Tertiary education community rallies after earthquake

The University of Canterbury will send up to 500 of its students to study at the University of Adelaide for the next four months because of the Christchurch earthquake, according to TVNZ.

University of Canterbury vice-chancellor Rod Carr has announced the university has accepted an offer from the University of Adelaide to accommodate up to 500 selected students for this semester.

It is expected that students will be able to travel to Adelaide as soon as this weekend.

The University of Adelaide has made the offer as part of an existing relationship it has with the University of Canterbury. Some University of Canterbury staff will be sent to provide academic and practical support. More details, including an application form, will be available soon on the university website.

Meanwhile tertiary education minister Steven Joyce says Christchurch’s two universities are well-advanced with plans to re-open progressively following the earthquake.

Lincoln University aims to be fully operational by March 14. Lincoln opened for all staff yesterday and postgraduate research students are being encouraged to begin contacting their supervisors.

Mr Joyce said the situation for the Christchurch Polytechnic and Institute of Technology is more challenging given the bulk of its campus is within the cordon.

Officials were working with CPIT as well as other institutes of technology and PTEs in the city on options, including relocating within the city and temporarily hosting courses at other institutions, he said.

The minister has also relaxed enrolment caps at funded institutions outside of Christchurch to allow them to take on some students directly affected by the earthquake if required.

University of Otago has been assisting with the relocation of international students from Christchurch to Dunedin since last week.

Responding to a request from Canterbury for assistance with single semester study abroad and exchange students Otago has committed to taking more than 50 students – a number of them are already settling in and starting classes in Dunedin.

Otago is also one of three universities liaising with Canterbury about an exchange scheme initiative for other full-degree international students for this semester.

This scheme will see Canterbury students go to Otago for a single semester of study, after which they will return to Canterbury. The papers they pass at Otago will contribute to their University of Canterbury qualification.