Story by Ellie Khaghanikavkani
At WITT our sustainability journey started with adding a sustainable lens to decision making with a particular focus on long-lived investments to make sure we are Campus Ready, Region Ready, People Ready and Work Ready. Current focuses include:
WITT are working closely with the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Authority (EECA) to lower our carbon footprint as an education leader in Taranaki and participate in a low emissions future for Aotearoa.
We have embedded sustainability principles in teaching and learning in some courses by moving the course from Moodle to the iQualify platform. It is a blended learning environment, a mixture of online and face-to-face teaching, giving education access to the broader community such as full-time employees. Students have the opportunity to develop sustainability-related knowledge in their study programmes.
We are also promoting behaviour change by focusing on sustainable transportation, and the aim is to assist in increasing the public's understanding of climate change as a life skill. WITT’s measuring sustainability action in 2021 through a staff and student survey, our "Transport Plan Feedback questionnaire," and encouraging them to use free regional bus services, carpooling, walking, or cycling whenever possible.
WITT is developing sustainability and solar courses and has invited Taranaki stakeholders to provide feedback on proposed future courses. The purpose is to identify the gaps in the courses we currently have available and industry requirements. We want to make sure WITT is offering the right skillsets and programmes needed to support the transition, and retrain individuals to work and adapt to new and existing industry.
Collaboration is key to our success in New Zealand and WITT has partnerships to address a range of sustainability issues, agreements currently in place include:
Western Institute of Technology at Taranaki is part of Te Pūkenga - New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology Learn more
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