Melbourne Polytechnic, formerly NMIT, is an institute of higher education and vocational education (TAFE) located in Melbourne, Australia that has been operating since 1912, and aided by a $19 million grant from the Victorian Government.Mumbrella, 17 October 2014 Melbourne Polytechnic chooses Publicis Mojo for relaunch assignment, Retrieved 2 December 2014Kylie Adoranti, Herald Sun, 3 October 2014 Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE to be rebranded as Melbourne Polytechnic, Retrieved 2 December 2014
A wide selection of study options in vocational education are offered from short courses, pre-apprenticeships, apprenticeships, and traineeships through to certificates, diplomas, advanced diplomas, and onto higher education, tertiary degrees under the Australian Qualifications Framework. In 2013, there were 511 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) teaching staff and 348.5 (FTE) support staff employed by Melbourne Polytechnic delivering over 500 courses. There were 50,203 total enrolments as of November 2014 including 6,284 off-shore students at overseas partner institutions.
Melbourne Polytechnic is the largest provider of primary industry training in Victoria and one of the largest in Australia offering a diverse range of courses from practical short-courses to a Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology focusing on Viticulture, Agronomy, and Agribusiness.NMIT announces "final call" for Open Days , Media Release, NMIT website. Retrieved 6 October 2009Andrew Coulthard, Operations Manager, Faculty of Earth Science, NMIT. pp27, Hansard, House of Representatives, Standing Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry regarding Rural skills training and research . Monday 14 November 2005
Management and organisation structure
Melbourne Polytechnic is managed by a board of eleven directors appointed by the Victorian State Government with the Chief Executive appointed by the board. Recent Chief Executives (CE) appointments have included Brian MacDonald (1988 – March 2012),Melbourne Polytechnic media release 9 March 2012, 'New CEO for NMIT ' accessed 25 May 2015 Dr Andrew Giddy (March 2012 to March 2014), Ron Gauci (March 2014 – April 2015) and Rob Wood (from May 2015 – September 2017).Melbourne Polytechnic media release 20 May 2015, 'Rob Wood appointed CEO of Melbourne Polytechnic ' accessed 25 May 2015 On 20 October 2017, Frances Coppolillo was appointed as Chief Executive.
Currently, the CE has six direct reports comprising Academic Operations; Curriculum Innovation and Teaching Excellence; Student Engagement, International and Community Partnerships; Strategy, Performance and Governance; People and Corporate Services; and Infrastructure, Sustainability and Precincts.
Faculties Melbourne Polytechnic is structured with four faculties each containing a number of Vocational education and training (VET) Teaching Departments and Higher Education (Master, Bachelor and associate degrees and higher education diploma) programs. During 2014, under the interim CEO leadership of Ron Gauci, the Institute undertook a major restructure reducing the teaching faculties from six to four.Melbourne Polytechnic Organisational chart Edition 28 5 May 2015 Melbourne Polytechnic Organisational Structure 2015 Retrieved 25 May 2015 An International Office coordinates enrolment and services provided to international students studying at Melbourne Polytechnic. Many of the bachelor's degree courses have associate degrees embedded within them for an interim qualification and exit point after 2 years study.See Melbourne Polytechnic and .
Faculty VET Teaching Departments Higher EducationFoundation and Prepraratory Studies Vocational Pathways Includes Auslan, science, Young Adult Migrant Education Courses (YAMEC), VCAL Foundation Studies Includes General education for adults (CGEA), AMEP programs in spoken and written English.Food, Plant and Animal Includes arboriculture, agriculture, civil construction, conservation and land management, Farriery, Floristry, horse breeding, horticulture, landscaping, meat processing, veterinary nursing, warehousing. Associate Degree of Veterinary Nursing Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Agronomy Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Aquaculture Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Agribusiness Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Viticulture and Winemaking Bachelor of Agriculture and TechnologyEngineering, Design and Construction Engineering Includes courses in locksmithing, electrical studies, welding, information technology, manufacturing and mechanical engineering. Building and Construction Includes courses in bricklaying, carpentry, wall and floor tiling, wall and ceiling lining (plastering), plumbing, painting and decorating, waterproofing. Design Includes courses on building design, civil engineering drafting and design, building surveying and construction, interior design, joinery, shopfitting, stairbuilding, cabinet making and furniture making.Sustainable Design and Construction Associate Degree of Engineering Technology (Civil) Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Civil) Bachelor of the Built EnvironmentHealth and EducationIncludes courses on aged care, aromatherapy, community services work, disability, early childhood education, fitness, massage, pathology, sport development. Diploma of Tertiary Studies – Higher Education Associate Degree of Early Years Studies Bachelor of Early Childhood Education Bachelor of Education (Early Years and Primary) Creative Arts Performing Arts Includes courses on community dance, costuming, digital media and interactive games, internet film production, live production, music, screen and media (TV production), sound production, specialist makeup services, theatre arts. Visual Arts Includes courses on beauty, creative product development, fashion design, graphic design, hairdressing, illustration, jewellery manufacture, painting, photography, writing and editing, visual merchandising. Associate Degree of Illustration Associate Degree of Music Associate Degree of Music Industry Associate Degree of Writing and Publishing Bachelor of Illustration Bachelor of Music Bachelor of Music Industry Master of Creative ArtsBusiness, Innovation and Entrepreneurship Business and Hospitality (including Work Education) Includes courses on accounting, business, commerce, cookery, events, health administration, hospitality, international trade, legal practice and justice, marketing, mediation, office administration, property services, sports and recreation, tourism, work education. Associate Degree of Accounting Associate Degree of Business Associate Degree of Hospitality Management Associate Degree of Information Technology Bachelor of Accounting Bachelor of Business Bachelor of Hospitality Management Bachelor of Information Technology
Courses
Short courses
Short vocational courses are offered in a variety of areas including: Beauty, Drafting, Multimedia, Hospitality, HR, IT, massage, Office Administration, Welding, Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) and Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE), Computer Aided Drafting (CAD), and Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) and Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP). Courses in IELTS – International English Language Testing system – are run from Preston and Collingwood campuses to enhance the English skills of students from non-English speaking backgrounds, particularly international students.
