During its final meeting in its current form, the board, which will be dissolved at the end of the month, voted to adopt a statute for the new council.
Under legislation passed in December, the structure of all polytechnic councils will change. The councils, of up to 20 seats, will be replaced with eight-person councils - four ministerial appointees and four others appointed by the council.
Otago will lose seven places from its council, meaning the end of guaranteed seats for interest groups such as staff, students, unions and employers.
The Otago statute said four non-ministerial vacancies should include at least one Maori representative and reflect the ethnic and socio-economic diversity of the community.
Chairman Graham Crombie said by adopting the statute the board was "making history" and chief executive Phil Ker agreed.
"I think we have made history. I don't think there is any other polytech council in the country that has made this stance," he said.
Specialist skills required for the council were financial, educational, business management, Maori knowledge and perspective. General skills included marketing and communication, governance, networking and political processes.
A balance of commercial and public service experience, gender and of educational and business experience will also be sought.
The statute also included the establishment of staff and student subcommittees to advise the reduced board. The student board will be formed from student representatives from each department and is expected to have a broad student view with which to advise the board and chief executive.
An election will be held to decide the staff subcommittee, of up to 14 members.
The names of the ministerial appointees are expected to be released next week.
