Our Profile

At Bay of Plenty Polytechnic we’re committed to helping you reach your potential through supported learning, inspired teaching and programmes that provide what you - and industry - really need.

Passionate about their industries, their students and their programmes, our tutors are hand picked to ensure our students get only the very best.

What's it like, learning at the Polytechnic?

Because of our diverse range of programmes, learning can be quite different here at the Polytechnic, depending on what you study. Every programme has its theoretical content, which is usually taught in a classroom. Most of our courses are very applied in nature and involve hands-on components; you could spend time in a hair salon, in an automotive workshop, in a server room, or out on the ocean. One thing’s for sure. As a student we’ll give you all the support you need to succeed.

• Carpentry students build complete houses
• Automotive students fix cars at our very own Bay Auto
• Hospitality students cook for a full restaurant of 60 people
• Marine studies students survey fish, whales, coral, crayfish and more
• Environmental management students count Kakapo
• Fashion students design garments for WOW and Westfield Style Pasifika and collections to show at the annual fashion show
• Art students create works of art to exhibit locally at the annual art exhibit
• Hairdressing students cut and colour hair in our hair salon
• Event management students organise events on campus
• Radio broadcasting students run a radio station
• Music students write, record and perform original music (and create a music video)

What's the teaching & learning philosophy?

At Bay of Plenty Polytechnic the needs of our learners are paramount and everything we do is based on that. In practice this means that tutors make the effort to identify the students' preferred learning styles and try to match those with the theoretical and practical requirements of the courses they teach.

The result:
A variety of teaching methods, strategies and tools that meet the many different learning styles and needs of students to enhance their progress and achievement. These include lectures, tutorials, demonstrations, laboratory sessions, workshops, mentoring, peer work, group work, work experience, controlled and uncontrolled assessments, and role play.

We believe:

• good teaching is centred on the student, motivates and facilitates learning, encourages discovery and problem solving, and celebrates successes
• good teachers 'know their stuff', continue to keep up to date and have outstanding facilitation skills
• good teaching is about 'transformation' – so rather than just adding to what students already know, it’s about transforming existing knowledge and creating new knowledge together

In our definition, good teaching is about effective engagement between teachers and students, and quality relationships between them. To achieve this, our teachers are committed to getting to know their students, their names, histories, experiences, fears and goals, as well as sharing some of their own experiences.

Learning Support

Ako Awe provides a range of services to our students, supporting all aspects of learning from study skills and academic writing to computer literacy and CV preparation.

Disability Service is here to assist with support, information and resources including reader/writer assistance, note taking services, information, specialised equipment and adaptive technology, and specialised tutoring.

The libraries at each of our main campuses provide a wide range of resource materials (books, databases, magazines, subject guides, audio tapes, CD ROMs and more). If it’s out there, we can get it for you.

Online Learning

Our online learning environment BayLearn is a one-stop student learning shop - an integral part of many programmes making information and materials available online.

Teaching Support

Pikiarero – the Teaching and Learning Development Centre supports tutors in developing excellence in teaching through provision of professional development, foundation learning initiatives and resource development.

Teaching evaluations run every year, and dedicated professional development for each tutor is available to ensure they remain at the top of their game.