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

As we celebrate Te Wiki o te Reo Māori, we’re excited to share all the latest news from our campus. This edition highlights our recent graduation ceremony, where we celebrated the achievements of our students, as well as a series of industry events tailored for our Construction learners. Plus, don’t miss the latest on an exciting IT project and insightful presentations from our Applied Management students. 

Talk of the Campus

Coming together to celebrate success 

Graduands from a diverse range of programmes and schools came together to celebrate their achievements in front of classmates, families, lecturers, iwi, and other dignitaries recently. 

Graduates had studied with Otago Polytechnic Auckland International Campus, the College of Work Based Learning, and Future Skills Academy. They represented a diverse range of study areas from Business and IT to Construction, Bicultural Competency, and Midwifery. 

Celebrating Māori Language Week  

Ngā mihi o te wiki o te reo Māori - happy Māori Language Week!  This year's theme is 'AKE AKE AKE - A FOREVER LANGUAGE.' To support all our kaiako, kaimahi and ākonga who are interested in learning and developing te reo, we have added Māori language resources to our resource centre including workbooks from the Māori Made Easy series, A Māori Word a Day and a bilingual dictionary.  These are available for use on Level 8. Kia kaha - give te reo a go!  

OPAIC partners with international conference 

We are excited to announce our partnership with the International Conference on Education (ICEDU) 2025. 

The theme of the conference is: Cultivating Global Citizen Skills through Research and Education: Development of critical thinking, creativity, communication and collaboration. 

The partnership provides an excellent platform to showcase OPAIC and allows our academic staff to publish their research on learning and teaching at an international level. 

Master’s students showcase thesis findings

Four Applied Management Master’s students presented their thesis findings to a group of more than 60 staff and students recently.  

Postgraduate Programme Manager for Applied Management, Indrapriya Kularatne, facilitated the session. Indra had worked with the students over the previous year along with their academic supervisors.  

The students were given eight minutes to present their key findings and recommendations, followed by questions and comments from the audience. 

First Impressions results are in! 

In August, new OPAIC students were invited to complete our First Impressions Survey. The survey helps us to see how new learners are settling in, and helps us improve our pre-enrolment processes, student support, facilities and teaching. 

The results of the most recent survey are in, and we are pleased to see that most of our new learners are settling in well.   

Being AGILE: Embracing real-world practices

Our first-year IT students recently completed their Studio 2 projects, part of a series of courses within the IT degree programme designed to immerse learners in a workplace-like environment from the outset of their studies. It was impressive to see how these first-year students adapted to working in an AGILE framework using SCRUM practices.  

Factory visit for Construction learners 

Construction students had an excellent opportunity to visit the Steel and Tube Reinforcing unit located at Otahuhu recently.  

Andre and his team took them through a factory tour to show various processes of manufacturing reinforcing steel and how they provide prefabricated steel mesh and other products to construction sites.  

The factory tour was followed by a brief presentation showcasing projects and 3D and BIM application in steel detailing. The trip gave learners an opportunity to relate their theoretical learning to the real-world industry. 

Students take the stand in dispute resolution role-play 

Construction students took the stand during a guest lecture by our colleague, OP Dunedin Construction Lecturer, James Flanders.  

James delivered a special lecture for the Law and Contracts course on the topic of dispute resolution. During the lecture, students were actively engaged in a role-play activity, working on real court cases, with groups of applicants and respondents and their legal representatives allocated to each case. Each group presented their case during the class in front of the judge.

The activity was engaging and helped learners understand the process of dispute resolution in the construction industry context.  The OPAIC Construction team would like to extend a huge thank you to James for his time in delivering this session here at OPAIC. 

Concrete expert shares experience with learners  

An expert from the concrete industry visited OPAIC to share his in-depth knowledge with our learners. Wade To has more than three decades of experience in the field of concrete foundation. He is National Manager Strategic Projects at Allied Concrete Limited. 

His presentation on Low Carbon Concrete - Innovation in Sustainable Concrete included recent trends and innovations in the concrete industry. He also talked about how Allied Concrete had applied its technical expertise to develop a range of concrete foundation solutions which offer savings without compromising on quality amid rising costs and increasing technical demands.    

Architect shares insights with OPAIC students 

Matias Kaufman, a skilled Architect and experienced BIM expert from BECA, was invited to share his experience in working with Building Information Modelling (BIM) and Value Management across a range of commercial projects. 

During his lecture, he delved into how BIM has been an essential tool in enhancing project coordination, reducing errors, and streamlining design processes. He also discussed the critical role of Value Management in optimising project outcomes by balancing quality, costs, and functionality.  

Students gained valuable insights into the real-world applications of these methodologies, particularly how they contribute to more efficient and cost-effective construction practices. 

Sports Night brings students together 

Our weekly Sports Night is taking off, with students enjoying activities like VR games, cricket, and table tennis. It’s a fun way to unwind, meet new people, and get active. Feel free to join us from 5pm to 7pm each Thursday on Level 1. Everyone is welcome.  

Employability Corner

Alumni inspire at networking event 

Students and alumni enjoyed an evening of networking, advice, and inspiration at our Alumni Mentoring Forum. The event began with keynote addresses by Academic Director Russell Harray and Asian Family Services Deputy Director Ivan Yeo. The keynote speakers were followed by an alumni panel discussion with our graduates Business Analyst Zhan (Johanna) Dong, SaaS Account Manager Raul Penaranda Jr, and Corporate Sustainability Advisor Karl Ipong. 

GDAM students shine in work placements 

Nine of our Graduate Diploma in Applied Management (GDAM) students recently completed their work placements, gaining valuable real-world experience across a range of industries.  

Their roles included Store Manager Assistant, Digital Marketing and Sales, Office Admin in the Health Care Industry, Logistics Operations, Customer Service, Hotel Front Office Assistant, Marketing and Event Assistant, and International Remittance Operation.  

The feedback from employers has been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting the students’ professionalism, commitment, and skills development. 

Join Our LinkedIn Alumni Group

Calling all current students and alumni! We invite you to join our growing LinkedIn Alumni Group with 256 active members. 

By becoming part of this community, you'll have access to: 

• Daily curated internship and graduate roles specifically relevant to your career path.
• Exclusive job openings from our alumni hiring managers, recruiters, and their employers. 

Whether you're looking to kick-start your career or advance in your industry, this group is a valuable resource for connecting with opportunities and staying updated on the latest in your field. Don’t miss out—join us today! 

Industry Partner recruiting students for part-time jobs 

Our industry partner, Four Points by Sheraton Auckland, invited our students to join their Recruitment Day at the end of last month. The hotel was looking to fill a variety of roles across multiple departments: Housekeeping, Food & Beverage, Culinary, and Front Office. Over 20 students had interviews, and now we have six students who have joined the Four Points by Sheraton Auckland team.