Kia ora and welcome to the April edition of We are OPAIC

In this month’s issue, you can meet your new Student Representative, see the pictures from last week’s Orientation event, and read about five new staff members joining us in Study Block 2.

Talk of the Campus

Sinhala & Tamil New Year Celebration

This event is an excellent opportunity to learn more about Sri Lanka and one of the major festivals celebrated by not only the Sinhalese and Tamil people but by most Sri Lankans. All Sri Lankan and Tamil staff and students are encouraged to dress in traditional attire to add to the festive atmosphere.

Introducing our new Student Representative

Our new Student Representative, Lakshita Fulara, is studying for a Bachelor of Applied Management. She came to us from Delhi, India last July. Her hometown is Uttrakhand.

Lakshita completed high school in Delhi in 2022, specialising in the humanities. She was an athlete and a district-level volleyball player during her school days and was awarded the best female athlete in her school.

Lakshita loves dancing, travelling to new places, and trying new foods. She is active on social media, especially Instagram. She’s an extroverted, friendly person and loves meeting people and making friends. She’s also very trustworthy and likes helping friends with their problems.

Lakshita says the Student Representative role appealed to her because her leadership qualities will allow her to manage students, help staff, and organise events. She’ll communicate well with students who are facing any difficulties and help students and staff as much as she can.

New HoD for Applied Management students

We’d like to congratulate Bing Dai, who has recently moved into the Head of Department role for Applied Management. Bing will continue to lecture in addition to her new role. Former Head of Department, Russell Harray, has moved into the Academic Director position, and Sean Bell is now our Academic/Quality Lead & Te Kaihapai.

Welcoming a new cohort

We welcomed a new intake of Otago Polytechnic students to our Queen Street campus last week. Our Orientation activities included a formal welcome from staff, a campus tour, and presentations led by our Student Success, Employability, IT, and Academic teams. Check out the photos here.

Campuses closed tomorrow

Don’t forget that we have the day off tomorrow (Thursday 25 April) to commemorate Anzac Day. Anzac Day is a day of remembrance that commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders who have served in wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations.

New Staff

Arjan van der Boon

Arjan van der Boon is the new International Marketing Lecturer in the Applied Management Team.

Arjan is originally from the Netherlands but has been in Aotearoa New Zealand for decades.

He’s worked in the Corporate Marketing world, for organisations including IBM, Microsoft and New Zealand Trade and Enterprise. He was also a Senior Lecturer in Marketing at MIT School of Business for almost ten years.

Arjan says he’s given some guest lectures at OPAIC in the past and was impressed with what we offer our students here, so he decided to join the team.

Together with a Trust of volunteers, Arjan runs a museum about Dutch immigrants in a small town called Foxton, just north of Wellington. He’s also involved in organising our national Dutch Week.

Paul Chalmers

Paul Chalmers is a new Sessional Lecturer in the Applied Management team. He’s from Western Springs (near Auckland Zoo).

Before joining the OPAIC team, Paul worked as Director at Newton College. He says he decided to join us at OPAIC because Applied Management looked like an excellent programme to teach here.

Outside of work he enjoys following politics and playing golf.

Imogene Mackay

Imogene Mackay is our new Employability Specialist. Imogene brings a wealth of experience in community engagement and employment facilitation, most recently serving those in Otago who have barriers to employment.

With a Bachelor of Social Services from Otago Polytechnic and a strong programme management and advocacy background, Imogene has demonstrated a profound commitment to fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Her approach not only ensures successful outcomes for individuals with disabilities but also strengthens community connections, creating more inclusive environments.

Her proactive engagement in continuous professional development and adaptability to the evolving job market are just a few of the strengths she brings to our team.

We look forward to the enthusiasm, expertise, and fresh perspectives she brings to OPAIC Employability Centre.

Amy Matsuo

Amy Matsuo has joined the Academic Registry Team and is responsible for both enrolment and admission. She grew up in Japan. After graduating from University in her country, she decided to pursue further study in New Zealand.

