Three staff members and three others will fly to Shanghai next week to discuss offering the assessment of prior learning programme to Shanghai business people interested in updating their tertiary qualifications.
The polytechnic's Centre for the Assessment of Prior Learning (CAPL) has been operating in Otago for about a decade, with enrolments burgeoning over the past three years.
The programme allows experienced people to be assessed in their field of expertise and to undertake short courses to bridge gaps in their academic or trade qualifications so they can obtain diplomas or degrees.
The institution had received a $125,000 Government grant through Education New Zealand's Export Education Innovation Programme to judge whether transporting the concept to Shanghai was achievable, polytechnic marketing, communications and customer service general manager
Mike Waddell said.
Obtaining funding for the two-year pilot programme was "exciting'', he said.
"It allows us to see what the issues there might be in working with people of a different culture and with a different experience of work, while still maintaining our high assessment standards.
It enables us to walk before we can run,'' Mr Waddell said.
The polytechnic had already made contacts in Shanghai because of its sister-city relationship with Dunedin. Memorandums of understanding had been signed with the Shanghai Education Commission and the Shanghai University of Engineering Science.
If this month's visit went well, it was hoped the university would be the provider which offered Shanghai CAPL students their short courses.
Mr Waddell also hoped to enlist the support of the Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, which already had a relationship with the Otago Chamber of Commerce.
Making his third visit to Shanghai, he will be accompanied by CAPL manager Kris Bennett and polytechnic deputy chief executive Dr Robin Day.
Also going on the week-long trip will be Dunedin Mayor Peter Chin, Otago Chamber of Commerce immediate past-president (and Dunedin city councillor) Chris Staynes and chamber chief executive John Christie.
There had been "very positive feedback to date'' from Shanghai about the CAPL concept, Mr Waddell said.
If the programme was introduced there, it was possible some business people would come to Otago to complete academic studies or undertake on-the-job training.
"This could be a big opportunity. It could be incredibly good for Otago Polytechnic and for Dunedin.''
Mr Chin said the position of mayor in China was held in high esteem and his presence would help open doors in Shanghai and boost the "mana'' of the delegation.