Certificate and diploma courses As a major vocational education provider in Melbourne Melbourne Polytechnic offers Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma Courses across all Faculties and teaching departments with many of the courses open for international students to enrol.
Degree courses In 2002 the Victorian Education Minister, Lynne Kosky, announced that TAFEs would be able to offer bachelor's degrees in specialised vocational areas not catered for by universities. Legislation was passed in 2003 and NMIT became the first Victorian TAFE to offer an undergraduate degree in 2004: The Bachelor of Applied Aquaculture course with the first students enrolling at the start of 2005.
Melbourne Polytechnic has since added undergraduate degree courses in Viticulture and Winemaking (2006), Equine Studies (2006), Australian Popular Music (2007), Hospitality Management (2008), Illustration (2008), Accounting (2011), and two in Early Years Education (2011). In 2012 new bachelor's degrees are being launched in Business, Information Technology, and Music Industry.Talking About NMIT Blog, Song writing, record production a focus for new Music Industry degree , NMIT, 11 August 2011. Retrieved 16 September 2011.
Associate Degrees are also offered in Accounting, Agriculture and Technology, Business, Early Years Studies, Equine Studies, Illustration, Information Technology, International Business, and International Business Management, Music, Music Industry, Writing and Publishing, and Tertiary Studies.
The 2014 Annual report states that two new master's degree courses have been accredited by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) for delivery: in Creative Industries, and Practising and Professional Accounting.Melbourne Polytechnic Annual Report pp22
Bachelor of Accounting
Bachelor and associate degree program in Accounting started in 2011, with a particular focus on a sustainability and environmental management.Melbourne Polytechnic, Bachelor of Accounting. Accessed 18 May 2015.
Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Aquaculture
The Bachelor of Aquaculture at Melbourne Polytechnic was the first full-time course in applied aquaculture and aquatic environmental management at the bachelor's degree level to be offered by a Victorian TAFE institute. Aquaculture research has included captive breeding of Murray cod and biodiesel from microalgae as part of this degree program.Andrew Christie, Associate Lecturer in Aquaculture, NMIT, "Biodiesel from microalgae: a student's experience", Austasia Aquaculture Winter 2011. In 2014 this degree became the Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology, delivered by Melbourne Polytechnic, but accredited by La Trobe University.Melbourne Polytechnic 2013 Annual Report, pp14
Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Viticulture and Winemaking
Melbourne Polytechnic has been running wine training at its Epping campus since 1993 and in the Yarra Valley since 1994. The Bachelor of Viticulture and Winemaking degree commenced in February 2006 using the marketing label of Australian College of Wine, established by NMIT in 2001 to enable training in viticulture, winemaking and hospitality. This label was discontinued in favour of the Northern Estates label, launched in 2010. In 2014 this degree became the Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology, delivered by Melbourne Polytechnic, but accredited by La Trobe University.
Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Agronomy, Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology – Agribusiness
The former Bachelor of Agriculture and Land Management degree was reformulated in 2014 as the Bachelor of Agriculture and Technology, delivered by Melbourne Polytechnic, but accredited by La Trobe University. It has majors in Agronomy and Agribusiness.
Bachelor of Built Environment
A new degree in architecture launched in the second semester of 2015.Melbourne Polytechnic 2014 Annual Report, pp20
Bachelor of Business
The Bachelor of Business commenced enrolments in 2012.NMIT 2013 Annual Report, pp27
Bachelor of Education (Early Years), Bachelor of Early Years Studies
In 2011 the Institute offered 2 Bachelor's degrees in early childhood education: a 4-year Bachelor of Education (Early Years) degree, a 3-year Bachelor of Early Years Studies, and a 2-year associate degree in Early Years Studies. They are the first training courses run by a TAFE Institute in Victoria that has achieved registration with the Victorian Institute of Teaching.NMIT Annual Report 2010, pp16