Evaluating block mode delivery as a mechanism for integrating industry related courses into tertiary study

Tertiary students are increasingly seeking ways to maximize their study time and reduce the time spent in gaining qualifications. At the Eastern Institute of Technology, Hawke’s Bay (EIT) a new third year degree paper based on industry specific content was delivered using a two week block mode format over the Christmas vacation. This paper builds on an earlier paper relating to the establishment of industry partnerships presented at the 2003 National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications Conference and investigates the problems and benefits of attempting to deliver a new technical subject over a short time frame. The paper considers the views of both instructors and students, and presents the findings of a survey taken to evaluate the reaction of participants to this mode of delivery. The paper attempts to identify if block mode delivery of degree courses is likely to impact on the way that institutes of technology offer their degree programmes. It also includes the findings of a survey of polytechnics and institutes of technology, conducted to establish their attitudes towards block mode delivery. We believe that courses with industry specific content lend themselves to concentrated block mode delivery and that block mode courses will become an accepted method of course delivery.