Otago Polytechnic has passed a full academic audit with top marks.
The audit, carried out late last year by the quality assurance arm of the Institute of Technology and Polytechnics New Zealand, resulted in quality assured status being confirmed for the next four years, the polytechnic council was told this week.
The result meant Otago Polytechnic was in good standing, and was also able to introduce new certificate and diploma courses without having to have their content and delivery approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority, deputy chief executive Dr Robin Day said after the meeting.
‘‘We are delighted. Some institutions have their quality assurance downgraded or revoked as the result of an audit . . . but ours has come out clean, which is exceptionally good.''
The audit praised the polytechnic in several areas including the success of a management restructure, the clarity of its prospectus and enrolment processes, its flexible programme delivery, its centre for the assessment of prior learning, its support services for students and for the way it ran its satellite campus in Cromwell.
It also praised the ‘‘significant advances' made towards meeting Treaty of Waitangi obligations, including the appointment of a Maori adviser, the establishment of a Maori affairs committee and the signing of memorandums of understanding with local runanga.
In general, staff and students were satisfied there were adequate resources to support the delivery of programmes, the report said, with auditors saying the institution had a ‘‘positive learning environment''.
The auditors made eight recommendations about improvements to processes and teaching practices but did not instruct the polytechnic to undertake any corrective action, Dr Day said.