The Magazine of
the SIT2LRN Distance Students December 2017 Issue 25
• Transitioning Programmes • Industry Profiles • Study Tips • On-Site Business Students
About SIT The Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) is one of 18 government polytechnics and institutes of technology offering tertiary education throughout New Zealand. SIT programmes are accredited and approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority up to Master's level. SIT has a proud history of vocational education and training. For over 40 years we have been providing students with quality education across a range of subject areas and at a variety of levels including postgraduate study. This variety enables you to enter your training at the level that suits you and to progress as you are ready. Many of our programmes link to higher level qualifications at SIT and other institutions in New Zealand and throughout the world. We are constantly developing these relationships to ensure that our graduates have maximum mobility.
The Zero Fee Scheme Our Zero Fee Scheme means we pay your tuition fees, so all you have to pay for are the direct material costs for your course. This applies for all of our degree programmes and most of our diplomas and certificates, including distance learning programmes. Many of our graduates are able to start their careers debt-free! This is not an exaggeration – on any given degree, our students save between $10,000 and $19,000 on tuition fees.
Locations Our main campus is in Invercargill, and we have smaller campuses in Christchurch, Queenstown, Gore and Auckland.
SIT2LRN Contact Details Freepost SIT2LRN Private Bag 90114 133 Tay Street Invercargill 9840 Free Call : 0800 4 0 FEES(within NZ) Telephone : 03 211 2699 ext 3320 Free Facsimile : 03 211 2698 Email : info@sit.ac.nz Website : www.sit.ac.nz Free Text : 2LRN (2576)
Welcome to SITUATION Y
ou might never have heard of English poet Edward Young. He did die in 1765, so there’s a fair chance his body of work has never sat on your bed-side table.
But among the pages of his work, he’s got a great quote that will resonate with many SIT2LRN students. “Procrastination is the thief of time.” It’s a succinct way of saying someone who continually puts things off will ultimately achieve little. We’re all guilty of it. Who hasn’t delayed starting or finishing an assignment because something is happening in your street … Coronation or Shortland depending on your age/preference? With everything else happening around you, it’s not always easy to find time to hit the books. Or it might be a bit cold in your study area – or too hot in summer! But if there’s ever going to be a perfect reason for not being able to find time to study, then we think Marty Steel might just come close. The Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety student has to start work at 5am because it’s too hot where he’s been based in Eastern Turkey for the past 18 months. That means he’s getting up at 3.30am, six days a week. But the humanitarian de-miner – that’s someone who destroys unexploded mines in conflict-affected countries – has still found a way to study with SIT2LRN. Being in a high security area – Syria and Iraq share a southern border with Turkey – he has to deal with internet challenges but he’s still determined to compete his SIT2LRN studies. Motivation to beat procrastination or to find the time to tackle the study can come from various sources. For Marty it’s about wanting to be able to return to New Zealand with a qualification to enable him to embark on a new career path. But for Certificate in Small Business graduate Yvette Le Clerc, the motivation came from reading articles in this magazine about other students putting aside personal challenges and various issues to achieve their study goals. A desire to gain New Zealand qualifications and to better understand the health and safety culture in his adopted country meant SIT2LRN was an obvious choice for Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety student Johan Venter. A background in emergency services work in South Africa meant a move into health and safety was a logical step, and he’s now a big advocate of SIT2LRN’s course. Someone who is learning all about motivating others is Diploma in Professional Coaching student Lina Leitane. She knows it’s difficult to juggle everything but believes choosing something that you’re passionate about means the motivation and grit required to complete the study will be there. There’s another great quote from author Lemony Snicket – “If we wait until we're ready, we'll be waiting for the rest of our lives” that seems to sum up Bachelor of Professional Communication student Megan Hiew’s attitude to life. The 21-year-old has already completed a Diploma in Digital Film through SIT2LRN and is in her final year of her degree. Add in to the mix part-time work in a café, some serious Lego construction projects, and a volunteer role as a deckhand on the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s heritage fleet, and her study journey is an impressive one. You’ll find all these inspiring stories – and more – inside. We hope they’ll provide the inspiration to break through any procrastination issues you might have or be the spark that motivates you into study. Because then all you’ll need to get started is this quote from Romantic Age poet William Wordsworth: “To begin, begin.”
CONTENTS
Production Manager: Teri McClelland
Cover photo: courtesy of Rebecca Williams
Editor: Mark Hotton
Diploma in Digital Photography graduate (page 18)
Contributors: Claire Allison, Nathan Burdon Co-ordinator: Vicki Popham Art Editor: Elana Bai
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SIT2LRN Programme Profile
Facilitator Profiles
Student Profiles
Study Tips
10 Kevin Thompson
4 Transitioning
-Bachelor of Applied Management facilitator
-Certificate in Business (Small Business Management) graduate
Programmes: Adult Education and Training
7 Transitioning Programmes: Diploma in Digital Photography to New Zealand Diploma in Digital Photography
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11 Marshall Le -Bachelor of Applied Management facilitator
12 Anna Smythe -Certificate in Sports Training & Development and Health Sciences facilitator
On-site Programme
13 Yvette Le Clerc
14 Marty Steel
Industry Profiles 20 Cook Islands Tertiary
-Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety student
15 Lina Leitane
Training Institute
21 Niagara and McNeill Drilling
-Diploma in Professional Coaching student
16 Megan Hiew -Bachelor of Professional Communication student
17 Johan Venter -Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety graduate
Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Certificate and Diploma in Sport and Recreation
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18 Rebecca Williams -Diploma in Digital Photography graduate
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22 On-Site Business Students 23 Lucas Cross 23 Silvia Xu
SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE
TRANSITIONING PROGRAMMES:
ADULT EDUCATION AND TRAINING The Adult Education suite of programmes offered by SIT2LRN have been updated as a result of the NZQA driven Targeted Review of Qualifications (TRoQ) project. It is important to recognise that although the programmes have been changed, the qualifications they replace are still valid and recognised within the industry. Going forward, all new students will be enrolled in the new qualifications and existing students will be given the option of completing the existing qualifications within the permitted changeover period, or they can transition into the replacement qualification. To assist students who wish to consider transitioning to the replacement qualification, SIT2LRN have put together
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SITUATION December 2017
transition plans for each programme of study to ensure students have the right information to help them decide whether transitioning is the best option for them. In addition to these transition plans, SIT2LRN staff are there to offer additional support and information. Students can contact the programme manager by either emailing Chris.Montgomery@sit.ac.nz or phoning 0800 4 0 FEES ext. 3359 (within NZ) if they would like to discuss their options in more detail.
National Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Vocational/Workplace) (Level 5) transition to New Zealand Certificate in Adult Literacy and Numeracy Education (Level 5) Transition Plan: Unit Standard in National Certificate qualification
Equivalent Unit Standard in New Zealand qualification
21204 version 4
29623 and 29625 plus 1 from 29624, 29628, or 29632
7097 version 4
7097 or 29628
Unspecified cross credits as per NZQA qualification document
Not applicable
SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 4) transition to New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 4)
National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 5) transition to New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 5)
Transition Plan:
Transition Plan:
Unit Standard in National Certificate qualification
Equivalent Unit Standard in New Zealand qualification
Unit Standard in National Certificate qualification
7091 Version 4 (elective – choose 1 of)
7091 Version 5 (elective – choose 1 of)
7091 Version 4 (elective – 7091 Version 5 (elective – choose 1 of) choose 1 of)
26009 Version 1 (elective – choose 1 of)
26009 Version 2 (elective – choose 1 of)
26009 Version 1 (elective – choose 1 of)
26009 Version 2 (elective – choose 1 of)
7108 Version 4 (elective – choose min 8 credits)
7108 Version 4 (elective – choose 1 of)
7097 Version 4 (elective – choose min 8 credits)
7097 Version 5 (compulsory)
7097 Version 4 (elective – choose min 8 credits)
No equivalent unit
7102 Version 4 (elective – No equivalent unit choose min 8 credits)
7102 Version 4 (elective – choose min 8 credits)
29690 Version 1 (compulsory)
7100 Version 4 (elective – 7100 Version 4 (compulsory) choose min 18 credits)
Equivalent Unit Standard in New Zealand qualification
25779 Version 1 (elective 25779 Version 2 (compulsory) – choose min 8 credits)
4098 Version 6 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
4098 Version 6 (elective 4098 Version 6 (compulsory) – choose min 18 credits)
20469 Version 3 (elective 20469 Version 3 – choose min 18 credits) (compulsory)
20469 Version 3 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
11551 Version 5 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
11551 Version 6 (compulsory)
7110 Version 4 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
7110 Version 5 (compulsory)
7093 Version 3 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
7093 Version 5 (compulsory)
11552 Version 4 (elective – choose min 18 credits)
11552 Version 6 (compulsory)
11281 Version 4 (elective)
No equivalent unit
7114 Version 4 (elective)
No equivalent unit
No equivalent unit
11551 Version 5 (elective No equivalent unit – choose min 18 credits) 7110 Version 4 (elective 7110 Version 5 (compulsory) – choose min 18 credits) 7093 Version 3 (elective 7093 Version 5 (elective – – choose min 18 credits) choose 1 of) 11552 Version 4 (elective No equivalent unit – choose min 18 credits)
No equivalent unit
7106 Version 4 (elective)
No equivalent unit
Unspecified cross credits as per NZQA qualification document
Not allowed
SITUATION December 2017
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SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE
National Diploma in Adult Education and Training (Level 6) transition to New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching (Level 6) Transition Plan: Unit Standard in National Diploma qualification
Equivalent Local Paper in New Zealand qualification
10472 Version 3
No equivalent paper
7100 Version 4
Together with 9192 equates to ATT104
7097 Version 4
No equivalent unit
11552 Version 4
Together with 7094 equates to ATT110
25781 Version 1
No equivalent paper
25779 Version 1
No equivalent paper
21204 Version 4
No equivalent paper
11551 Version 4
Together with 7094 equates to ATT109
7094 Version 3
No equivalent paper (may be combined with 11551 and/or 11552 for ATT109 and/or ATT110)
7104 Version 3
No equivalent paper
7098 Version 3
No equivalent paper
11280 Version 4
No equivalent paper
9189 Version 5
No equivalent paper
9188 Version 5
No equivalent unit
9192 Version 5
No equivalent paper (may be combined with 7100 for ATT104)
Unspecified cross credits as per NZQA qualification document
Not allowed
If you are not sure what to do in regard to the transition process or are unsure what option to take, please do not hesitate to get in contact with the programme manager, Chris Montgomery, who will guide you through the transition process so you can continue your study and achieve the qualification that is right for you.
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SIT2LRN PROGRAMME PROFILE
TRANSITIONING PROGRAMMES:
DIPLOMA IN
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY TO
NEW ZEALAND DIPLOMA IN
DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY SIT2LRN’s Digital Photography course has also been affected by the changes introduced as part of the TRoQ process. The Diploma in Digital Photography (Level 5) will be replaced by the New Zealand Diploma in Photography (Level 5) (NZDP). SIT2LRN is considering developing a Level 6 NZDP and are looking at graduate and student feedback regarding the demand for this. In 2018, the new NZDP (Level 5) is planned to be rolled out and the existing Diploma in Digital Photography (Level 5) will be phased out. Existing students and students who are able to complete the diploma in 2018 will be able to enrol and complete in 2018, but new students, especially new part-time students, will be encouraged to enrol in the NZDP when applications become available at the end of 2017. The main difference between the two programmes is that Digital Film will not be as closely linked to the New Zealand Diploma in Photography as it was in the past. Otherwise the papers will remain as graded (A+, A, A-, B+ etc) 15-credit courses which should minimise transition confusion for current students. A table outlining the transition plan is included here. Some papers will be able to be directly cross-credited in to the new programme. Some 200 level (Level 6) papers may be creditable to a future Level 6 NZDP programme.
Diploma in Digital Photography (Level 5 & 6) Transition to New Zealand Diploma in Photography DDP existing paper
Equitable Paper in NZDP (L5)
Cross Credit
DDP103
NZDP100
CC
DDP106
NZDP101
CC
DDP108
NZDP102
CC
DDP111
NZDP103
CC
DDP203
No equitable paper at L5
N/A
DDP206
No equitable paper at L5
N/A
DDP207
No equitable paper at L5
N/A
DDP231
No equitable paper at L5
N/A
DDF101
No equitable paper
N/A
DDF105
No equitable paper
N/A
DDF109
No equitable paper
N/A
DDF110
NZDP104
CC
Our current Diploma in Digital Film is also up for development and will be transitioned into the New Zealand Diploma in Screen Production in 2018/2019. More information is to be made available on this closer to the qualification roll out. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Programme Manager Steve Woller (Steve. Woller@sit.ac.nz)
SITUATION SITUAT UATION ION December 2017 201
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ON-SITE PROGRAMME PROFILE
BACHELOR OF
SPORT AND EXERCISE CERTIFICATE AND DIPLOMA IN
SPORT AND RECREATION A couple of minutes into the tour and it’s impossible to miss just how proud SIT Programme Manager Duncan McKenzie is of the sport and exercise facility that has been created at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT). From the modern testing and teaching facilities, to the well-appointed student gym and the latest addition of an anti-gravity treadmill, it’s the sort of setup that the Duncan is justifiably proud of. Catering for classes of 20-30 students, with a combined school of about 150, the programme is more than competitive with offerings from around the country, Duncan said. “We receive great support from SIT chief executive Penny Simmonds. She believes in what we are doing and we are really appreciative of that because we are so well resourced.” The Bachelor of Sport and Exercise has been designed to prepare graduates for a leadership career in the sport, recreation and fitness industry. The course includes foundation sports management and sport science papers. Additional papers in year two and year three of the course ensure subject specialisation with theoretical knowledge and practical experience. Students will travel down two of three available pathways, choosing from Sport and Leisure Management, Exercise Science/Health Promotion or Physical Education Teaching/ Coaching.
