Editing Unitec Institute of Technology

{{Short description|University in New Zealand}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox university 
| name              = Unitec
| image_name        = Unitec Institute of Technology logo.svg
| image_size        = 100px
| motto             =
| mission_statement =
| established       = {{start date and age|1976}}
| head_label        = Chief Executive
| head              = Merran Davis
| vice_chancellor   =
| city              = [[Auckland]]
| country           = [[New Zealand]] 
| students          = 15,420 [[EFTS]] (2015) [http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/tertiary_education/participation]
| website           = {{URL|www.unitec.ac.nz}}
}}
'''Unitec''' ([[Māori language|Māori]]: Te Whare Wānanga o Wairaka) is the largest institute of technology in [[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]. 16,844 students<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.educationcounts.govt.nz/statistics/tertiary_education/participation |title=Participation/Participation Rates |work=Education Counts |access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref> study programmes from certificate to postgraduate degree level (levels 1 to 9) across a range of subjects.

The main [[campus]] is situated in [[Mount Albert, New Zealand|Mt Albert]] while a secondary Waitākere campus is situated in [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]] and there are various pop-ups throughout the [[North Shore, New Zealand|North Shore]]. It also offers programs overseas.

==History==
[[File:Unitec Campus Carrington Rd.jpg|thumb|Unitec Mt Albert campus, Carrington Road]]
[[File:20230216 180905 Unitec Waitākere campus.jpg|thumb|Unitec Waitākere campus in [[Henderson, New Zealand|Henderson]]]]
Unitec was founded as '''Carrington Technical Institute''' in 1976 on the Mt Albert site on Carrington road, which has 55 hectares of grounds. The area on which Unitec's main campus is located was formerly home to the [[Whau Lunatic Asylum]], later known as Carrington Hospital.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

The name changed to '''Carrington Polytechnic''' in 1987 and then to "Unitec Institute of Technology" in 1994. Unitec applied for [[University]] status in 1999, but the Government ruled, somewhat controversially, in 2005 that Unitec did not meet the academic criteria of a university and would remain an [[Institute of Technology]].<ref name="NZ_Herald_10340234">{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10340234 |title=Unitec set to fight Government denial of varsity status |author=Dye, Stuart |date=11 August 2005 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=25 November 2011}}</ref>

In 2006, Unitec opened its Waitakere Campus in the centre of Henderson, West Auckland. The campus is a joint development with the former [[Waitakere City|Waitakere City Council]] and includes the new Waitākere Central Library.  Unitec's Waitakere campus offers introductory computing, community development, and nursing courses.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Waitākere campus {{!}} Unitec|url=https://www.unitec.ac.nz/about-us/our-place/waitakere-campus|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Unitec|date=17 August 2018 }}</ref>

In August 2011, Unitec opened a campus in Albany, on Auckland's North Shore, but it was closed in December 2016.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.unitec.ac.nz/about-us/unitec-to-close-albany-campus-remain-on-the-shore|title=Unitec to close Albany campus, remain on the Shore|date=30 August 2016|publisher=Unitec}}</ref> On 1 April 2020, Unitec Institute of Technology became a subsidiary of [[Te Pūkenga]] (the New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology) alongside the 15 other institutes of technology and polytechnics (ITPs).<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kenny |first1=Lee |title=Wanted: 'Sophisticated' leader to head NZ's mega polytech |url= https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/education/116969565/wanted-sophisticated-leader-to-head-nzs-mega-polytech |access-date=7 March 2020 |work=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=29 October 2019}}</ref>

In July 2018 Unitec made the news after revealing deficits totaling nearly $100 million over four years and prompting the Education Minister [[Chris Hipkins]] to consider interventions.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-07-04|title=Unitec in 'extreme financial difficulty'|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/industries/105240929/unitec-in-extreme-financial-difficulty|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Stuff}}</ref> It was not alone by September 2018 there were four of the country's polytechnics at a high [[financial risk]] with 10 making deficits and none were expected to make the surplus that the government required.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-09-30|title=Majority of polytechnics and tech institutes in financial trouble|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/367592/majority-of-polytechnics-and-tech-institutes-in-financial-trouble|access-date=2021-01-23|website=[[RNZ]] }}</ref> In 2019 a major restructure across the polytechnic sector was announced.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-08-01|title=Government confirms major overhaul of polytechnics, apprenticeships|url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/395722/government-confirms-major-overhaul-of-polytechnics-apprenticeships|access-date=2021-01-23|website=[[RNZ]] }}</ref>
In 2023, Unitec started charging parking fees.(Unitec,2023)
<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.unitec.ac.nz/about-us/our-campuses/parking | title=Parking | date=5 February 2014 }}</ref>