Amy studied Applied Management in Dunedin. After graduation, she worked as an international purchaser for about two years, importing food products into New Zealand and distributing them to local retail and wholesale outlets. In her second job, she worked as an Academic Administrator at the Dunedin campus of Otago Polytechnic.

She chose OPAIC because she’s passionate about supporting students on their academic paths to success. Drawing from her own journey as an international student, she understands the challenges they often encounter and the complexities they face. She also wanted to use the knowledge and experience she gained through her time working at the Dunedin campus. Amy’s goal is to provide assistance that makes a student's academic journey smoother and more fulfilling.

Outside of work, Amy enjoys going on hikes, reading books, and making earrings. Those activities help her to refresh her mind. She also enjoys exploring new cafés and restaurants during weekends.

Kajavathani Panchalingam

Kajavathani Panchalingam is a Sessional Lecturer in the Construction Team and will be teaching Advanced Measurement in Study Block 2.

She is from Sri Lanka and previously worked as a Temporary Lecturer at the University of Moratuwa. She’s currently doing her PhD at Massey University.

Kaja is happy to work with OPAIC because of its strong reputation for academic excellence, innovative approach to education, and the opportunity to connect with students from various backgrounds.

She says the position also aligns with her career goals, making it the perfect fit.

Employability Corner

100 percent internship placement before capstone

We are thrilled to announce a remarkable achievement for our Graduate Diploma in Applied Management (GDAM) program, where all nine students secured their internship placements, achieving a 100 percent placement rate before even starting their capstone course, Industry Project. Our students will be enhancing their practical skills in diverse roles, including:

Assistant Store Manager
Digital Marketing and Sales Intern
Office Admin Intern in the Healthcare Industry
Logistics Operation Intern
Hotel Front Office Intern
Mobile Services Operation Intern
Customer Service Intern
International Remittance Operation Intern
Hotel Operation Intern

Importantly, each student was placed according to their previous work experience and their chosen future career field, ensuring a tailored and beneficial match. This success underscores our commitment to providing students with real-world experience and valuable career opportunities in their chosen fields.

Employability Catalysts hold first meetup

The Employability Catalysts group gathered for an impactful session recently, marking the end of Study Block 1. Our discussion centred on the real challenges and invaluable learning experiences tied to international student part-time job searching and the continuous development of employability skills.

A heartfelt thank you to Liuyin Ye for expertly facilitating our meeting. To all our participants, Evgenii Shumil, Manjot Ka, Rajesh Adhika, Aushyani Samarasinghe, Ronald Linco, Samanvaya Parash, Shezil Pramo, Aakanksha Verma, Zihan Huang and Xiaona Zhua, your engagement and eagerness to share your journeys enriched our session immeasurably. Your stories and efforts breathe life into our meetings and make them deeply rewarding.

We invite other Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus students to join our Employability Catalysts group and benefit from a supportive network that's eager to empower all our current learners.

Alumni Engagement: Fearless Dreams Project

Our Fearless Dreams Project is an inspiring initiative designed to showcase the career trajectories of eight female OPAIC graduates who have successfully navigated the professional landscape of New Zealand.

These alumni, originally from China, India, Russia, Thailand, the Philippines, French Polynesia, and Papua New Guinea, represent a rich tapestry of cultural backgrounds. Their stories aim to empower and encourage other women by demonstrating the challenges and diverse pathways to success in a new country.

This project not only highlights their individual achievements but also celebrates the strength and resilience they have shown in overcoming challenges and making significant contributions to their respective fields.

Collaboration with Chinese IT Association NZ

The Employability Centre collaborated with the Chinese IT Association NZ to host Lin Nie from Beyond Recruitment, who shared valuable insights into the current trends in New Zealand's IT job market.

Whether you are actively seeking employment, considering a career switch, or a student curious about the IT industry, this meetup is designed to inspire and inform.

Lin Nie discussed the most sought-after skills in today’s market, both technical and soft, and provided practical tips and tricks for job applications.