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ON-SITE PROGRAMME PROFILE
The Sport and Leisure Management pathway is designed for students interested in opportunities such as event and facility management, sports coordinators in schools or sports associations, and recreation planners and managers in local government councils, funding agencies and local sports groups. Many graduates go on to work in local gyms, schools or as sports development officers with organisations like Sport Southland. Duncan believes that the interaction with the community is a major factor in the programme’s success. Internships mean that students are regularly providing a benefit back to the local community - “so it’s definitely not a one-way street.” The Exercise Science/Health Promotion pathway is suited to students interested in sport sciences, conditioning, rehabilitation and health promotion and includes elements of physiology, fitness assessment and programming, sports science and exercise and nutrition as therapy. “Nutrition has become a really important aspect of this area,” Duncan said. “It’s one of the areas where we have really listened to industry and worked closely with them to include those areas which will help students to get employed.” The final pathway is Physical Education Teaching/Coaching and is designed for people wishing to coach or move into Physical Education and Health teaching in secondary schools. The pathway provides an in-depth background in exercise science, health and physical activity. The pathway essentially develops skills
in pedagogy that are applicable to teaching and coaching environments. “About a third of our graduates go into teaching, either at the secondary or primary level, but they might also head towards a Regional Sports Trust and have a role in the Green Prescription programme or get involved in exercise science and nutrition,” Duncan said. One student, Adele Cotton, is in her third year of the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise qualification, and will graduate in December. “For me, the degree has been challenging at times, but very rewarding. I have enjoyed being able to use my passion to further my knowledge and education, whilst being able to help others on their health and fitness journey,” she said. Adele said the small classes allow for a lot more hands-on application and the ability to interact more closely with tutors. “The opportunities to work with real-life clients, sports organisations and sports teams, in multiple capacities has also been a standout. I particularly enjoyed trips to the Anatomy Museum in Dunedin and fitness testing using specialised equipment. We are among a select few of the institutes that possess some of this world-class equipment.” Adele is looking forward to making the most of her skills once she graduates. “My aspiration within the sport and exercise sector is to work within a high performance sporting environment, testing clients and helping them to achieve at the highest level. I especially enjoy exercise physiology and exercise rehabilitation.”
SIT also offers a Certificate in Sport and Recreation as a fulltime, 34-week programme. It provides students with the skills and knowledge required for employment or further training in the sport and recreation sector. The theoretical and practical skills taught in this qualification reflect the diverse range of skills required to work in the sector. On completion, students will be equipped to seek career opportunities in a variety of areas including sporting bodies, fitness training and leisure centres, regional and local authorities and outdoor recreation providers. A successful year will allow students to apply for progression to the Diploma in Sport and Exercise Science (Level 5) and Year 1 of the Bachelor of Sport and Exercise. As part of their studies, students get to work in the well-equipped SIT gym with further opportunities to gain skills in management, paid work experience, placements and the ability to train clients from the community. Kate Wilson was a graduate of the certificate course, which included spending time as an intern working at Sport Southland. She was awarded the 2016 Sport Southland Excellence in Sport and Recreation award after a successful year. “SIT has definitely changed me as a person. I am a lot more confident in my physical abilities, as well as mentally. I am willing to learn and I want to learn as much as I can while I’m here,” Kate said. “SIT is in my hometown, it has the Zero Fees scheme and it had the programme I wanted to study.”
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FACILITATOR PROFILE
KEVIN THOMPSON Bachelor of Applied Management facilitator
It was while executing drug warrants as a policeman that Kevin Thompson first began establishing the seeds of a vocation in health and safety. During a 26-year career in the police force, Kevin was innately aware of the importance of planning when mitigating the risks to himself and those around him. “Safety and risk management formed an essential part of my every-day practice, to ensure my own safety and that of the people I worked with,” he said. “Preparing a risk plan for dealing with executing drug warrants established a good groundwork for the modern site-specific safety plan for work.”
“It can take considerable time to change the thinking and behaviours of a group, and it cannot be forced, it must be massaged.” Kevin left the force in 1996 to set up his own safety services business in the construction industry. With no formal qualifications for the role he set about studying unit standard-based qualifications, as well as gaining a hands-on knowledge of the industry.
“I would encourage those who have not yet taken the step towards formal training to approach SIT2LRN and plan their diploma to fit their work and lifestyle commitments. My philosophy for many years now has been one of ‘knowledge is power and ignorance is the greatest sin’.”
The world of health and safety has changed a great deal since the early 1970s. From a time when workers flat out refused to wear fluoro vests, to the much more understanding and accepting culture of today where employees will wear them to and from work and children are regularly donned in high-vis during class excursions, Kevin has seen a sea change in attitudes. “The management of risk, and the strategy around how safety is embedded in a business is very important to me,” he said. “The thing that is not controlled or planned for is the thing that will kill you. Understanding how people behave, and their interaction with their environment is critical. One of the hardest challenges any safety consultant faces, is change management and the culture that is present in a workplace."
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-Kevin Thompson Six years later he joined a company specialising in delivering temporary traffic management and confined space training to workers, later taking on a role as a Regional Safety
SITUATION SITUA UA December 2017
Manager with a large construction company. By 2010 he had risen to the position of National Safety Manager, specialising in strategy and risk management. Two years later Kevin opted to head back into the marketplace as a consultant and again looked to develop his professional knowledge with more study, completing a National Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. “I found as an adult student, with industry experience, I was very well equipped to bring my knowledge to the study and give it meaning. For me learning at distance was a new concept, but I quickly embraced it and found the experience fulfilling and academically it challenged me to perform.” In 2017 Kevin was approach by SIT2LRN to become a facilitator and he quickly agreed. “This work through SIT2LRN as a facilitator is the greatest thing I can give back to industry and ensure that what I have learnt is not lost, but passed on to students to assist them in their journey of taking safety to the next level,” Kevin said. “I would encourage those who have not yet taken the step towards formal training to approach SIT2LRN and plan their diploma to fit their work and lifestyle commitments. My philosophy for many years now has been one of ‘knowledge is power and ignorance is the greatest sin’.”
FACILITATOR PROFILE
MARSHALL LE Bachelor of Applied Management facilitator
Marshall Le’s philosophy is to put his students in the driver’s seat and make sure they enjoy the trip. With a background in mechanical engineering, project management and health and safety management, Marshall is a facilitator for SIT2LRN’s Bachelor of Applied Management, and works as an automotive design engineer in Invercargill.
