Efforts by Queenstown's fledgling tertiary institutions to
attract students are paying off,as Joe Dodgshunreports in the
second and final part of our series on Wakatipu
education.
Queenstown's tertiary sector has boomed in the past three
years, with the rapid growth of the Queenstown Resort College
(QRC), plus the establishment of Southern Institute of
Technology (SIT) campus in Remarkables Park.
For the QRC, the period until now had been about building
momentum and promoting Queenstown as a viable tertiary study
destination since its launch in March 2006.
"It's all about keeping the faith," chief executive Charlie
Phillips said.
"It takes a lot of momentum to build up a tertiary
institution and in a place like Queenstown it takes a while
for it to start to get traction."
The approach has worked so far, with student numbers
increasing from 11 to just under 300, a number the college
has decided to maintain and consolidate on its performance.
The college is now looking to expand educational programmes
for different areas of the industry workforce, the latest of
which being the collaboration with the University of Otago
master of entrepreneurship degree launched here last month.
Mr Phillips said the future lay in giving Queenstown the
reputation of "a serious study location" through avenues such
as the studyqueenstown.com website.
"Since 2008 we have been trying to profile Queenstown as a
serious study location and disputing the myth of the cost of
living in Queenstown.
"With buying the lodge (QRC Lodge halls of residence), it's
probably about the same cost as living in residential halls
in Dunedin."
SIT's Queenstown campus has come a long way since opening in
February 2009. It offers six full-time courses, on top of its
part-time and one- to two-day courses in hospitality.
"It's a growth trend" says campus manager Pam Hulls, adding
that the campus counted international students in its
full-time study roll of about 60 - a number growing through
word-of-mouth feedback.
As part of the growth plan, SIT will add a sport and exercise
course in October, followed by a hotel and tourism management
diploma in February, with student accommodation "on the
drawing board" for 2013.
STUDENT SURGE
Queenstown Resort College
• Roll increased in five years from 11 to almost 300
• Looking to expand educational programmes
• Latest collaboration with University of Otago on Master of
Entrepreneurship degree, launched in Queenstown last month
Southern Institute of Technology
• Opened February 2009
• Offers six full-time courses, part-time courses and one-
and two-day hospitality courses.
• Full-time study roll 60
• Sport and exercise course starting October, Hotel and
Tourism Management diploma being launched next February
- joe.dodgshun@odt.co.nz
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