From February 2026, we'll be delivering our New Zealand Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) programme in Central Otago, through a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) model.

The WIL pathway is designed to support learners already working in the hospitality industry (for a minimum of 20 hours paid employment per week). This includes staff in restaurants, cafés, hotels, and catering operations, as well as those employed in food service roles across tourism, retail, and institutional settings.

The one-year, fulltime programme is ideal for emerging chefs who want to formalise their skills and kitchen staff looking to step into more skilled positions. It also suits employers wanting to develop committed, motivated team members without removing them from the workplace.

Work Integrated Learning is fliexible and gives trainees the best of both worlds - Learners remain in paid employment while completing their qualification, while Otago Polytechnic provides structured support to guide their development including weekly one-on-one meetings with a teaching staff member.

Alongside their workplace learning, trainees can attend specialist master classes to be held in a professional kitchen at Dunstan High School. These sessions will provide focused technical upskilling, allowing learners to refine their cookery techniques and broaden their capability without disrupting their work commitments.

We've already had positive interest from across the local sector and have begun conversations with some of Central Otago’s largest hospitality employers.

Occupational Therapy plans

Otago Polytechnic is also pursuing approval to deliver our highly regarded Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programme via a similar Work Augmented Learning delivery model out of Central Otago from mid-2026.

Occupational therapists work across a broad range of health and wellbeing services, including in hospitals, community services, and schools.

This delivery model has been specifically designed for learners who are already in work, and allows for a flexible approach.  Learners are required to be in work in a health or wellbeing context (paid or volunteer) for a minimum or 15 hrs per week, and able to undertake a mix of campus-based and online learning opportunities.

The programme will benefit people who wish to become a registered health professional but are unable to leave home for the duration of study. The opportunity to work while studying is also an attractive option for many people.

Agencies who employ or use volunteers in any health and wellbeing setting can support the growth of health professionals in the area by enabling their staff to complete the qualification.

We believe creating a pool of therapists who are already local and have trained in the context of their own community has the potential to better meet the rapid growth of demand on health resources being experienced in the Central Otago region.

We already have approval to offer the work augmented learning option for this programme through campuses in Northland (Whangārei, Ngāwhā, and Kaitaia).