In 2001, Waitakere City Council sought expressions of
interest from existing public tertiary education providers
to partner with it to establish a physical presence in the
city. This was part of the council's commitment to being an
eco-city with a strong focus on life-long learning and
working to achieve better social, economic and environmental
outcomes for its residents.
The council already had links with Unitec's Mt Albert
campus, being the closest tertiary institution to Waitakere,
and Unitec had long acknowledged the special nature of its
western catchment and was seeking to establish itself as the
tertiary institution of choice for Waitakere residents.
It was on this basis that a formal Memorandum of
Understanding (MoU) was established in 2002, following the
establishment of a small subsidiary Unitec campus in Ratanui
St, Henderson.
Unitec and the council then began work on the establishment
of a significant Unitec presence in the Henderson CBD. This
work was overseen by a joint management group.
A new Unitec facility was opened in central Henderson in
January 2006 with a Unitec investment of about $30 million
and a council investment of $11 million, including a new
library and parking building.
Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)
By 2008, the successful relationship warranted a renewed
commitment and a revised set of objectives.
A new MoU was signed to provide a framework for continued
cooperation. It signalled the importance of the relationship
in achieving shared goals of providing residents, businesses
and the wider community with improved access to relevant,
quality tertiary education programmes and services.
The objectives of the relationship between the council and
Unitec embodied in the MoU include:
To develop a Waitakere City skills and education
vision and strategy.
To increase the participation and success of
Waitakere City residents in tertiary education from
certificate to post-graduate levels of study.
To collaboratively develop tertiary education
facilities and services within Waitakere City in a way
that reflects the emerging needs of residents,
businesses and the wider community and that provides all
parties with improved access to tertiary education.
To maximise the environmental, economic, cultural
and social benefits of Unitec's presence in Waitakere
City.
To maximise the effective and efficient growth of
Unitec's educational services to and through Waitakere
City.
To help assist the development of Henderson as a
vibrant and visually attractive town centre for
business, education and leisure.
To provide a framework for possible joint building
or other facility development which ensures:
a) Good urban design
b) Incorporation of sustainable building methodologies
c) Strengthening of the business and employment
opportunities within the Henderson town centre
d) Increased safety and attractiveness of the town centre
To further strengthen the relationship between
Unitec and Council by formally providing a key account
relationship for Unitec in its dealings with the
Council, and establishing a senior level Relationship
Group to monitor progress.
Download a copy of the Memorandum of Understanding
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