Education provider acquires Whitecliffe College

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Former Owner-Managing Director of New Zealand Career College, entrepreneur and Sponsor of our Business Awards Feroz Ali has announced acquisition of the Auckland based Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design.

His Asia Pacific Education (APEDU) is acquiring a majority stake in the award-winning College, a leading private arts and design institution.

Co-Founder Michele Whitecliffe will stay as President, board director and a shareholder of the Company.

The acquisition complements Mr Ali’s purchase of New Zealand Fashion Tech last August (Indian Newslink, September 1, 2017) and looks set to inject fresh energy and focus into both the arts and the private tertiary education sectors in New Zealand.

Impressive Portfolio

“Whitecliffe College is the best acquisition I have made since entering the industry in 1997. It is a great addition to my portfolio as it has an amazing reputation as a degree-granting institution and complements the New Zealand Fashion Tech business well,” Mr Ali said.

His portfolio includes top Canadian tertiary education providers Canadian Tourism College and Sterling College.

“My re-entry into New Zealand this time is more focused on high quality education offerings and I believe that Whitecliffe College, with its offering of postgraduate qualifications, will provide the platform for us to create something really special for New Zealand,” Mr Ali said.

Programme Expansion

Exciting plans are now in the anvil for Programme expansion, and the possibility of new campuses – including one in Ali’s hometown of Vancouver – is being explored.

Mr Ali said that Whitecliffe College will continue to build on its excellent reputation and look at further advancing its offering in other areas, specifically in the degree-granting space such as ICT.

“New Zealand has a vibrant arts and creative sector, and while my two recent New Zealand acquisitions have focused on those elements, we will also be looking at expanding our provision in other strategic areas including trades, Northland, and international campuses,” Mr Ali said.

Extensive Courses

A Category One provider, Whitecliffe delivers Certificates, Degrees, Postgraduate Diplomas and Masters’ Level Programmes in Fine Arts, Photo Media, Fashion Design, Graphic Design, Arts Management and Arts Therapy.

Its tutors, students and graduates are consistently recognised both nationally and globally for their talents, and its Performance Based Research Fund is the highest in the country in comparison to the size of the faculty.

The College has been Michele Whitecliffe’s driving force for the past 35 years. She and her late husband Greg officially opened the school in 1983, preparing students for lifelong creative work and engagement with their communities.

Strong Foundation

“We placed the foundations of what has become a serious contender to any public art institute. With pride, we are working with Ngati Whatua to ensure that Te Reo is a part of every student’s journey. This is being led by my son, Director Strategic Development, Hayden Whitecliffe. Greg’s ancestors came from Arawa Te Waka and the Captain of this waka was Tama Te Kapua who is one of the ancestors of the Ngati Whatua Orakei,” Ms Whitecliffe said.

Ms Whitecliffe said that she is delighted to be joining forces with Mr Ali to help take the arts and design institution to the next level.

“I am very excited to be able to share the next stage of growth with Feroz and believe we will make a great team. His investment, leadership and experience ensure a very bright and positive future for Whitecliffe College of Arts & Design,” he said.

About Feroz Ali

Feroz Ali is a highly respected leader in the private education sector. He founded the New Zealand Career College (NZCC) in 2004, selling it to Academic Colleges Group (ACG) ten years later, before being appointed to the role of Divisional Chief Executive for ACG’s Tertiary Division.

He was instrumental in ACG’s acquisition of NZMA and the New Zealand School of Tourism, helping grow the newly-formed ACG Tertiary & Careers Group to over 6000 students.

It became the largest funded PTE in New Zealand within the first 12 months.

Mr Ali was also a part of the executive team involved in the sale of ACG to Pacific Equity Partners (PEP) in 2015.

He has chaired peak body group Independent Tertiary Institutions (now Quality Tertiary Institutions) and has worked closely with Education New Zealand to help lift industry and institutional performance and contribute to the development of an international education strategy for New Zealand.

In Canada, he serves on the Board of Directors for the BC Council for International Education by the Ministry of Advanced Education.

Mobile: 027-5775533; Email: feroz@apedu.ca

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