The polytechnic received the highest rating possible from the NZQA, as part of an external evaluation review after an education audit by independent examiners in August.
In its report released this month, the NZQA gave Otago polytechnic its top rating of "highly confident" for the categories of "educational performance" and "self-assessment capability".
NZQA inspectors carried out their review of the polytechnic during a five-day audit in August, during the middle of a major snowstorm which hit Dunedin and closed down the tertiary institution for a day.
The report describes the polytechnic as a consistent high performer in education, awarding "excellent" ratings for most of the review's key evaluation categories, particularly those with a strong focus on achievement and a clear strategy for educational excellence.
However, evaluations for the effectiveness of teaching at the polytechnic drop a level, being rated as "good", as do some of the performance ratings for a small group of some of the reviewed course programmes.
A "commitment" to experiential learning programmes was highlighted by NZQA reviewers as worthy of recognition, given the real-world education students gained through work placements and on-campus activities.
"Self-assessment processes are clearly well embedded in the culture of the organisation and are reviewed annually ...
[Otago] Polytechnic's governance and management team places a very strong emphasis on the value of students being work-ready," the report states.
Commercial ventures based at the polytechnic campus, such as a car and mechanics' garage, studios, restaurant, cafe, and veterinary clinic, were all noted as enterprises promoting "work-ready" values, the report said.
Otago Polytechnic chief executive Phil Ker said he was delighted with the review.
"It is a clear vote of high confidence which validates our academic and strategic directions as we head into 2012.
"It is pleasing that the report acknowledges our commitment to providing high quality, hands-on education which enables our students to leave us well prepared and ready for the workplace."
The highest possible rankings from the NZQA meant the polytechnic's students and staff would end the year on a "high note", Mr Ker said.
The NZQA external evaluation review provides a public statement about the educational performance and self-assessment capabilities of tertiary education organisations, and is part of an accountability process required by the Government.
The report highlighted some of the more impressive statistics for the polytechnic, including a 78% course completion rate in 2010 - fifth overall in the country - and a 96% satisfaction rating from students about the services provided by the institute.
The NZQA auditors reviewed degree, diploma and national certificate programmes, carried out interviews with executive managers of the institute and considered findings from several polytechnic student surveys.
Findings of an Otago Polytechnic's "Graduate Destination Report" were also noted in the NZQA evaluation. About 87% of those surveyed in 2010 felt their Otago Polytechnic programme represented a good investment of time and money, while 91% would recommend their course programme to others.
About 87.3% of respondents gained employment after completing their studies at the polytechnic.
Otago Polytechnic
• 78% course completion rate, up from 74% the year before and 2% higher than the polytechnic sector median.
• 56% of programmes showed an increase in qualification completion rates between 2009 and 2010.
• 40% of students are enrolled in degree-level study.
• 96% of students who participated in the polytechnic's annual programme survey said they were satisfied with the services provided by the institute.
