Queenstown's newest education campus has more than doubled its student numbers in eight months, exceeding expectations.
The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) Queenstown campus opened in the Remarkables Park shopping centre in February, with 87 students.
Campus manager Pam Hulls said SIT's enrolments now totalled about 217, signalling the area was fast becoming an education destination.
"We knew there was a need for the campus in Queenstown. However, the demand has been incredible.
"Next year we also plan to have an intake of international students. We have grown from offering two full-time courses this year to seven in 2010."
Mrs Hulls said students were attracted to Queenstown as "a serious place to study" because it also offered the outdoor lifestyle.
SIT's Zero Fees scheme also made it affordable for students to consider Queenstown as their place of study.
The courses at SIT had been closely aligned to the food and beverage sector, but the organisation has joined forces with the Queenstown Golf Club to move into high performance sport and personal training.
Keen golfers would soon be able to say they are certified, when they successfully complete the course specialising in golf and personal training.
Students will learn about sports theory, nutrition and sports psychology in the morning and spend afternoons being coached by golf professional Jamie McIssac.
Students taking the personal training option will study fitness training in the afternoon.
Mrs Hulls said for students to have access to a professional golfer of Mr McIssac's calibre was "a fantastic opportunity".
"At SIT we have really appreciated working alongside the Queenstown Golf Club to establish the course.
The personal trainer option adds to the variety of what we are able to offer."
Both programmes are aimed at school-leavers and those interested in a gap year, coaches, personal trainers, sports retailers, professional athletes and those wanting a career change, along with high school sports co-ordinators and administrators.
Queenstown Golf Course chief executive Michael Shattock said the resort had ideal facilities for the course.
The one-year course, which will be a certificate qualification, will run from March 15 to November 19, next year.
SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds said the courses had proven popular at the Christchurch campus and she expected them to do equally well in Queenstown.
Next year, SIT will also offer full-time courses in tourism management, tourism (guiding), business, cafe and bar, and continue with another beauty therapy intake.
Short courses in hospitality and IT will also continue.
"The Queenstown campus allows us to extend our offering in particular to international students who want to gain a tertiary qualification and also experience some of the best tourism activities New Zealand has to offer.
"We are very pleased with the growth in this sector of our business," Ms Simmonds said.
