Latest news with #Potiki
Otago Daily Times
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Polytech boss launches withering attack on government
Otago Polytechnic's boss fears being "dragged down to the lowest common denominator" by the Open Polytechnic, as she stakes her institution's claim for independence. In an interview with the Otago Daily Times , the polytechnic's executive director, Megan Potiki, was withering in her criticism of the government. Topics she covered included Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds' failure to respond requests for meetings and her belief Otago Polytechnic had been singled out for the worst treatment of any institution in the government's shake-up of the sector. Her interview comes as the polytechnic undergoes two separate but simultaneous restructures — one affecting management; the other general staff — and grapples with the fact it has been placed into a federation with the Open Polytechnic and Universal College of Learning rather than being independent. "It feels like we have had completely different treatment to everyone else, it's been utterly unfair. "What was [Ms Simmonds'] understanding to get to this point where she decided that others were going to stand up that were clearly similar to us or worse, in some cases? "We have had no conversation with her about us going into a federation, it was a complete surprise." Dr Potiki likened the situation to "building a ship while we're actually sailing" because the minister had not met her to explain how the federation model would actually work. Otago Polytechnic had one of the highest degree completion rates in the country, and placing it in a federation with Open Polytechnic could drag down its reputation, she said. "Not to be disrespectful to the Open Polytech, but they've got very low completion of degrees. "There's a risk of being dragged down to the lowest common denominator. If our stake in the ground is that we have exceptional learning and great learning outcomes for our akonga and our community, why would we want to put that at risk?" Dr Potiki said Otago Polytechnic's management and staff "bled blue and gold" — and she had been impressed by the community response to its troubles. "We've re-engaged stakeholders and we had a really successful stakeholder meeting the other night with about nearly 80 people and we've got community people who have reached out who care and we're wanting to engage them as well." Dr Potiki said among the institutions to have received better treatment was Invercargill-based Southern Institute of Technology, which was allowed to stand alone. "SIT leadership reached out because, actually, I have a really good relationship with them through Te Pūkenga ... so those are relationships I don't want to burn. "We want to have continued strong relationships in the South Island with all polytechnics. But the minister has muddied the waters." Dr Potiki acknowledged staff would be getting mixed messages in recent times about their future. "We're receiving mixed messages from government. "We just want more clarity and a path for us. "What we're asking staff to consider now is, unfortunately, they've been through this before, and nothing happens quickly." The nature of the funding model of polytechnics meant "reviews" of staff could happen annually. "It's good practice. I think that's part of something that staff need to understand. "But actually, we want to look at our vision, our values, our future and get to that point. We haven't had the chance to really do that. So there's a lot of good work to come." Ms Simmonds said supporting Otago Polytechnic to achieve a surplus was critical. "With the support of a soon to be appointed Establishment Advisory Group (EAG), I am sure Otago Polytechnic will continue to progress along their financial viability pathway. At that stage, they would not require the support of the Federation if they did not wish to use it." She had met Dr Potiki on several occasions and "was committed to continuing open and constructive engagement". "The federation approach avoids the drawbacks of the centralised, one-size-fits-all model of Te Pūkenga and instead supports regional polytechnics to thrive, while offering the option to access system-wide efficiencies through the Federation."
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Otago Daily Times
Polytech head fears reputation at risk
Otago Polytechnic's boss fears being "dragged down to the lowest common denominator" by the Open Polytechnic, as she stakes her institution's claim for independence. In an interview with the Otago Daily Times , the polytechnic's executive director, Megan Potiki, was withering in her criticism of the government. Topics she covered included Vocational Education Minister Penny Simmonds' failure to respond requests for meetings and her belief Otago Polytechnic had been singled out for the worst treatment of any institution in the government's shake-up of the sector. Her interview comes as the polytechnic undergoes two separate but simultaneous restructures — one affecting management; the other general staff — and grapples with the fact it has been placed into a federation with the Open Polytechnic and Universal College of Learning rather than being independent. "It feels like we have had completely different treatment to everyone else, it's been utterly unfair. "What was [Ms Simmonds'] understanding to get to this point where she decided that others were going to stand up that were clearly similar to us or worse, in some cases? "We have had no conversation with her about us going into a federation, it was a complete surprise." Dr Potiki likened the situation to "building a ship while we're actually sailing" because the minister had not met her to explain how the federation model would actually work. Otago Polytechnic had one of the highest degree completion rates in the country, and placing it in a federation with Open Polytechnic could drag down its reputation, she said. "Not to be disrespectful to the Open Polytech, but they've got very low completion of degrees. "There's a risk of being dragged down to the lowest common denominator. If our stake in the