La Trobe University and NMIT Partner to Create New Melbourne Polytechnic

Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE

La Trobe University and Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE (NMIT) have announced a new model for the Victorian tertiary education sector.

La Trobe Vice Chancellor, Professor John Dewar and NMIT Chief Executive Officer, Dr Andy Giddy, said both institutions had forged a new partnership to deliver Higher Education through Melbourne Polytechnic.

‘Melbourne Polytechnic is an exciting partnership between a major university and a large metropolitan TAFE to open up higher education opportunities to more Victorians while also meeting the needs of industry,’ Professor Dewar said.

‘We are delighted to be working with our tertiary partner in Melbourne’s northern suburbs to help the region grow and prosper.’

‘Melbourne Polytechnic will provide highly supportive, vocationally focused degree programs with a particular emphasis on excellence in teaching and learning to meet the needs of students from a diverse range of backgrounds,’ Dr Giddy said.

‘NMIT is in a great position to work with La Trobe to develop exciting and innovative programs to meet industry needs in areas like equine studies, agriculture and veterinary nursing through Melbourne Polytechnic.’

Programs will focus on applied knowledge and occupational skill development, work integrated learning and employment outcomes in specific industry sectors where there are identified skill shortages.

Melbourne Polytechnic Higher Education programs will be jointly managed by La Trobe and NMIT. Courses will be taught at NMIT campuses across Melbourne. Currently, all NMIT degrees are approved under the quality requirements of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency.

All courses under the partnership will be conferred as accredited La Trobe University degrees and will meet the quality requirements of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. They will operate under La Trobe’s academic procedures, regulations and standards.

NMIT will also continue to offer its existing suite of degrees and work with La Trobe to progressively introduce these degrees into the partnership. Both the Commonwealth and Victorian Government has indicated its support for the establishment of the innovative new Higher Education program at Melbourne Polytechnic, which is planned to have the first intake of students at the start of 2014.