Bay of Plenty Polytechnic will increase in size and offer post-graduate university courses under plans to transform it into a university college.
Discussions are already under way with the University of Waikato and Auckland University of Technology to deliver their courses -- although it is likely to take up to 12
months for the proposal to gain support from other potential partners and businesses.
A law change would also be necessary so the institution could become a mixture of both university and polytechnic.
The move would see some of the 23ha of land surrounding the Windermere campus developed for new buildings and facilities.
Polytechnic chief executive Alan Hampton made a submission on the expansion to the Smartgrowth regional development study today.
Dr Hampton said the proposed changes were "ground-breaking" and would give Tauranga an opportunity to be home to a "new and unique tertiary education provider".
Full details of the proposal would go to the Tertiary Education Commission and the Ministry of Education in the immediate future, Dr Hampton said.
- BAY OF PLENTY TIMES
