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

In this month's issue, we’re excited to share an Indonesian graduate’s inspiring story, highlights from our latest Orientation, and updates on how our construction and IT students are collaborating on real-world projects. Plus, meet some of the new staff members joining our team.

Upcoming Events

Keen to get involved?

Be sure to visit our website for a full list of upcoming events. Please note that the campus will be closed on Monday 28 October, for Labour Day.

Success Stories

Finding support in lecturers and classmates

Yupitha Ignatia returned to study for her Master of Applied Management after a decade in the workforce. She credits her positive experience to the guidance of knowledgeable lecturers, the support of her friends and classmates, and her willingness to seek help when needed. Yupitha says the best thing about studying at OPAIC was learning from highly qualified lecturers with extensive real-world experience in their fields. 

Talk of the Campus

Welcoming a diverse cohort  

We’ve welcomed our latest intake of students to OPAIC this month with a series of workshops and an Orientation Day. We have a large cohort of students joining us from all over the world for our final study block of 2024.

Senior Lecturer discusses tech news  

Senior Lecturer Barry Dowdeswell recently joined Paul Spain on the NZ Tech Podcast to discuss the latest in tech news, from scooter bans in Wellington to Kiwi tech startups. They also explored the value of experiential learning at OPAIC.

IT students develop innovative project at Hackathon

A group of Information Technology students showcased their innovative AI project at a Hackathon, where they developed a tool to analyse data from heavy machinery.

Their success has led to an invitation to present to industry, and they'll continue refining the project in their final year of study.

The GenAI Hackathon: Sustainable Impact event, held over three days at Unitec this month, was all about turning ideas into reality by building generative AI-powered apps.

Construction students collaborate on building project

Students studying our Construction Technology for Medium and Large Buildings and Construction of Residential Buildings courses were given an opportunity to collaborate in teams and work on an assigned project recently. The task was to analyse and apply the learning of each session of the study block to a given building project.

Auckland Public Library tour

Our Student Success team recently took a group of 20 students on a tour of the Auckland Public Library. Students applied for library cards online before exploring the library’s extensive collection of books, eLearning materials, and movies. The library also offers free Wi-Fi and a quiet place to study, making it a valuable resource for our learners.

Student insurance providers visit campus

Our international student insurance providers, Southern Cross Travel Insurance and Orbit Protect, visited campus this month to offer important insights into student insurance policies. Students had the opportunity to learn more about their coverage and get their questions answered during the sessions held in Room 700 and on Level 1.

Employability Corner

Welcoming a new cohort 

October has been filled with excitement as the AIC Employability Centre welcomed our final cohort of international students for 2024. At the employability orientation the team introduced students to the centre’s services, workshops, events and internship opportunities. Two recap sessions were also held during week one to ensure that all new students knew how to best make use of the centre’s services.

Lunch & Learn - Alumni Industry Engagement Session  

Early in Week 1, the Employability Centre invited Joelle Li as our first industry speaker for the study block. She shared her experience navigating the job market in New Zealand, going over the challenges she faced and how she overcame them. 

Having spent time working in marketing positions across Aotearoa, Joelle helped students better understand how to enter the world of digital marketing. Her insights were truly inspirational and will go a long way in helping students elevate their careers.

Coffee Connect - Alumni Mentorship & Networking

Our new students were invited to our quarterly Alumni Coffee Connect event. This was a great opportunity for them to connect with accomplished alumni and gain valuable insights into their fields of interest. It was amazing to see so many enthusiastic students join us over the weekend.

We are also grateful to our wonderful alumni who generously volunteered their time as mentors. Our mentors for the day were Mohak Sharma, Abigail Taraya, Simran Tehri, Kara Arenas, Richard Macasero, and Lyn Tolentino.

Here at the AIC Employability Centre, we look forward to hosting more workshops and events that help new students explore their career aspirations, gain insights, and develop a sense of belonging in Aotearoa. 

Leadership Panel - Influencing and Driving for Practice Excellence 

This month our campus had the honour of co-hosting a vibrant Leadership Panel event alongside BA Career and the Chinese IT Association NZ. It was wonderful to see so many of our learners actively participate, network, and gain insights from seasoned professionals.

Our panellists from Suncorp, Serko and Deloitte, shared some invaluable insights. The event was also a fantastic opportunity for our students to connect and network with industry professionals.

A special thank you to our Head of IT, Farhad Mehdipour and Senior Lecturer Barry Dowdeswell. Their support and dedication to empowering our learners to connect with industry professionals truly shone through and helped make this event a success.

Workshops and Drop-in 1:1 Sessions  

This study block the Employability Centre is hosting weekly workshops to help students strengthen their employability skills. There will be workshops on job searching, career guidance, LinkedIn, CV writing, interview preparation, networking, improving your professional, profile and more. 

There are also drop-in sessions every week where students can have a one-on-one session with either Chris or Dani. These sessions can be used for mock interviews, career coaching, CV and cover letter feedback as well as LinkedIn and Seek profile support.

Remember to also go to our Work Ready Essentials course on Moodle for more information, support and resources.

