The Eastern Institute of Technology | Te Pūkenga is a public Tertiary Education Institution in the Hawke's Bay and Gisborne region of New Zealand. It has two main campuses located in Hawke's Bay and Tairawhiti, Gisborne and several smaller Regional Centres. EIT serves as the main regional higher education centre for the East Coast. The EIT mission as stated on its website is to "support the economic and social development of our diverse communities by providing relevant, high quality and accessible education and training to individuals, professionals, businesses, community organisations and iwi." EIT programmes combine practical skills with a sound theory base. Many can be studied on a full-time or part-time basis so there is an increasing opportunity to earn while you learn. Open Entry courses enables people who don't have academic qualifications or don’t feel ready for a higher level of study, an introductory pathway to achieving a fulfilling career. Academic staff at EIT are highly qualified with real-world experience and teaching skills. The student-lecturer ratio is significantly lower than at a university. This allows a more personal approach and direct access to lecturers. EIT aims to meet the demands of the regions’ key industry groups as well as the wider employment market, and networks closely with the community. The wide range of programmes available at EIT ensures that more people have access to quality tertiary education.