==Campus libraries==
There are three libraries across the two campuses:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.unitec.ac.nz/about-us/contact-us/campus-maps |title = Campus maps {{!}} About Us {{!}} Unitec| date=14 April 2014 }}</ref>
*Mt Albert, Te Puna Library
*Mt Albert, Building 1 Library
*Waitakere Campus Library

==Courses==
[[File:Unitec_Forum_of_the_Future_2011.jpg|thumb|Unitec Forum of the Future 2011]]
[[File:Acting voice class.jpg|thumb|Voice class – Unitec 2015]]

===Study areas===
* Animal Health, Management and Welfare
* Architecture: Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Interior Design and Landscaping and Garden Design
* Arts: Art and Design (Graphic Design and Animation, Photography, Product and Furniture Design, Visual Arts), Performing Arts and Screen Arts (Acting, Contemporary Dance, Costume Design, Lighting and Sound, Props and Art Department)
* Bridging Education: Study and Career Preparation
* Business: Accounting and Finance, Digital Marketing, Management (Operations and Human Resources), Marketing, and Real Estate
* Computing and Information Technology: Business Intelligence, Computer Networks, Cloud Computing, Cyber security, Game Development, Internet of Things, Software Engineering 
* Conservation, Ecology and Biodiversity Management
* Construction: Construction Management, Quantity Surveying, Property Development, Construction Supervision
* Early Childhood Education
* Education Studies
* Engineering: Automotive, Civil, Electrical and Electronics, and Land Surveying
* Healthcare: Nursing and Medical Imaging
* Language Studies – Teaching English, Interpreting, English (as an additional language), IELTS, and Māori
* Policing
* Social Work and Community Development
* Sport, Exercise and Recreation: Exercise, Sport Coaching, and Community Sport and Recreation
* Supported Learning
* Trades: Automotive Engineering, Building and Carpentry, Electrical, Fabrication, Welding, Mechanical, Plumbing, Gasfitting, and Drainlaying
* Veterinary Nursing

===Qualifications===
Unitec teaches over 128 courses ranging from Short Courses to master's degrees.

* 12 [[Postgraduate Diploma]] and [[Master's Degree]] programs
* 33 [[Bachelor's Degree|Bachelors]] Diplomas and [[Graduate Diploma]] programs 
* 17 [[Diploma]] programs
* 44 [[Academic certificate]] programs
* 22 [[Course (education)|Short Course]] programs

The emphasis in all learning areas is for a lot of practical (hands-on) learning as well as theoretical learning.  This differs from the traditional model of university-level tuition, which is predominantly theory.  For example, the Introduction to Policing course is delivered in partnership with the New Zealand Police.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Junn|first=Jihee|date=2018-10-12|title=The course that's building a more diverse police service, and why it's so important|url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/partner/unitec4-partner/12-10-2018/the-course-thats-building-a-more-diverse-police-service-and-why-its-so-important/|access-date=2021-01-23|website=The Spinoff}}</ref> Also, the School of Computing Science has an industry internship program with [[IBM]], which includes the IBM Center at the Mt Albert (Carrington) Campus.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Pullar-Strecker|first=Tom|date=2014-08-19|title=Unitec-IBM centre beats target|url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/business/10399332/Unitec-IBM-centre-beats-target|access-date=2021-01-23|website=Stuff}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord|36|52|40|S|174|42|28|E|region:NZ-AUK_type:landmark_source:kolossus-dewiki|display=title}}
{{Vocational education in New Zealand}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Education in Auckland]]
[[Category:Te Pūkenga – New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1976]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in New Zealand]]
[[Category:2020 disestablishments in New Zealand]]