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

This month we share a Russian student’s journey to success, present an exciting research opportunity, and tell you about some guest speakers who have shared valuable knowledge with our students. Don’t miss the photos from recent on-campus events, as well as key notices as we approach the holiday period. In this issue, we also welcome our two newest staff members.

Success Stories

Embracing study and work in New Zealand

It was a long road to New Zealand for Russian student Nikita Mogilevskii, who saw out the pandemic by operating heavy machinery on construction sites and managing a Bitcoin mining farm, while waiting for his chance to study abroad. Now that he’s here he’s making the most of his time, working in our IT department alongside his study. 

Talk of the Campus

Expert shares insights into Change Management 

Our Applied Management students had the privilege of hearing about Change Management from an industry expert. Dinesh Sundararaj is a certified change practitioner and has led several transformational projects and continuous improvement initiatives. He was on campus speaking to our students about Managing Organisational Transformation and Change. 

Celebrating Diwali at AIC

We marked Diwali on campus with an event organised by our students. We took part in fun activities and games, heard the story of Diwali, and enjoyed performances and delicious sweets. The festival symbolises the spiritual victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance. 

Calling all researchers

Are you passionate about building a better future for the planet? We want to hear about your smart, sustainable projects and research articles. Submit your project or article for a chance to win a cash prize, be published, or present at the upcoming Third International Smart Sustainable Development Conference.

Senior Lecturer discusses AI in business

We would like to extend a huge thank you to Dr Farzana Parveen Tajudeen who spoke to our students about the Impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Business Operations. Farzana is a Senior Lecturer at the Faculty of Business and Economics, University Malaya, Malaysia. Her talk was not only informative but also incredibly engaging, keeping everyone on their toes with interactive discussions and thought-provoking insights.

Lecturer contributes to book featured in Financial Times

The new book From Purpose to Impact: The University and Business Partnership, featuring a chapter by our Principal Lecturer Dr Lorraine Skelton, has been featured in the Financial Times. The Financial Times piece, titled Balancing theory and application in business school research, looks at academia’s role in advancing business and societal interests.

Deloitte speaker discusses software transformation 

This month’s IT Campus Talk featured an insightful lunchtime session led by Mao Cai, Specialist Director at Deloitte Digital, who shared his expertise on the transformation of software architecture in response to modern enterprise needs. 

Insights shared at AIC Research Forum 

The Auckland International Campus held its Study Block 4 Research Forum on Wednesday 13 November. Each block, our Applied Management research students have the opportunity to present their findings. The three students who presented last week are finalising their theses and presented their research and results to a large audience of staff and students. 

Notices

Lost and found property

We have a Lost and Found Box in the Level 1 Reception area. If you find an item on campus that does not belong, please bring it to Level 1 Reception and let us know the location of where you found the item on campus. If you lose an item on campus please come to Level 1 Reception, or email aicservicedesk@op.ac.nz.

Using Level 8 after hours

The Study Centre on Level 8 is open after hours from 5pm to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Student should go to Level 8 before the rest of the campus closes at 5pm. If you need to leave campus for a short break, the supervising staff will provide you with access to return to campus and Level 8.

Holiday campus closure

The Campus will be officially closed for the holidays from Friday 13 December at 12pm. Campus will reopen on Monday 13 January 2025 at 9am. Facilities and services will be unavailable during this period. Not long now until our well-deserved break—we hope everyone is looking forward to it. 

Employability Corner

Networking night: students attend Migrants in Tech event 

The main theme at the Employability Centre for November was networking. Multiple networking workshops were held on campus to help students prepare for real, external, industry networking events and opportunities. Students were invited to attend an event dually hosted by Migrants in Tech and Women in Tech. 

Lunch & Learn: AI tool to assist in job hunting

This month, we were thrilled to host Go Bear AI for a live demo with our learners at AIC during our Lunch & Learn session. The event provided an exciting opportunity for students to experience firsthand how this innovative tool, designed by jobseekers for jobseekers, can simplify the often-daunting job search process in today’s competitive market.

GDAM students complete work placements

Our Study Block 3 cohort of GDAM students have completed various work placements across many sectors, demonstrating adaptability and a commitment to gaining industry-relevant experience.

Their placements include education, hospitality, ICT, automotive sales and marketing, accounting, and import/export, reflecting both the students' varied career interests and their readiness to apply their skills in real-world settings.

Job Search Workshops and 1:1 Sessions

For the next few weeks until the end of the study block, the Employability Centre will be focusing on helping students get ready for summer break job hunting. All workshops hosted in the last few weeks of the study block will be group sessions specifically focused on taking students through all the steps in the job searching and application process.

There are also drop-in sessions every week where students can have a 1-on-1 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

Lisa Prinsloo

Lisa is our new People and Development Manager. She has completed a BSc (Hons) in Applied Psychology and Computing, a Postgraduate Diploma in Human Resource Management, and an Adult Education and Training Level 5 certification. She is also a Chartered HRNZ Member (NZ) and a Fellow Member of the Personnel and Development Institute in the UK. Lisa has extensive experience in delivering high-level HR solutions in line with business goals at operational and strategic levels, supporting multiple sites across NZ and previously the UK. She has worked across all sectors and many industries including Adult Skills/Learning and Employability. Most recently, she was an HR Contractor to EMA. Her hope for every learner is that we help them achieve their goals and aspirations. Outside of work, Lisa enjoys spending quality family time with her two girls and her husband. She also loves going to the beach and on holiday and reading.

Sudarshan Shukla

Sudarshan joins the Marketing Team as International Marketing Administrator. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce, a Bachelor of Arts with a major in International Hospitality Management, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Hotel Management. He spent 10 years working in hospitality and customer service before joining the OPAIC team. Sudarshan strives to provide prospective learners and current students with meaningful, personalised, and engaging support that is adapted to their individual needs, empowering each learner to grow, achieve their goals and deepen their understanding. Ultimately, his goal is to help create a supportive and enriching experience where each learner feels understood and is engaged and empowered to keep learning.