After arriving in New Zealand, Marshall spent a year in Auckland researching at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), before deciding to take a Post Graduate Diploma in Business Enterprise at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) in Invercargill.
Originally from Vietnam, Marshall moved to New Zealand in 2015, after learning this country had been voted many times as one of the best in the world.
“I want to open an engineering business eventually, and find a more suitable place to raise a family, and Invercargill ticked all of our boxes for our family of three. Besides working and getting to know the friendly Southland people, my family enjoys
“So I decided to move to New Zealand, to have a better place to raise my family.” Marshall graduated from Vietnam’s National University of Technology with a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering in 2010, followed by a Master of Engineering from the University of Adelaide in 2012. “I came back to my hometown in Vietnam to work in maritime construction for three years, where I delivered two multi-million-dollar vessel construction projects. “Due to the size of the project, the project management skills and health and safety management knowledge really make a difference and contribute to the success of the projects. My management mantra is ‘Do it once and do it right’ which ensures the right people, tools and material are available, with the right amount at the right time for each task, and the health and safety procedures are clearly communicated and followed.”
“Being a facilitator at SIT2LRN provides an opportunity for me to continue working in my field as an engineer, continue to update myself with skills and experience and then to transfer that knowledge to the students, which is a win-win situation.” -Marshall Le various outdoor activities at the parks and the beach.” While studying at SIT, Marshall was asked to develop papers in project
management and health and safety, and then to facilitate those papers. “Being a facilitator at SIT2LRN provides an opportunity for me to continue working in my field as an engineer, continue to update myself with skills and experience and then to transfer that knowledge to the students, which is a win-win situation.” Marshall worked as a tutor during his time at the University of Adelaide and AUT, however, he says being a facilitator for online courses is totally new to him. “This new environment requires me to have a different mindset to ensure the students have an interesting learning experience and get the most knowledge from the course.” Fortunately, he says, SIT2LRN has facilitator workshops, materials and supportive administrators to support facilitators like him. “I’m always passionate about facilitating and teaching other people because I want to make an impact on my students’ lives by transferring my knowledge and experiences about the subjects to them.”
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FACILITATOR PROFILE
ANNA SMYTHE Certificate in Sports Training & Development and Health Sciences facilitator
Representing New Zealand on the athletics track has provided SIT2LRN facilitator Anna Smythe with key insights into the rigours of sports training.
A facilitator with SIT2LRN for more than a decade, Anna initially helped to create courses including the Certificate in Sports Training and Development and is now involved with developing the New Zealand Certificate in Sport Coaching.
“Now, trying to retrain my body for horse riding – pretty much the opposite way of using your body – is providing a new challenge. I'm putting into practice a lot of the material from the sports psychology paper.”
The discipline required to find progression in sprinting has provided a great education for Anna.
The Certificate in Sports Training and Development aims to give students the skills and knowledge for work or further training in the sports training sector.
“I competed mostly in the 100m, with some races over 200m and 400m over the years,” Anna said. “After 15 years competing, my body found it hard to sprint around bends without getting injured! Highlights for me were running personal bests rather than specific events and places.” “Training for years for just hundredths of seconds improvement can be tough, but that's why it's just a great mentally and physically challenging sport,” she said. “Although it was special to win a national title and then a silver at the Aussie champs – however that was the same year I ran personal bests, so it goes hand in hand.
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The content gives athletes and coaches the knowledge to allow themselves and others to achieve their potential. The programme has a strong focus on sport psychology, nutrition and exercise prescription and finding out how the body becomes stronger, fitter and faster when stressed by exercise. Anna, who lives on the coast north of Dunedin, studied Health Science and Physical Education at the University of Otago, completed a course in Electronic Multimedia in Wellington, worked as a personal trainer in Wellington and Auckland, and also with horses at an eventing stable in the United Kingdom.
SITUATION SITU U ION December 2017 UATION UAT
All those experiences have helped to give her a strong grounding for her facilitation work. “I'm very lucky to facilitate these courses. I have lovely, motivated students who are interested in learning, and I enjoy the material I work with,” she said. “SIT2LRN’s sports training course covers many aspects of training and coaching – I think I have a good understanding of all the different facets of training/coaching having lived, breathed and studied it for so long. I've also been lucky enough to have incredible mentors, coaches, trainers and friends with vast knowledge and experience.” However, it’s not all about sport for Anna, who balanced her Bachelor in Physical Education with a Bachelor in Fine Arts. “Painting is an escape for me – a way of switching off as I tend to get lost in it,” she said. “However I haven't had time to paint for a couple of years – two wee boys (aged two and nine months) have happened! But I'm hoping to get back into it in a low-key way over summer.”
STUDENT PROFILE
YVETTE LE CLERC Certificate in Business (Small Business Management) graduate
Reading articles in the SITuation magazine about the experiences of other students and how they juggled study with their normal life provided valuable motivation for a Northland student.
When Yvette Le Clerc began to explore study options in early 2015, she realised the challenges of her partner working for the police and having children to care for meant going to night school was not an option. The SIT Zero Fees scheme was one of the main reasons she was attracted to the Invercargill-based organisation, along with the flexibility that distance learning offered and the course content. The subject of further education came up during a work appraisal while she was working in a customer service role in Whangarei. Her employer encouraged her to undertake personal development, and they discussed possible business papers and study options. “Since it had been some years since I had studied, I decided on the Certificate in Business, as it was good exposure to marketing, business and management. It meant I could then decide which of these three I wanted to learn more about by pursuing a diploma or degree. The certificate needed a business model idea and since my partner and I had not long started a small business renting out portable cabins, while still juggling paid employment, this was perfect timing.”
“I found the facilitators really helpful and supportive, even just when confirming that I was on the correct track when I wasn't sure if I had understood the questions asked." -Yvette Le Clerc She has now completed her study and will soon graduate with a Certificate in Business (Small Business Management). The 50-year-old said she found inspiration in articles – like this one – as she balanced home life with a husband and two school-aged children, 26 hours of work a week, and the challenges of setting up and running of a new small business while completing two years of distance learning. “I liked reading the magazines that were sent out and knowing others have done this, completed their study and have survived,” she said.
“The fact that I could study at home meant I could fit study in amongst my busy life and I could give my children the attention they were used to. I could pick the hours I wanted to study so evenings and very early mornings became the norm." “It was very important to stay focussed, be disciplined and keep to a schedule. I made sure I never got behind. I didn't find this easy but the reward of passing was enough to keep me motivated.” She found much of what she learnt on the course was “really relevant” and she’s been able to put things like writing a business plan, forecasting, marketing, market research and HR to use in their business. “I found the facilitators really helpful and supportive, even just when confirming that I was on the correct track when I wasn't sure if I had understood the questions asked." “It was good to engage with other people on the discussion board and know that there were others like me out there." Now the certificate is finished, and their business is growing, she plans to take a break from study but won’t rule out returning to SIT2LRN to extend her knowledge.
