University starting classes in resort

The University of Otago says it is "not ruling out" establishing a campus in Queenstown, as it launches its first programme of classes in the Queenstown Resort College tomorrow.

Academics and staff from both tertiary entities celebrated the long-awaited arrival of the university's presence in the Wakatipu with a reception last night.

A separate set of 10 students enrolled for the University of Otago Master of Entrepreneurship programme's debut in the college building, which also becomes a base for the university's tourism researchers.

Classes for the three-semester qualification will be taught in intensive three-day block courses, which will take place every six weeks.

The Queenstown enrolment was predicated to grow to the Dunedin level of 40 to 50 students in about five years.

There are almost 300 students attending the five-year-old college.

The academic and research-oriented university leased space on the top floor from the privately owned and operated vocational college.

However, it was not offering programmes in conjunction.

The Dean of the School of Business, Prof George Benwell, said yesterday a dedicated university campus in Queenstown was "an aspiration, but only time would tell".

The university was "not ruling it out as a campus if it was financially viable. It's not the easiest logistical place to get to [from Dunedin]".

However, it was a "logical extension" for the national university, he said.

The resort was a "vibrant metropolis" suited to several potential programmes, and students from eastern Australia could take advantage of air links.

The university was looking at programmes such as teacher training, rural health, geography, geology, upskilling for senior executives and a Master of Business Administration (MBA), Prof Benwell said.

Otago was experienced in remote development, such as in Auckland, but Prof Benwell said any such project needed to be approached cautiously and evaluated as it progressed.

College chairman Sir Eion Edgar, of Queenstown, said yesterday he thought the introduction of the university was an "outstanding opportunity" for both Queenstown and Otago.

"Even when I was chancellor in 2003 I was keen Otago should have a beach head here in Queenstown, as it's part of Otago, and, being its highest growth area, it was important we had representation before another university did."

Entrepreneurship was appropriate for Queenstown and he believed it would attract Australian students.

"This course is really just a first.

"They plan to have other courses, not only in commerce.

"Over time, I would think quite a few courses would be run here as part of a larger course based in Dunedin, or some short courses."

Asked if he anticipated the college becoming a campus of the University of Otago, Sir Eion said while they were very different models, there could come a time college students continued to Otago, "which would be fantastic".

"At this stage, we see them as separate entities, but obviously looking to assist each other to give better service to prospective students," he said.