ground is that we have exceptional learning and great learning outcomes for our akonga and our community, why would we want to put that at risk?" Dr Potiki said Otago Polytechnic's management and staff "bled blue and gold" — and she had been impressed by the community response to its troubles. "We've re-engaged stakeholders and we had a really successful stakeholder meeting the other night with about nearly 80 people and we've got community people who have reached out who care and we're wanting to engage them as well." Dr Potiki said among the institutions to have received better treatment was Invercargill-based Southern Institute of Technology, which was allowed to stand alone. "SIT leadership reached out because, actually, I have a really good relationship with them through Te Pūkenga ... so those are relationships I don't want to burn. "We want to have continued strong relationships in the South Island with all polytechnics. But the minister has muddied the waters." Dr Potiki acknowledged staff would be getting mixed messages in recent times about their future. "We're receiving mixed messages from government. "We just want more clarity and a path for us. "What we're asking staff to consider now is, unfortunately, they've been through this before, and nothing happens quickly." The nature of the funding model of polytechnics meant "reviews" of staff could happen annually. "It's good practice. I think that's part of something that staff need to understand. "But actually, we want to look at our vision, our values, our future and get to that point. We haven't had the chance to really do that. So there's a lot of good work to come." Ms Simmonds said supporting Otago Polytechnic to achieve a surplus was critical. "With the support of a soon to be appointed Establishment Advisory Group (EAG), I am sure Otago Polytechnic will continue to progress along their financial viability pathway. At that stage, they would not require the support of the Federation if they did not wish to use it." She had met Dr Potiki on several occasions and "was committed to continuing open and constructive engagement". "The federation approach avoids the drawbacks of the centralised, one-size-fits-all model of Te Pūkenga and instead supports regional polytechnics to thrive, while offering the option to access system-wide efficiencies through the Federation."
Otago Daily Times
18-07-2025
- Business
- Otago Daily Times
Polytech merger leaves MP baffled
Penny Simmonds had already seen Otago Polytechnic plans to erase a $10 million shortfall before placing it in a "federation" of underperforming institutions. The savings would bring the polytechnic back into surplus, which would be necessary for it to stand alone. Slashing courses has already saved it $4m and it is targeting another $6m of savings by the end of the year, documents leaked to the Otago Daily Times reveal. The documents showed the latest Otago Polytechnic "Road Map to Viability" had targeted savings of $10.5m to bring it back into surplus by December. Published in May, the documents said the polytechnic had already made savings of $4m, meaning it needed to find about $6m in savings over the next six months. The road map document said the savings so far had been achieved through several measures, including cutting 21 "non-performing programmes", drastically downscaling the Capable NZ programme, reviewing its Cromwell campus operations, selling buildings and capping staff numbers. Ms Simmonds, as vocational education minister, announced the breakup of mega-polytechnic Te Pukenga on Monday. Otago Polytechnic was named as one of the 10 regional polytechs (ITPs) to be returned to regional control, but it will not fully stand alone and instead be part of a "federation model" alongside the Open Polytechnic and Universal College of Learning (Ucol). Green Party MP Francisco Hernandez said he could not understand why Otago Polytechnic needed to be part of the federation. "It's baffling they've been forcibly merged with the federation when they had a pretty plausible pathway to autonomy. "Rather than going ahead with their agenda of disruption, forced cuts and forced mergers, the government must invest in Otago Polytechnic so that learners can get the education they deserve." The document also trumpeted Otago Polytechnic's past successes, and said pre-Te Pūkenga, the Dunedin campus added more than $967m to the city's economy from 2017-21. Te Pukenga brought together the country's 16 ITPs five years ago. Tertiary Education Union general secretary Daniel Benson-Guiu said he had been asking for these reports "for months". "We're asking Otago Polytechnic to open up the books — show us what your budget is, show us who has told Otago what it needs to save, and why." Instead of cuts, Otago Polytechnic should focus on reconnecting with the community, he said. Otago Polytechnic executive director Megan Potiki has called for a meeting with Ms Simmonds about the situation. "There has been very little direct guidance from the minister to Otago Polytechnic about requirements for a pathway to full autonomy," Dr Potiki said. "On Wednesday, we reached out to the minister, seeking an urgent meeting to explain the decision, and requesting details around the specific criteria and processes for exiting the federation and regaining true independent status. "We are still waiting on a response," Dr Potiki said. She said all ITPs were told that if they were not financially viable, being included in a federation model was a possibility. "However, we have never had any indication from the Tertiary Education Commission or the minister that Otago Polytechnic was at risk of not reaching the targets set for our financial viability." Ms Simmonds said she had seen the document, as well as information from the TEC and Te Pūkenga. "Supporting Otago Polytechnic to achieve a surplus is critical. "I have met Dr Megan Pōtiki a number of times and with the support of a soon-to-appointed establishment advisory group, I am sure Otago Polytechnic will continue to progress along their financial viability pathway. "At that stage, they would not require the support of the federation if they did not wish to use it."