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STUDENT PROFILE
MARTY STEEL Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety student
It can be a veritable minefield when embarking on study – trying to juggle normal life with the exciting challenges of starting down a new educational path. But for one SIT2LRN student, that minefield isn’t just a saying – Marty Steel actually works in one. He’s a consultant who conducts quality assurance and control checks on a mine clearance organisation as a part of a joint EU, UNDP and Turkish Government sponsored mine clearance programme in Eastern Turkey. It’s a role he’s held since March 2016 and is set to end this month, although he’s keeping his options open at the moment. Marty joined the New Zealand army when he was 19, serving in the infantry for 22 years before retiring in 2000 after stints in many countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Australia, the Middle East and throughout the Pacific. “It was during an operational tour to Cambodia that I gained the knowledge and experience that enabled me to become a humanitarian de-miner at the end of my military career.” Since retiring, he has worked on demining projects in numerous conflict and post-conflict countries, including Cambodia, Bosnia, Western Sahara, Rwanda, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan DRC, Mozambique, Somalia, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Russia and Turkey.
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He had planned to return to New Zealand after a stint in Kenya, but discovered more than 30 years of experience working, supervising and managing hazardous tasks counted for nothing and he needed a formal qualification to be able to find a job in health and safety and risk management. He decided to take the role in Turkey – where they’ve now destroyed more than 20,000 mines – and enrol in the SIT2LRN Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety. Not surprisingly, it’s been a challenge to juggle his study with his workload. Because of the heat, operations begin at 5am, which means a 3.30am start. Work stops at noon and the mines are collected and taken to a central destruction site to be destroyed. “Once this is completed we head back to camp arriving about 3pm. Then it’s clean up, administration, prepare for the next day’s operations and sleep. We work six days a week and Sundays are a clean-up and preparation day. I normally do a three-to-four month deployment and then have a month off.” Because they are working in a military zone, access to the internet can also be a challenge. Extreme weather conditions can also affect
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communications. He was able to finish his first assignment during leave time but has had obvious challenges so plans to catch up on his study during his next leave block. “The facilitators have been very supportive and offered positive feedback. I’ve been using my practical experience and actual on the job health and safety requirements for my assignments. I’m learning to formulate these offshore requirements into the New Zealand context and legislation.” He’s unsure how long the course will take to complete but is enjoying the challenges that the study has thrown at him. “I left school at the end of the fourth form aged 15 and have learnt to live in the real world through a lot of hard knocks and real life experiences in both the armed forces and working in small teams often in arduous and dangerous conditions. This has taught me to appreciate New Zealand and its culture. With little education I have still been able to rise to the top of my profession in the army and to gain senior positions within my current career. I don’t underestimate the value of education and I am very keen to get some formal qualifications and that’s where SIT2LRN is doing a great job.”
STUDENT PROFILE
LINA LEITANE Diploma in Professional Coaching student
Lina Leitane hopes to help others by blending her previous life and work experiences and love for the outdoors with the coaching skills she’s learning with SIT2LRN.
Lina is halfway through completing her Diploma in Professional Coaching, fitting her studies around work as an outdoor instructor and family life. She is originally from the small country of Latvia on the Baltic Sea, but during the past 13 years since graduating from university, Lina has lived and travelled throughout Europe, the Middle East, South America and New Zealand. New Zealand has been home for the past seven years, and she and her husband now live in Banks Peninsula on the east coast of the South Island with their two bilingual children, a five-year-old son, and a two-year-old daughter. Over the years, Lina’s life and work experiences have mainly revolved around people, communication and co-operation. She’s worked in the corporate world, undertaken freelance communication consultancy and project management, and volunteered in mission organisations and for various non-government organisations. “After having my children, I wanted to rediscover myself professionally, do some growing and changing. Over
the years I had developed an interest in counselling and coaching and was looking at where I could study it. I heard about SIT2LRN from a friend, looked into it and the programme seemed interesting, so I thought, I’ve got nothing to lose – let’s give it a go!” This is Lina’s first experience with distance learning. She has previously studied communications and business at university, and has a Bachelor of Social Sciences in Communication Science. Last year she took a Small Business Management course with Te Wananga o Aotearoa. “So far I’m half way through the course and loving the study. It’s amazing how much opportunity one gets to learn about oneself and develop not only knowledge and skills, but also self-awareness. I believe the more in tune we are with our true selves, the more we have to give to others.
I would say if you chose to study something that really interests you via distance learning, the motivation and grit will probably be there. I think the key is to ask, ‘why am I doing this? Do I truly want and need this?’” Lina says she’s loved putting into practice what she’s learning, having individual and group coaching sessions, using different coaching tools, and getting a feel for what she has to offer, and what her coaching approach is. Distance learning has allowed her to fit studies in with other priorities in her life – family, recreation and work. She can self-manage when and how she studies. “I feel like this course has been a great way not just to learn but to do some personal inventory of who I am, what’s important to me, what drives me and what I want to contribute to this world.”
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STUDENT PROFILE
MEGAN HIEW
Bachelor of Professional Communication student
At just 21 years old, Megan Hiew is an old hand at distance learning. The Auckland-based student is in her final intake of the Bachelor of Professional Communication with SIT2LRN, and already has her Diploma of Digital Film through SIT2LRN. She’s following in the footsteps of other family members.
language and editing paper. Feedback from my facilitators has been instrumental in improving my writing and editing skills – I’ve learned to gather my ideas faster and articulate more clearly.” For others studying through SIT2LRN, Megan recommends:
“My mom and uncle had previously studied diplomas/certificates with SIT2LRN and loved it, so they recommended the idea to me.
ª Finding a friend you can talk to about your studies. The amount of reading can seem daunting without having another person to discuss it with.
My brother and I were homeschooled by our mom through our primary years and also used a homeschool curriculum through high school, so I found SIT2LRN’s online learning system easy to adapt to.”
ª Don’t forget to use your local libraries – she found making an account with the digital library Overdrive to be very handy.
Megan began studying with SIT2LRN when she finished her Year 13 certificate, working towards the Diploma in Digital Film.
ª When researching, don’t forget to search videos in sites such as Vimeo and YouTube – visual aids and spoken information can help create a break in all the written information you will be taking in.
“Film-making with my friends was one of my primary hobbies during my teenage years, and I very much enjoyed SIT2LRN’s diploma and learning the official film-making terms for what I had been doing for the past few years.”
ª Prezi is a great alternative to PowerPoint – it’s easy to work with and the transitions and colours look awesome, with more fluid motions and inbuilt animations and images.
