whanau, friends, peers and Open Polytechnic staff.

The Hon. Louise Upston, Associate Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment was the guest speaker at the ceremony.

Students graduated with diplomas and degrees from a broad range of qualifications including business, accounting, early childhood education, information and library studies, environment, social sciences, humanities, communication, human resources, psychology, applied mental health, quantity surveying, mechanical engineering and civil engineering.

This year alone, around 807 students gained their diplomas and degrees nationwide from the Open Polytechnic, balancing their mainly part-time studies around work, family and other commitments.

This year also marks a special year for the Open Polytechnic as the distance learning provider celebrates its 70th anniversary. Established in 1946, Open Polytechnic began life helping returning servicemen and women gain the skills they needed to reintegrate in to the workforce.

“We are incredibly proud of what Open Polytechnic has been able to achieve in these last 70 years and, as we move into our next phase as New Zealand’s specialist provider of digital learning, we aim to provide increased opportunities for adult learners to gain the vocational qualifications they need to help them navigate New Zealand’s changing workforce needs,“ said Open Polytechnic Chief Executive Dr. Caroline Seelig.

This celebration was one of three ceremonies that Open Polytechnic holds across the country each year, with the first held on 4 May at Christchurch’s Air Force Museum of New Zealand and the next being held on 19 May at Auckland’s Sir Woolf Fisher Arena.

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