Suvarna Garge (Editor)

Universal College of Learning

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Established
  
1907

Affiliations
  
Public NZ TEI

Phone
  
+64 6-946 2300

CEO
  
Leeza Boyce (1 Jan 2015–)

Academic staff
  
217 (2016)

Website
  
www.ucol.ac.nz

Total enrollment
  
7,047 (2011)

Founded
  
1907

Students
  
6,400 students (2016), 31% Maori, 60% students under 25, Students from 62 different countries

Location
  
Palmerston North, Wanganui, Masterton, Auckland, New Zealand

Address
  
143-159 Chapel St, Masterton 5810, New Zealand

Similar
  
Unitec Institute of Technology, Eastern Institute of Technology, Institute of the Pacific United, Nelson Marlborough Institute o, Massey University

Profiles

Study applied sciences ucol universal college of learning


The Universal College of Learning (UCOL) is a New Zealand Government TEI (Polytechnic) located primarily in Palmerston North but has campuses also in Whanganui, Masterton and Auckland.

Contents

Universal college of learning


Facilities

There are four campuses: Palmerston North, Whanganui, Wairarapa and Auckland.

Palmerston North Campus Facilities

  • TOEFL iBT Testing Centre
  • Ambitions Training Restaurant
  • History

    UCOL was founded in 1907 and was known as the Palmerston North Technical School. In 1971 it became the Palmerston North Technical Institute and in 1983 the Manawatu Polytechnic. At the time it specialised in trade apprenticeship courses, and in hobby, art, and craft classes, along with a range of night school programmes in business studies for working adults.

    As successive governments placed emphasis on vocational education, the Polytechnic broadened the courses offered, but retained a focus on core vocational programmes. It now delivers Foundation and Certificate programmes, Diplomas, Degrees and Post-Graduate options in a range of subjects as well as community based programmes.

    In 1987 the Manawatu Polytechnic opened a small campus in Levin and the 1996 approval by government of a $22 million capital injection, enabled the rebuilding and consolidation of the Palmerston North campus onto a central city site.

    In late 1998 the Manawatu Polytechnic changed its name to the Universal College of Learning (UCOL).

    UCOL expanded in January 2001 with the incorporation of the Wairarapa Regional Polytechnic and the integration of the Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic on 1 April 2002.

    The Wanganui Regional Community Polytechnic is now called Whanganui UCOL and incorporates the Wanganui School of Design.

    Strategic Priorities

    UCOL is focused on delivering the six priorities of the Tertiary Education Strategy 2014-2019.

  • Delivering skills for industry
  • Getting at-risk young people into a career
  • Boosting achievement of Māori and Pasifika
  • Improving adult literacy and numeracy
  • Strengthening researched-based institutions
  • Growing international linkages
  • Relationships-Based Teaching

    UCOL is the first to employ a relationships-based teaching approach in a tertiary education setting. Called Te Atakura, the programme was developed with the support of education consultancy Cognition Education Limited and Emeritus Professor Russell Bishop. It is designed to enhance Māori success, develop high performing teaching teams and provide ongoing support services for learners.

    Study Offerings

    UCOL offers over 100 programmes of study at certificate, diploma and degree level in the following subject areas:

  • Agriculture (agribusiness, beekeeping, farming)
  • Arts & design (graphic design, animation, glass making, fashion design, printmaking, illustration, interior design, music, photography)
  • Beauty & hairdressing
  • Business (administration, management, project management, accounting, tourism, small business)
  • Chef training & hospitality
  • Education (teaching adults, early childhood education)
  • Foundation skills (Māori language, sign language, computing skills, English language)
  • Sport & exercise (physical conditioning, clinical exercise physiology, sport performance)
  • Nursing
  • Vet nursing
  • Health & science (mental health, science, social work)
  • Medical imaging
  • Information technology
  • Traditional trades (automotive, engineering, electrical engineering, carpentry, building, construction, joinery, architecture, fabrication, furniture making)
  • Security
  • In school programmes - part-time study options for high school students seeking to transition into tertiary study whilst attaining NCEA credits. In 2016, 180 secondary school students graduated under one of the In school programmes, U-Skills.
  • In late 2016 UCOL secured funding from the Tertiary Education Commission's Refugee English Language Fund to give a limited number of eligible refugees the opportunity to study New Zealand Certificate in English at Level 3 or Level 4 free of charge.

    Council Awards

    Each year UCOL recognises people in the community who have made significant contributions to their local areas and society in general, with the UCOL Council Honours Awards.

    References

    Universal College of Learning Wikipedia