When she completed that qualification, Megan decided to enrol in the Bachelor of Professional Communication. “To be honest, I didn’t know what to expect – but the term ‘professional communication’ was most intriguing! I have especially loved the journalism-themed papers and the
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Megan works part-time at a café in Botany, and volunteers as a deckhand aboard the New Zealand Maritime Museum’s heritage fleet, usually on the scow Ted Ashly.
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“I absolutely love being out on the water, as I have spent much of my weeks inside studying for the past few years. Finding a balance between learning and spending time outdoors was essential for me, since many of my other hobbies – photography, video editing, animation – also involve work on the computer.” Before joining the volunteer crew, Megan was a volunteer host inside the museum. That led her to write a paper in her first year of the Bachelor of Professional Communication on the 1863 wreck of the HMS Orpheus on the Manukau Bar. She’s also brought together two interests – maritime history and Lego, and is currently working on a Lego model of Ted Ashly and has completed one of the waka Aotearoa 1. “I also love drawing, writing stories, reading thriller fiction, composing short tunes on Garageband, and kayaking at my local beaches.” When she’s completed her degree, Megan says she’d love to help manage a social media account for a company, or intern in a newsroom. “Honestly, I’m open to anything communication-related. And of course, film-making is still a major interest! And I would be very grateful to study again in the future, though probably not for a little while - I’ve been studying for nearly all my life!”
STUDENT PROFILE
JOHAN VENTER Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety graduate
A background in emergency services work in South Africa meant a move into health and safety was a logical step for Johan Venter – and a desire to gain New Zealand qualifications meant SIT2LRN was the obvious choice.
After leaving school, Johan had wanted to study medicine but when that was unable to happen he opted to pursue a career in emergency services, through the combined fire and medical services in South Africa. He went on to study both fire technology and trauma and in 1994 registered with the South African Medical and Dental Council as an Intermediate Life Support (ILS) Paramedic. In 1996, after additional fire services studies, he was appointed to Leading Fireman and Instructor. “It was around this time that I became interested in health and safety and pursued further studies into the safety field. I reckon it’s due to health and safety being such a big factor of the normal daily workings within the fire and medical services that it’s almost the norm to follow a health and safety direction.” In 2007 he began working as a Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) officer for an Australian mining company in South Africa, a role he enjoyed, but in 2014, Johan and his family moved to New Zealand for a new start. He took a role in Christchurch with Steel & Tube (the largest manufacturer, supplier and distributor of steel products in New Zealand), and he’s responsible for HSE in the firm’s South Island branches. Although well qualified in South African HSE, he realised it was
“It’s well-structured towards its practical applications within the workplace. It’s not just a paper-based qualification as I have experienced with one or two previous studies, but it enables you to do the practical application of your training within the workplace. -Johan Venter
important to gain New Zealand qualifications and better understand the safety culture and how it operates in this country. Being married with a family, the best study option was to take up distance learning because it meant he could continue to work full-time while studying. “After comparing providers and doing some enquiries I decided that the SIT2LRN’s distance learning programme would suit me best.” He’s been impressed with the standard and level of the SIT2LRN course.
“It’s well-structured towards its practical applications within the workplace. It’s not just a paperbased qualification as I have experienced with one or two previous studies, but it enables you to do the practical application of your training within the workplace." He’s also full of praise for the facilitators, who he’s found passionate about what they do. “They take the time to communicate with you and assist in solving or looking for a solution with you to any of your problems or questions. You can feel that they are there to assist you.” “I’ve also found the Blackboard discussions very helpful, as this opens your way of thinking as you look at health and safety from different viewpoints. The availability of facilitators, online library, student communications and discussions all forms part of a great study support structure.” He has been fortunate to be able to incorporate his assignments into different aspects of his work with Steel & Tube. “This saves me time, meaning that a study assignment becomes a report for work and my work report becomes my assignment.” Johan intends to encourage others to take part in studies with SIT2LRN because he’s seen the benefits and flexibility that it offers.
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STUDENT PROFILE
REBECCA WILLIAMS Diploma in Digital Photography graduate
A love of horses and the rural lifestyle is at the heart of Rebecca Williams’ passion for photography. The SIT2LRN Diploma in Digital Photography graduate lives on a remote sheep and beef farm in the ranges an hour west of Gisborne.
on the edge of Te Urewera National Park meant travelling to a main centre to join a camera club was a struggle.
Originally from Wales, and having trained in estate management in London, Rebecca met her New Zealand husband in Israel while he was on his OE and the pair returned to New Zealand in 1990, later raising three children.
“The Diploma in Digital Photography with SIT2LRN seemed to offer the solution. It is a structured course consisting of eight papers covering exactly what you need to know to improve your photography and understand the industry. I also liked the fact that it was an NZQAapproved course.”
With her children heading off to boarding school, Rebecca began looking for a challenge that would sit alongside the demanding task of helping to run the family farm. “Over the years I have done Farm Business Management papers through distance learning but photography was always my real interest and passion. I was continually looking for ways to improve and learn more. I enjoy trying to document the daily life on the farm and the seasonal changes,” she said. “Also, with horse work a regular part of farm life and with a family that all enjoy riding, I became particularly interested in photographing horses and equestrian events. I wanted to improve my skills photographing horses in action and capturing images of farm life. I wanted to reach a level where my images could be good enough to use in publications.” Rebecca was excited to discover the course was available online, as living
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Armed with her camera and aided by reliable broadband, Rebecca set about capturing the rhythms and shades of country life, especially the special relationship between people and horses. “I love how the camera can catch a split-second moment. It is fascinating to see all the movement frozen in a single frame. There is so much going on between a horse and rider in those few moments when a horse clears a jump and I try to capture some of that excitement,” she said. “I want to take images that demonstrate the partnership of the horse and rider. I also love shooting some of the more casual moments around the trucks and horse floats, when riders are preparing their horses. I can’t help but enjoy photographing rural life. From the seasonal changes, misty mornings and beautiful sunrises to farm dogs in
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action, and large herds of sheep or cattle moving through the landscape and in the yards. I love photographing the shearers in the shed and the farrier shoeing horses. There is nothing better than documenting the honest hard work that is part of farming in New Zealand.” Isolation meant Rebecca had to be adaptable, but she received plenty of support to overcome those issues. “One of the challenges I faced with living in a remote location was there were very few people available to photograph. I relied on my family for practicing portraits. My husband and children were very patient about the number of times they were photographed! Other challenges were street photography or architecture shots – I had to make a few more trips to town, or work on ways of hunting out suitable buildings when we were away from the farm. There were times when I wondered how it would ever be possible to do what was asked, but the facilitators took you through the process stepby-step and I would often find at the end of a paper I was astonished at what I had achieved. I learned so much about cameras and lenses, how to use Photoshop, different techniques, lighting and composition. Each paper builds your knowledge in such a way that when you look back you can see your improvement.”
