Waikato Institute of Technology

Waikato Institute of Technology

Study at Waikato Institute of Technology - Explore Your Success

The Waikato Institute of Technology, also known as Wintec, is an institute of technology, based in New Zealand's Waikato region. Initially established as Hamilton Technical College in the Waikato region in 1924. As the institute grew, it began offering a range of vocational training programmes and was renamed Waikato Technical Institute in 1968. As its scope of academic activities continued to widen, the institute's name was changed to The Waikato Polytechnic in 1987. It offered its first bachelor's degree in 1992 and was given its current name in 2001. At present, this government-run institution offers high-quality tertiary education and is consistently rising to meet the growing academic demands of today's students. There are approximately 13,000 students enrolled every year who study more than 130 vocational courses across many fields from certificate to degree, postgraduate and master’s level, with their of providing relevant training and qualification while also acknowledging that confidence and well-being are crucial for a student to succeed.

Wintec nurtures and guides individual students as part of a community so they are confident and equipped to navigate their way in a world where change and new ways of working are happening faster than ever before. The staff at Wintec are employed for their experience, knowledge, and ability to guide students on their journey. Graduates are supported to be confident, so they know how and where to apply their skills and knowledge out in the world.  Students get the chance to put their learning into practice from the very start. They work on relevant, real-life projects and learn what it is like in their chosen career through work placements. They can ask questions and discover there are often many ways of doing things, not just one. Wintec has several exchange partners in countries like China, France, the Netherlands, Canada and Chile for facilitating exceptional student exchange programmes

Wintec has grown from a small technical college to one of Aotearoa, New Zealand's largest tertiary education institutes. Wintec, along with 16 other technical institutes and 11 Industry Training Organisations (ITO's), is part of Te Pūkenga, New Zealand Institute of Skills and Technology. Wintec is part of a growing online, on-campus, and on-job learning network to give learners more flexibility in what, where, and how they will learn. Wintec is committed to engaging in an environment where an authentic and deliberate commitment to Māori and Te Tiriti partnerships delivers an educational system that serves the students as well as the communities well.

Wintec has three main campuses in Hamilton as well as facilities in the Waikato region at Thames and Ōtorohanga. Situated in the centre of the CBD, the Hamilton City Campus is one of the institute's main campuses. It is dotted with great food outlets and houses excellent on-campus accommodation facilities. Located in the north part of Hamilton, the Rotokauri Campus is home to exceptional facilities, like a huge library, hi-tech computer labs, and amazing cafeterias. This campus offers programmes in the fields of sports science, engineering, trades, animal care, cookery and hospitality. The institute's third main campus is situated in the Hamilton Gardens. This campus offers programmes in horticulture, arboriculture and landscape construction/design. Wintec also owns the Otorohanga Trade Training Centre and additional academic facilities in the town of Thames. The Wintec executive team is made up of 11 executives, including the Chief Executive. The chief executive reports to the Wintec governing body, the Wintec Council. The faculties at Wintec include- Centre for Business and Enterprise, Centre for Information Technology, Centre for Engineering and Industrial Design, Centre for Health and Social Practice, Centre for Languages

School of Media Arts, Centre for Beauty Therapy and Hairdressing, Centre for Applied Science and Primary Industries, Centre for Sport Science and Human Performance, Centre for Trades, Centre for Hospitality, Centre for Research and Applied Innovation, Centre for Education and Foundation Pathways and Design Factory NZ.

Some notable alumni of Wintec are Dave Baxter (a musician who won the APRA Silver Scroll award), Louise Raine (lighting designer for Coombes & Gabbie), Harkanwal Singh (data editor at New Zealand Herald), Jenna Lynch (journalist and reporter who works for Prime News and 3 News), Julia Crickett and Rene Aveyard (co-owners of a successful clothing store Rumour), Donna-Lee Biddle (journalist at Waikato Times), Simon Wade (creative director and owner of 6twenty Design),  and Robyn Mickelson (accomplished journalist, broadcaster and presenter featured on Sunrise, Nightline, Newstalk ZB and Target).