News
Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) will be incorporating Tai Poutini Polytechnic’s (TPP) Music and Audio Institute of NZ (MAINZ) under the SIT umbrella as of 2018.
Since early November, SIT and TPP have undergone a process of discussion to determine the best option for TPP delivering tertiary vocational training on the West Coast, as well as for SIT incorporating MAINZ into an already strong music and audio production training facility.
SIT Chief Executive Penny Simmonds states, “SIT is delighted to be extending programme delivery in the Music and Sound Engineering disciplines that we have such a strong background in. We intend the transition to be seamless for TPP students and staff”.
Hamish Small, Head of SIT’s New Media, Arts and Business faculty states that “the MAINZ’s suite of programmes they will only add further choice and specialties in the fields of Music and Audio Production to both MAINZ and SIT learners, with greater pathways and potential employment outcomes for all our graduates. With the growth of music, arts and business, live performance, and events within New Zealand, such a transfer will enable better choice and opportunities for these specialty fields through quality education on a national scale”.
With MAINZ and SIT both having campus bases in Christchurch and Auckland, the transfer is a logical option and MAINZ staff will receive offers of employment from SIT.
Not just a logical option however, Doug Heath, SIT Programme Manager for Audio Production, explains that the transfer of MAINZ to SIT “will offer a major collaboration of one of the largest educators (MAINZ) and the oldest degree programmes (SIT) within the practical audio, music and related creative industries in New Zealand. Students will be able to access either or both schools during their studies, safe in the knowledge that they will receive industry ready education throughout the length of the country. This will also offer students access to possibilities of both innovation and collegial diversity within the field, with access to varied courses, specialist equipment and areas of study.”
Students enrolled with MAINZ will automatically have their enrolments transferred to SIT and SIT will manage enrolments for new students applying in 2018.
MAINZ’s official transfer to SIT will take place on January 31 2018.