Otago Polytechnic and Sask Polytech sign memorandum of understanding

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Collaboration brings valuable international educational and academic opportunities

February 3, 2016 - Otago Polytechnic, located in Dunedin, New Zealand, and Saskatchewan Polytechnic signed a memorandum of understanding that paves the way for future student, employee and academic information exchanges. Under the agreement, the two post-secondary institutions will share their expertise and resources to enhance programs and create cross-cultural awareness.

"Saskatchewan Polytechnic believes in the value of collaboration and partnership," says Dr. Larry Rosia, Saskatchewan Polytechnic president and CEO. "We collaborate with industry employers to develop curriculum, we partner with Saskatchewan post-secondary institutions to deliver programming and now we are building an international relationship with Otago Polytechnic. We look forward to future academic exchanges and international opportunities."

"Otago Polytechnic is delighted to have formalized an agreement with Saskatchewan Polytechnic‎. This memorandum of understanding provides valuable opportunities for students and staff exchanges, and enables us to develop new learning strategies and curriculum ideas," says Mike Waddell, Otago Polytechnic director of Marketing and Communications. "This agreement is part of Otago Polytechnic's implementation of, and commitment to, an internationalization strategy. We believe it is important to prepare students for a global workforce and shared collaborations enable us to do that."

Both Otago Polytechnic and Saskatchewan Polytechnic agree to work together on instructor and student exchange programs, share curriculum and instructional materials and be open to other academic opportunities. This relationship supports the goals of both post-secondary institutions for educational internationalization.

"We're bringing more international students to Saskatchewan and having more students studying abroad", says Advanced Education Minister Scott Moe. "This is just one more aspect of participating in an international academic community; something that is good for our students and good for Saskatchewan."

Otago Polytechnic is a high quality educational institution, serving 7,000 full and part-time students across three campuses in Dunedin, Central Otago and Auckland. Qualifications are delivered at certificate, diploma, degree and postgraduate levels and are widely recognised, both in New Zealand and around the world, preparing students for global career success. Otago Polytechnic has achieved the highest possible government endorsement for educational performance.