Following three months' fitting-out, to a backdrop of SIT about to announce a $5.4 million surplus for its last financial year, the new three-classroom premises expects to offer up to 14 courses, including diplomas in business and early childhood training by the end of the year for up to 500 students; 80% domestic and 20% international.
Among yesterday's 60 guests were acting prime minister and MP for Clutha Southland, Bill English, southern mayors Clive Geddes and Tim Shadbolt, the University of Otago chancellor John Ward and a predecessor, Queenstown-based businessman Eion Edgar.
SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds said the institute was about to announce a $5.4 million surplus for the year and for Mr English to take that positive news back to Government education funders, adding "we should [therefore] be able to take in more students without need for more funding".
Mr English, while quipping the Government accounts for the next four to five years would look worse than SIT's or Queenstown Lakes District Council because of the recession, focused on the benefits of education for young people, from all providers.
He said education, even delivered in the same area by different providers, offered choices to youth who considered the entire country their education area, not necessarily institutions near their homes.
"Education makes young people feel valued, and that the country has a stake in them," Mr English said.
While SIT had been providing courses in Queenstown for three decades, increasing student numbers prompted the establishment of the campus in Dart House at the Remarkables Park Town Centre.
Courses available at the new campus include business, hospitality, tourism and computing, all offered under the zero fees scheme to domestic students, with nine courses building to 14 and similarly eight contract tutors increasing to 13 by the year's end, SIT campus manager Pam Hulls said.
A campus in tourist resort Queenstown meant there was plenty of demand for more training services in the area, with SIT international student numbers up 42% this year, and Queenstown being an attractive option for students, SIT have said.
