3 Becoming a University

In October 1999 AIT became the first polytechnic to become a university and changed its name to Auckland University of Technology (AUT) and at its 10 year anniversary of being a university in 2010 it celebrated:

• Graduating 25,000 students from undergraduate and postgraduate degrees
• Graduating 110 PhDs and other doctorates (the first just 6 years ago)
• Producing 8,000 refereed journal articles and other peer-reviewed research outputs
• Receiving $145 million in research-related income
• Growing total enrolments to more than 19,000 students (equivalent full-time), with over 80% in undergraduate or postgraduate degrees.
• Seeing annual postgraduate enrolment climb to 2,000 students (equivalent full-time), with 300 PhD students.

In 2000, the removal of the Ministry of Education's cap on training places saw the physiotherapy school's intake rise from 60 to 120.  The school developed new clinical placements, most notably through a memorandum of understanding with Waiperera Trust in West Auckland.  The Centre for Physical Rehabilitation Research, set up under Professor Peter Larmer, provided much of the impetus for research within the school and produced most of the school's research outputs. 

In 2001, the school takes over jurisdiction of the BHSc Podiatry that had previously been run by CIT in Wellington. 

During 2001/2 the Head of School, Andrea Vujnovic, took extended leave and a new management structure was put in place with Lynne Taylor was appointed Head of School.  By now, the Faculty of Health had grown considerably.  In 1998 the Faculty offered only six major programmes and four Bachelors Degrees (nursing, midwifery, occupational therapy and physiotherapy).  By 2002 it offered 14 Bachelors Degrees, five Diplomas, six Certificates and five other programmes across four divisions for more than 6,000 students.  To manage some of the increased growth and diversity of the programme the School joins the other programmes in adopting a common first semester programme in 2002.

ATI Department Heads

In 2003, there were 362 applications for 139 places in the BHSc Physiotherapy giving an overall student cohort of 475 enrolled full time students studying physiotherapy.  By the end of 2002, two lecturers in the School had PhDs, 17 had Masters Degrees.  Seven of the remaining staff were studying for higher degrees. 

By 2005, the cost of running and administering off-site clinics, most notably at Wai Health in West Auckland and a clinic at the AUT city campus, was starting to become problematic.  Subsequently, the School closed the AUT clinic and rationalised its service at Wai Health. 

In 2006, Peter Larmer took over from Lynne Taylor as Head of what was now the Department of Physiotherapy and in 2007 began an extended review of the curriculum.  This process would extend over four years and institute an entirely new curriculum.  The first cohort of students were enrolled into the new curriculum in 2010 and will graduate in 2013 when the school celebrates 40 years of physiotherapy education in New Zealand. 

David Nicholls took over from Peter Larmer as Head of School in 2012.  In the same year, the first year intake of 173 students would be the largest in the school's history and the largest physiotherapy intake in the Australasia.  The school now has 36 academic staff, 13 have doctoral degrees and 17 have masters degrees.   

Sources

Fenwick, P., Kennedy, S. and Zepke, N. (1983).  An evaluation of physiotherapists trained in technical institutes.  Department of Education, Wellington. 

Srymgeour J. Moving on: A history of the New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists Inc. 1973-1999. Wellington: New Zealand Society of Physiotherapists Inc.; 2000.

Grafton Campus sourced from: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/HeritageImages/images/photos/i71f/G3-21.jpg

http://www.aut.ac.nz/about-aut/aut-timeline

Wellesley Teacher Training College sourced from: http://www.aucklandcity.govt.nz/dbtw-wpd/exec/dbtwpub.dll?BU=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aucklandcity.govt.nz%2Fdbtw-wpd%2FHeritageImages%2Findex.htm&AC=QBE_QUERY&TN=heritageimages&QF0=ID&NP=4&RF=HIORecord&QI0=%3D%2235-R125%22 17 December 2012.