Students, staff, alumni and the wider community are invited to share their feedback for the Otago Campus Master Plan refresh. “This is an opportunity to imagine what the next generation of Otago campuses could be,” Acting Director Property and Campus Development Gordon Roy says.
The University of Otago – Ōtākou Whakaihu Waka is encouraging students, staff, alumni, and the wider community to provide feedback on a refreshed Campus Master Plan - the long-term framework which guides how the University’s places, spaces, and physical environments support learning, research, people, and community.
Acting Director Property and Campus Development Gordon Roy says Otago’s current Campus Master Plan, adopted in 2010, has shaped major developments across the University for more than a decade.
While many of its ambitions have been achieved, he says the time is right to develop a new plan that reflects a very different operating environment.
“Much has changed since 2010 - we have experienced a global pandemic, increased competition, and, like universities around the world, significant financial challenges.
“The Master Plan will take a strategic and responsive approach to campus planning, setting an aspirational vision for the future but grounded in the reality of affordability and sustainability.”
Gordon says the renewed Master Plan will define the character and purpose of each Otago campus and set clear priorities to help guide future investment and development. It will help strengthen partnerships and ensure the University’s campuses contribute meaningfully to their wider communities.
The updated Master Plan will also better reflect and support the University’s Vision 2040 and Pae Tata strategic plan, as well as its commitment to becoming a Te Tiriti-led institution.
Have your say
The University is undertaking a staged engagement process throughout the development of the plan. This will involve students, staff, mana whenua, and other key external stakeholders.
Gordon says engagement with stakeholder groups got underway late last year.
“Now that students are settling back in for the academic year, it is a good time to ask them and the wider community about their aspirations for the Campus Master Plan.
“We want to know what characteristics and spaces on Otago’s campuses people value the most. It’s important we’re providing outstanding spaces for teaching and learning, but there are wider considerations as well – heritage, cultural, social, biodiversity, and how our campuses can contribute to the wider communities around them.”
Gordon says a survey is available from 10-31 March via the University of Otago website to enable anyone to provide feedback.
Several ‘pop-up’ events will be held on campus over the next few weeks to encourage feedback from students in particular.
Feedback will be considered alongside existing relevant strategies and policies to help inform potential Master Planning options.
Over the coming months, the University will share emerging themes, design considerations, and options for further feedback. And once the Master Plan is completed, it will be communicated along with a roadmap for future reviews.
“This is an opportunity to imagine what the next generation of Otago campuses could be,” Gordon says.
“We look forward to hearing from our communities and creating a shared vision for our future places.”
- Kōrero by Communications Advisory Services Manager Jamie Shaw
Share your views
Be a part of the Campus Master Plan Refresh. Participate in a survey to share your ideas and feedback for Otago's campuses.
Campus Master Plan survey