The Universal College of Learning (UCOL) is a New Zealand Government TEI (Polytechnic) located primarily in Palmerston North but has campuses also in Whanganui, Masterton and Auckland.
UCOL was founded in 1907 and was known as the Palmerston North Technical School. In 1971 it became the Palmerston North Technical Institute and in 1983 the Manawatu Polytechnic. At the time it specialized in trade apprenticeship courses, and in hobby, art, and craft classes, along with a range of night school programmers in business studies for working adults.
As successive governments placed emphasis on vocational education, the Polytechnic broadened the courses offered, but retained a focus on core vocational programmes. It now delivers Foundation and Certificate programmers, Diplomas, Degrees and Post-Graduate options in a range of subjects as well as community based programmers.
official website: www.ucol.ac.nz