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

In this month’s issue, you can read about some learner-led events that have taken place over the past month. We’ll also tell you about two guest lectures for our Construction students as well as some events we’ve held to get our students work-ready.

Talk of the Campus

Winery tour and beach trip for students

Our students enjoyed touring some popular west Auckland wineries and a visit to Muriwai Beach at the end of February. Our Student Success team organised the event in collaboration with the Action Tours team.

Lunar New Year marked on campus

Our learners took part in a "Fu" writing contest recently as part of our Lunar New Year event on campus. The Chinese character "Fu" means "fortune" or "good luck".

Insightful guest lectures for Construction students

Construction students had the opportunity to hear from two guest speakers from the industry recently.

Terri Anne Bolger, a member of the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) who works as an estimator, was invited to share her journey from QS Cadet to Quantity Surveyor. Terri talked about the many roles of the QS in the industry, and how our learners can start their careers.

They also heard from Eric (Tian) Xiao who is Auckland Regional Lead for the New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors (NZIQS). He shared the many benefits of being a member of NZIQS and talked about the types of events that are organised for members.

Both guest lectures were very insightful and interactive. Learners were very happy that we were able to bring these industry experts to the campus and give them exposure to NAWIC and NZIQS.

Ākonga lead Academic Integrity webinar

Our Student Representative and peer tutors chatted with Te Kaihapai Sean Bell about Academic Integrity in a webinar earlier this month. The webinar covered some of the pressures faced by students and the help available as well as the definition of academic integrity and what constitutes unacceptable behaviour. If you missed the webinar, you can check out the recording here.

Good feedback from Student Forum

Student Success held a Student Forum on Thursday 7 March to gather learners’ sentiments about the OPAIC campus experience. Feedback about OPAIC services was generally good with students saying that they receive enough support for their studies. Students were also able to identify areas for improvement, such as functional requirements in specific classrooms, as well as give suggestions on how to streamline the learning process. The Student Forum feedback report will summarise the key points and will be forwarded to the OPAIC management team. Student Success would like to thank all the students who took the time to attend and share their feedback. We look forward to the suggestions being implemented to improve the campus experience here at OPAIC.

Attendance Success

We know that learners who attend all of their classes on time and participate actively in learning have a far greater chance of success. As an international student, attending all your classes is a condition of your student visa.

Unfortunately, we have recently seen some learners sending us fake medical certificates to explain their absences. As we verify medical certificates with healthcare providers, learners who do this are likely to be caught.

The consequences of providing a false document are serious and you risk exclusion from Otago Polytechnic and cancellation of your student visa. Providing a false document is also an offence in New Zealand under the Crimes Act 1961.

If you are genuinely unable to attend classes, please contact the Student Success team for support. We are here to help you attend and engage in classes and connect with any additional support you need to be successful in your programme of study.

Have your say on your courses

All students should have received an email this week inviting you to share your thoughts about your study experience in the current block. The survey asks students to evaluate the courses they are currently studying. We really want to hear from as many learners as possible, and your feedback will help us improve our courses for future cohorts. You can give feedback via the link sent to your email or by heading over to https://op.evaluationkit.com and signing in with your OP student username and password.

A message for Construction students

Kia ora Construction students. We would like to acknowledge your thoughtful and valuable feedback received through the end-of-block course surveys. In this update, we want to let you know what we are doing in response to this feedback.

Event hosted by OPAIC Gaming Club

Our Tuarangi Gaming Club threw an epic Super Mario Party gaming event at the end of February. The Tuarangi Gaming Club is student-run, and all are welcome to attend their events, which are advertised on Kāpehu.

Student success celebrated

Congratulations to the students who received Excellent Scholars awards at our latest ceremony. Our Excellent Scholars award recipients were Yuechen Sun, Bhargav Ashishbhai Raval, Dongho Ha, Liman Wu, Gillian Carlo Carlos Smit, Palitha Jayasanka Perera Angage, Mandi Teresa Lobar, and Meijuan Zhang. Our Special Awards recipients were Ann Ivy Cabanero, Balaram Mahato and Shagun Verma.