STUDY TIPS
STUDY J TIPS J Distance learning is a great option if you need to fit your studies around work and family, but it does come with its own set of challenges. After choosing your qualification, the next step is to prioritise study time, while keeping a good work/ study/life balance. So we've put together some tips to help you succeed.
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Have a dedicated study space. Whether it's an office or your living room, try to find a space that's quiet, organised and distractionfree, and available at all times. Ask your friends and family to respect your study time, and consider turning off your phone to avoid interruptions.
Make sure your family and workplace are on board. Your employer may be able to offer some flexibility around when assignments are due, and sometimes you may have to miss some family activities in order to meet your study commitments. Support from your family and employer is invaluable.
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Plan your class and work schedules as far ahead as possible to avoid time conflicts and to use your time efficiently. A wall planner can help, clearly showing what hours you're at work, what family commitments you have, and what time you have free to dedicate to study.
Figure out what time of the day your mind works best. If you're a morning person, getting up earlier to study may work best for you. If you're more of a night owl, studying in the evenings may suit you best. Do you work best in short chunks of time, or for longer periods?
Get into a study routine and set realistic goals. Motivation and discipline for study has to come from you, and while the flexibility of online learning is its strength, it can also become a threat, and lead to procrastination. Identify your distractions – if it's television, schedule only your favourite programmes on your wall planner. If Facebook or other websites are your “down the rabbit hole” weakness, look into “self-control” type apps that enable you to block particular websites or functions on your computer or device for a certain period of time.
Stay healthy. Working, studying, raising a family – all can take a toll on your body and mind. Make the effort to schedule 30 minutes of exercise a day, and while the occasional chocolate treat when you're working to a deadline won't hurt, it's important to maintain sensible eating habits, with lots of vegetables, and healthy snacks available when you're pushed for time.
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Accept help from others. In distance learning. Interaction can occur through online threaded discussion forums which allow students to communicate with their facilitator and fellow students. Use all the online tools that are available such as blogs, podcasts, chat and Skype sessions. Ask questions if you're unsure of anything; the facilitator and other students are there to support you.
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Don't forget to reward yourself. Online study is challenging, requiring self-motivation and self-belief. It's also important to recognize when you’ve done a good job – so treat yourself when you’ve successfully completed an online test or exam.
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INDUSTRY PROFILE
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CITTI staff have been studying the National Certificate in Adult Education and Training (NCAET) Level 5.
participate in formal education via SIT2LRN. It creates access for those of us who live abroad and is userfriendly. It is also very affordable.”
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) volunteer Te Kowhai Ohia has been working with CITTI for the past three years, teaching the teachers about how to effectively engage with students, and says in that time 15 staff members have been participating in the SIT2LRN course.
The Cook Islands Tertiary Training Institute is the official tertiary vocational training institution of the Cook Islands, employing 14 full-time and seven part-time staff.
“The SIT2LRN model works for our team given that we are based in Rarotonga and online support is available and that no face-toface programme of this nature is currently available in the Cook Islands. CITTI, through the Ministry of Education Cook Islands, pays all the costs involved in studying with SIT2LRN. “CITTI is very grateful for the opportunity for our staff to
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More than 300 students enrol annually in the institute’s nationally and internationally recognised qualifications and customised courses. CITTI was originally formed in 2013 as a result of two government departments merging, the Department of Natural Human Resources and the Ministry of Education. CITTI is now the national tertiary training institution of the Cook Islands. The institute offers a range of courses to meet industry requirements. Some courses
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include assessment against New Zealand Qualifications Framework unit standards (such as electrical engineering, building and construction and automotive). Other courses are based on skills and knowledge requirements as determined within the Cook Islands (for example, the Diploma in Nursing, which meets the Nurse Registration requirements of the Cook Islands Nursing Council). There are a wide range of community education courses too: tivaivai (artistic Polynesian quilts) making, weaving, baking, cooking, website development, fixing small engines, making new furniture and Mãori language. Since CITTI registered as a Private Training Establishment in July 2014, there have been new courses approved, new staff appointed and a growth in student numbers.
INDUSTRY PROFILE
NIAGARA AND MCNEILL DRILLING ,QYHUFDUJLOO EXVLQHVV .* 5LFKDUGVRQ /WG UHFRJQLVHV LWV SHRSOH DUH WKH NH\ WR LWV RQJRLQJ VXFFHVV DQG FRQWLQXDOO\ LQYHVWV LQ WUDLQLQJ DQG GHYHORSPHQW The locally-owned and familyoperated business employs more than 300 staff throughout the South Island in a wide range of industries, including timber, forestry, manufacturing, transport and drilling. There are nine businesses within the group, with Niagara Sawmilling Company Ltd and McNeill Drilling Company Ltd two of the more prominent Southland operations. Group HR Manager Tarl Barnes says the company is committed to the continuous learning and development of its employees, and distance learning at SIT2LRN is just one of the many ways it supports that. Both Tarl and Group Health and Safety Manager Corrine Wright are studying via SIT2LRN, and are by no means the first employees to do so. Southland-born Tarl gained a double degree in Management and Psychology at the University of Otago, before moving to Brisbane to begin her HR career. She returned home six years later to join the team at Niagara as HR Advisor in 2015, and is now the Group HR Manager for KG Richardson Ltd. “Continuous learning and development is a core business objective and I wanted to ensure I had relevant and up-to-date knowledge in the HR field, which is why I started studying toward the Graduate Certificate in HR in 2015. KG Richardson Ltd supports my studies and is paying the course costs. We also wanted to support a local tertiary institute so SIT2LRN made perfect sense.� It is the first time Tarl has completed distance learning, and she’s enjoying the challenge. “I chose SIT2LRN as the course timeframes are flexible – juggling a full-time job and study can be a challenge. The facilitators have in-
field experience, I wanted to support a local institute and SIT2LRN is cost effective.� Tarl appreciates being able to directly apply what she’s learning to the business – course topics are relevant to today’s business environment, and assignments can be directly linked to areas of the business and put into practice. She says distance learning can sometimes be challenging and you need to be self-disciplined to manage your study, work and home life. “However it allows you to gain a qualification while still working or ‘earning while you are learning’ so the positives most definitely outweigh the negatives.� Tarl is considering continuing on and completing the Graduate Diploma in HR that SIT2LRN offers after the conclusion of her current course. Christchurch-born Corrine moved to Invercargill in 2007 to study a Bachelor of Sport and Recreation at SIT. As part of her study she completed an internship at Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which led to being employed by ACC as a Case Manager. During her time at ACC, Corrine was also heavily involved in health and safety. That saw her decide to pursue health and safety as a career, starting at KG Richardson Ltd in 2014 as the Health and Safety Co-ordinator for McNeill Drilling Company Ltd and TNZ Growing Products. Corrine is now the Group Health and Safety Manager for KG Richardson Ltd. “Professional development is a key focus for our business and I wanted to gain a qualification and expand on my skills in the health and safety field, which is why I began by studying the Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety in 2016. The business is supporting my studies and paying my course costs.�
Corrine Wright, left, and Tarl Barnes are both upskilling by studying with SIT2LRN.