New Staff

Albbe Xiao Luo

Albbe is our new Finance Manager. She majored in Accounting and Finance at the University of Auckland. She has worked at a professional accounting firm, as well as in construction, insurance, aviation, and now education. She encourages all learners to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals. She says they should explore their interests and believe in their potential. Ultimately, Albbe would love to see students not only reach their goals but also gain confidence and skills for a lifetime of learning and growth. Outside of work, Albbe enjoys baking, cooking, hiking, and Pilates. She is married with two girls and has a 15-year-old dog.

Chenayang Yu

Chenyang is our new International Marketing Specialist for China. She majored in Investment at Pass College of Chongqing Technology and Business University and received a Bachelor of Economics in 2021. From July 2021 to August 2024, she worked in the Chongqing Branch of JJL Overseas Education Consulting & Service Co. Ltd, mainly responsible for study abroad consulting in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, and Singapore. Her goal for each learner is to help them to find their career interests.

Bohan Fan 

Bohan is a new Sessional Lecturer in the Applied Management team. He holds a Master of Science in Management from University College London and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Southern California. He is currently pursuing a Master of Business and a PhD in Marketing at AUT. Bohan has been working in the marketing industry since 2017, with roles in digital marketing, which is one of his research interests. He strives to create an engaging and practical learning environment where students not only understand core marketing concepts but also develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. He’s passionate about encouraging a positive, inclusive environment and helping students realise their full potential academically and professionally. Outside of work, he enjoys exploring different cultures through travel, as well as staying active with tennis and hiking.

Emelen Nakao 

Emelen also joins our Applied Management team. Emelen holds a PhD in Education and a New Zealand Certificate in Adult and Tertiary Teaching. With a qualification at NZQA Level 10, Emelen is highly skilled in teaching a wide range of management and business papers, including Strategic Management, Marketing, Consumer Behaviour, Human Resource Management, Business Transformation and Change, Operations Management, Organisational Behaviour, Leadership, Research Methods, and Industry Project. She is currently teaching our undergraduate courses.

Varun Bhardwaj

Varun is a new Sessional Lecturer in the Applied Management team. Varun’s educational background is firmly rooted in business and management. He’s recently passed his viva for a PhD in Management from the University of Auckland, which he pursued from 2017 to 2024. Prior to this, he completed a Master of Commerce in Marketing (2010-2011), Honours in Marketing (2008-2009), and a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management (2004-2007), all from the University of Auckland. His industry experience is diverse, spanning several sectors. He’s worked in building management at Alpha Apartments, engaged in social entrepreneurship through ventures like Kai Kai, BioDymaxion, and Caring4Whānau, and has been involved in sustainable living and regenerative farming with Nested Living Ltd. and Regenma since 2011. Earlier in his career, he gained experience in corporate sales with Southern Cross Healthcare and in corporate partnerships with IAG Insurance.

Nishika Jayasinghe

Nishika also joins our Applied Management team as a Sessional Lecturer. She has a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in Sri Lanka and a master’s degree in Business Administration in Information Technology from the University of Moratuwa in Sri Lanka. She is coming to the end of her PhD in Information Systems at AUT. She worked as a Lecturer for more than 15 years at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and as a Teaching Assistant and Research Assistant at AUT. Nishika’s research interests include digital transformation and its impacts on organisations, societies, and individuals. Outside of work she enjoys being involved with social groups including Toastmasters, as well as cooking, listening to music, and engaging in religious activities.

Zagross Hadadian 

Zagross is a new Applied Management Sessional Lecturer. With a strong foundation in engineering, complemented by an MBA, a Master of Psychology, and a PhD in Management, Zagross brings hands-on experience as an engineer, HR professional, and consultant. An Associate CIPD and currently pursuing certification as an ICF-certified coach, Zagross is skilled in conducting quantitative research. Known for being a fast learner, critical thinker, and adept analyst, Zagross thrives in dynamic environments driven by innovation and problem-solving. He has expertise in strategic thinking, quantitative analysis, client relationships, selling, cross-functional collaboration, and customer relationship management. He is currently teaching our postgraduate courses.

Hoda Hassani

Hoda also joins the Applied Management team. Hoda served as a Graduate Teaching Assistant at the University of Auckland, where she developed and delivered course content across various business and management subjects. With a PhD in Management from the University of Auckland and a master’s degree in Entrepreneurship from the University of Tehran (the top-ranked university in Iran), Hoda integrates both theoretical knowledge and industry experience to create an engaging learning environment. She also brings valuable insights from her previous role as a Management Consultant in Iran, bridging the gap between academic theory and practical application. She is currently teaching our postgraduate courses.

Naz Ebrahimi 

Naz also joins our IT team. Naz is a Computational Scientist with experience in both academia and industry, specialising in data science, machine learning, and advanced statistical analysis. She is passionate about using data-driven insights to solve real-world challenges and improve decision-making processes. Naz combines technical expertise with strategic thinking to deliver impactful results. She is currently teaching Studio 3 in the department.

Hooman Zarreh 

Hooman is a new IT Lecturer. Hooman has a PhD in Biomechanical Engineering from The University of Auckland and over 25 years of experience. He has taught a range of courses in IT, computer science, mathematics, and electrical engineering across New Zealand. He is currently teaching Maths for IT in the department.