Employability Corner

Electrifying speed networking event for new learners

Following our interactive Employability Centre Workshop on Networking, it was incredible to see international students from diverse backgrounds come together to put their new skills to the test.

The Migrants in Tech event provided opportunities for our learners to build confidence, feel a sense of connectedness, and foster professional growth. We witnessed the transformation of hesitation into handshakes, curiosity into conversations, and introductions into opportunities.

Confidence was kindled as students stepped out of their comfort zones, practising their pitches and engaging with industry professionals. Seeing the journey from learning about networking strategies to applying them with enthusiasm is amazing.

A sense of connectedness was palpable in the air. Bonds were formed professionally and culturally as students and migrants from all corners of the globe found common ground and shared experiences.

As for professional development, the event was a mini-career fair in itself. Real-world practice like this is invaluable. Each handshake could be the beginning of a new career path, and every interaction is a step closer to achieving professional goals in the New Zealand job market.

Establish Your Pathway to Career Success

Our campus was buzzing with energy and inspiration as over 30 students and graduates gathered for an invaluable session aimed at paving their way into Business Analysis careers on Thursday 29 February. A heartfelt thank you to our incredible speakers Sophie Chen and Fashola Olayinka Nurudeen - AWS-SAA, SAFe POPM, CBAP, SMC and all the participants who made this event successful and insightful. It was truly inspiring to see so many eager learners and future leaders in one room, ready to take on the challenges of the BA world. The shared knowledge, connections, and advice have undoubtedly lit a path for our attendees towards achieving their professional goals.

Green Office Toitū students network with sustainability professionals and recruiters

Our GOT volunteers attended a Networking Event organised by the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) at the end of last month. It was an invaluable opportunity for GOT students to interact with professionals from renowned companies such as Aurecon, Beca, and several others, as well as recruiters from Hays.

Networking events like these provide a unique platform for students to establish connections with industry professionals, gain insights into various sectors, and explore potential career opportunities. Here's why we strongly recommend leveraging such events to enhance learners’ career prospects during their academic journey:

Access to industry professionals
Insider insights and advice
Building supportive networks
Exploring career options
Access to job opportunities
Enhancing communication and interpersonal skills

Employability Centre integrates AI to enhance career guidance for students

In a forward-thinking move to revolutionise career guidance, OPAIC Employability Centre has announced the integration of ApplywithAI's cutting-edge application to assist students in understanding their professional selves for more effective career planning. Drawing on the latest developments in psychometric testing and advanced artificial intelligence, this initiative is poised to offer truly personalised insights to those navigating their career paths.

The Centre's adoption of AI comes at a time when the perception of AI in job applications is mixed, as reflected by recent data from Seek. Despite this, the OPAIC Employability Centre recognises the potential of AI to add significant value to the student experience. The sentiment analysis shows that a cumulative 29 percent of hirers react positively to the use of AI in applications, while 33 percent have a net negative perception. A significant portion of 37 percent remains neutral. OPAIC uses the Career Discovery developed by ApplywithAI due to their unique focus on understanding the individual on a deeper level instead of resulting in generic AI-generated feedback.

At OPAIC, we recognise AI's potential to add significant value to the student experience. The Employability Centre believes in leveraging the positive aspects of this technology to benefit its student community.

Students to present at Climate Action Week event

Green Office Toitū representatives Nenie Tamarisca Petrisia and Ann Ivey Cabanero will present at the Climate Action Network for International Educators’ (CANIE’s) Climate Action Week event on Wednesday 27 March.

They will present at a student-led session called "Empowering Green Advocates: Students Driving Sustainability Action". These presentations signify not just their individual commitment to sustainability but also represent the collaborative efforts of our students and staff in driving meaningful change towards a more sustainable future.

Join us in supporting Nenie and Ann by attending their sessions and engaging with the sustainability initiatives they will showcase. Let's cheer them on as they take the global stage to share insights from Green Office Toitū's work and inspire others in the journey toward sustainability. Remember to mark your calendars for Wednesday 27 March and be a part of this important conversation.