Distance learning has changed since Corrine completed some papers with Massey years ago – course work was sent in ring binders and she’d post her assignments away. “With the advances in technology the Blackboard system makes acessing course work, communication with facilitators and submitting assignments really easy." “I chose SIT2LRN as I had studied there before and I knew other people that had been through the course that are now successful health and safety professionals. The SIT2LRN programme has access to some great facilitators with a lot of experience in health and safety which is a great resource and they are able to provide useful and relevant feedback on submitted course work.� Corrine has appreciated being able to tailor assignments to topics that are relevant to the businesses she works in, ensuring her learning is relevant, and can be applied to her work. “Distance learning allows me the flexibility to gain a qualification while I am working and I can apply my learning directly into the business. It is a considerable commitment to work full-time and study but ultimately the benefits gained from the course both to me personally and to the business makes it worthwhile.� Corrine is considering entering one of SIT2LRN’s Graduate Certificate or Graduate Diploma programmes after she graduates from her current course. SITUATION SITUAT UAT December 2017
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ON-SITE BUSINESS STUDENTS
ON-SITE BUSINESS STUDENTS SIT2LRN is renowned for its distance learning courses so it might come as a surprise that it also offers on-site business programmes. “Students do end up in the business industry mostly in management roles. Some international students return home and take up roles in family businesses; others go back to new jobs.” The students had varying reasons why they would choose either Invercargill or Auckland, but it was clear the current intake of 66 students, evenly spread across the two cities, enjoyed the smaller class sizes and learning environment, including a mix of classwork and online study, Warren said.
Programme Manager Warren Smith said the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Levels 5 and 6) is offered on-site in Invercargill and Auckland and gives students an alternative to the online courses. “Distance learning certainly has its place. Many of our distance-learning students are already in industry and they’re looking to upgrade skills." “On-site students tend to be those who have just graduated with a different qualification or are in the work force and found it’s not something they’re interested in and they want to change careers.” “We have some who want to do an on-site programme but aren’t keen on a university-style study course where you’re in a large classroom and tend to be just a student number and you’ve got the lecturer up front doing a ‘chalk and talk’." “Our classes are quite small – maybe between five to 20 students and in that intimate atmosphere they’re able to communicate with each other and the tutor, and exchange ideas more freely. "
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“It’s great for the students’ own development – it’s an environment that has a place if students still want a classroom setting and it’s worked out really well for them.” The New Zealand Diploma in Business (Levels 5 and 6) directly correlated with the Bachelor of Applied Management, making it an attractive study option, Warren said. Students can do Levels 5 and 6, which equates to year one and two of the bachelor programme, and if the students like it they can continue their studies and complete year three of the degree (Level 7) at either of the campuses, he said. On-site, the strand offered for the diploma is leadership and management, with papers covering subjects such as accounting, HR management, applied management, applied marketing, business communication, quality management, workplace relationships and leadership. “Once they’ve graduated it’s very easy to walk into the workforce and find a whole host of opportunities," he said.
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Students come from around New Zealand and throughout Southeast Asia, including India and Nepal, South Korea and China, and the English language support that SIT provided was also highly regarded, he said. “One of the main attractions is the student support we provide – it’s one of our calling cards. If you talk to any of the recruiters, we’re well known for providing student counselling, visa support, and offering them disability services. It’s a complete package around the course material, the English language support plus the student welfare." “And that goes back to what the students get in those smaller classrooms versus being just a number in a room – we put a lot of emphasis on the student and we want to make sure they’re getting quality education and the skills and experience they need to be effective industry leaders." “We’re helping our graduates enter the workforce with up-to-date qualifications and a firm grasp of relevant industry knowledge sought in today’s workplaces in New Zealand and on a global scale.”
ON-SITE BUSINESS STUDENTS “We have learnt many business skills such as marketing, accounting, human resources, and several communication-based papers, setting us up for performing in a business or starting our own business.” He enjoys the on-site nature of the course, with instant feedback provided and the material presented in a way that suits each student’s learning needs.
LUCAS CROSS When 19-year-old Lucas Cross left high school with a desire to get into events management, his school careers counsellor recommended he studied towards a New Zealand Diploma of Business to help him get there. Now almost through his first year in the SIT2LRN face-to-face classes in Invercargill, he’s had a change of heart. Thanks to the course’s broad content, he’s been inspired to major in marketing instead. “I chose the course because it was the easiest and fastest way of majoring in events management for me. The onsite programme sounded
SILVIA XU When Chinese student Silvia Xu came to New Zealand in 2014, the goal was to study tourism and improve her English. She spent a year in Invercargill working on her English and completing the National Certificate in Travel (Level 4) but decided that business studies would be better for her personal development so changed direction and completed the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 5). Although she’d enjoyed studying in Invercargill – “it’s set up for learning” – and her studies had gone well, she decided last year to relocate to Auckland and continue with SIT2LRN through the on-site business programme, enrolling in the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 6). “Compared with my time in Invercargill, life in Auckland is more diversified and the pace much faster.”
better to me as I find learning in person is easier than distance learning. Invercargill was a better option than other tertiary places as it is close and allows me to commute daily.”
“Tutors can show you things rather than tell you or write to you over a screen.” However, he does have to commute from Gore each day and isn’t able to study as he pleases like students can through distance learning.
The Gore student has another year to complete the diploma but plans to complete the degree with the marketing major in the following year.
“The skills I’ve learnt are applied to my job in real life as I work in customer services. This means I have picked up on how to communicate better with others, how to solve issues in the workplace, and how I can maintain a more professional stance.”
“So far, my course has been very educational and the tutors have helped a lot. It’s a lot more relaxed than I had expected, but that is a positive rather than a negative,” he said.
“It’s a really helpful course and I’d recommend that anyone looking to venture into business takes it. I have learnt so many skills already and I’m looking forward to learning much more.”
Adapting to a new environment and managing her study was challenging – she noticed a big step up from Level 4 and 5 requirements. “Eight months later, everything is getting better and better.” She is on track to graduate this year, and her goal remains to work in the travel industry and look for opportunities for a new business model. “If the Level 4 travel studies allowed me to have a better understanding of New Zealand tourism, the Level 5 and 6 business study have helped me to understand how to create a better business model for it.” She’s enjoyed the on-site aspect of the study, and particularly the interaction with the tutors who have not only helped with her study, but also improving her English. “I think what business studies has given me is a preliminary understanding of enterprise management and macro concept. When problems occur in the actual working environment, I might not
have a specific solution to solve the problem, but at least the knowledge I’ve gained allows me to have an idea of how to go about finding a solution.” SITUATION December 2017
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