Starting at the end of this month, a range of courses will be on offer designed to add to the skills of those people working in Queenstown's hospitality industry.
The programme will be a "true joint venture", and a first for the polytech, Otago Polytechnic regional manager Jean Tilleyshort said.
"In the past we [Otago Polytechnic] have subcontracted out [courses].
"But we are looking to meet the needs of Queenstown-ers, while realising we would probably not want to build a facility there ourselves."
Much work had been done over the past few months converting "what would be a full-time course in Dunedin" into modules which would "fit around a full-time work schedule", she said.
The range of courses on offer will include barista training, chef management training in cost control and kitchen profitability, and customer service courses.
QRC general manager Charlie Phillips said the initial range of short courses was just the start of a long-term relationship between the institutions.
Ms Tilleyshort said the two institutions would "work together to increase the range of courses available".
General management courses which could be used in any industry, from construction to viticulture, would be included, she said.
The courses, which begin at the end of this month, have been designed to accommodate the needs of Queenstown workers who are too busy for full-time education.
"Queenstown is quite a unique market," Ms Tilleyshort said.
The new collaborative courses were different from those already run by Otago Polytechnic in that they could count towards diplomas or degrees in management, she said.
With the courses starting at the end of the month, businesses would be able to train or increase staff skills in the lead-up to the busy summer season.
The courses would also cater for those with prior experience.
Mr Phillips said the courses were the result of a great collaboration between the parties and only phase one in a long-term plan.
"This is the beginning of a consortium between regional providers, pooling resources to deliver affordable skills-based training," he said.
