Campus connections April 2014

ISSUE 61, FEBRUARY ‘13

campus connectionsISSUE 67, APRIL ‘14

FOR UCOL STAFF, ABOUT UCOL STAFF

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welcome

FROm ThE CE..........................................................................................3whO’S nEw ............................................................................................4gETTIng InvOLvEd ............................................................................4OvERSEAS LInkS ...................................................................................6SET In mOTIOn ......................................................................................7wAnAngA ...............................................................................................8STAFF SUCCESS .....................................................................................9ALUmnI AChIEvEmEnT .................................................................. 10SPOTLIghT On ................................................................................... 11UPdATE .................................................................................................. 12ORAngE jUICE .................................................................................... 13POwER TO ThE PEOPLE .................................................................. 14OUT ThERE ........................................................................................... 15FInISh LInE .......................................................................................... 16

COnTEnTS

UCOL Chef Lecturer damian Peeti (second from left) with wairarapa gate to the Plate Chefs and celebrity Chef Rex morgan (far right).

ISSUE 67, APRIL ‘14 3

from the ceThe articles in this newsletter provide a small snapshot of your achievements, both in a work and personal capacity. Each story builds a picture of how, as individuals, you contribute to UCOL and our communities, and are a reminder about what we are here for. Reading about the range of activities you are involved in is a pleasure.

I always enjoy graduation time. These special occasions are made all the more memorable by the stories graduands have to tell about their study journey. Thank you to everyone who is involved in organising and attending the special ceremonies. There are some great pictures in this edition that show how special it is.

I know that you are working very hard, and part of this is a consequence of the good numbers of students who have chosen to study at UCOL this year. Students talk about their experiences at UCOL and our reputation is based on what they say about us. The students I have spoken to are enjoying their start to the year and seem very focussed on their learning. Reading the stories in this newsletter, they also have plenty of interesting facts to pass onto their friends and family about the people who work at UCOL.

Thank you for your positive feedback about the two days special UCOL leave this year between Easter break and Anzac. It’s a window of opportunity to enjoy a longer than usual break with the way the public holidays fall. There will be no deduction from your annual leave, these days are additional.

Our learning hub areas will be open for some of the time during this break for students who wish to access them for self directed learning.

Happy holidays everyone.

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getting involved

welcoming new students, staff and visitors to UCOL

Students keen for the AS@U Big Brekkie

O-wEEk wELCOmES

Student Experience Team staff shenanigans


getting involvedgRAdUATIOn CELEBRATIOnS

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overseas links RICh InSIghT FOR ChInESE LECTURERS

Humility and the importance of the teacher in learning environments are just two of the learnings taken away by a group of Chinese visitors to UCOL recently.

Fifteen Senior Lecturers from Guangzhou Vocational Technical Schools in the province of Guangdong in Southern China, and two Chinese Government representatives, were hosted by UCOL for three weeks in February and March.

The group’s team leader Mr Li Liwen said China, as a developing country, has a lot to learn from New Zealand in terms of education. “Some things are very similar, but some very different. I have formed deep impressions about UCOL’s advanced teaching concepts, friendly teaching environments, information technology and the structure of quality assurance systems.”

During their time in New Zealand the group members toured Manawatu and Whanganui, explored the New Zealand culture and learnt about many different aspects of UCOL’s teaching concepts.

Feedback was positive and Tutors highlighted things such as UCOL’s efficiency, positive interaction between teachers and learners,

educational resources, attention to detail with safety, mobile learning, and emphasis on student orientation.

Attention to Maori learning was noted, and one group member noted that “UCOL is more than just an education.”

Comments about New Zealand in general were that the country is like a large garden, and even that there are many handsome men… One Tutor said that she felt “happy every day while at UCOL and in New Zealand!”

The Guangzhou Lecturers will now put together an 8000 word report to the Guangzhou Municipal Human Resources Bureau and a 3000 word report for their school on their learnings from the visit.

UCOL Director of International Business Bruce Osborne says there is the opportunity for another group of Tutors from Guangzhou to do the same visit again in the future. “These sorts of visits open up many possibilities, such as shared research and curriculum development, UCOL staff travel to China to run advanced teaching programme workshops, and Chinese student enrolment at UCOL.”


set in motion

In response to a strong market demand for commercial photography training in Auckland, UCOL has launched the UCOL Institute of Commercial Photography Auckland (UICP/A).

The move to offer the two-year Diploma in Photographic Imaging in Auckland through UICP/A, with support from Canon, will connect students with the latest imaging technology and equip them with industry resource and knowledge.

The Diploma focuses on contemporary digitally based photographic imaging and provides business skills, a strong portfolio focus and the opportunity to explore other related areas of the visual imaging industry. The partnership with Canon ensures that both students and lecturers are closely linked with industry and the latest technology.

InTROdUCIng UICP/A

UCOL and Canon representatives at the launch

Paul McElroy was at the official UCIP/A launch at its premises in Newmarket recently and said the opening of UCIP/A and the partnership with Canon is exciting.

“UCOL is a leader in photographic training, setting benchmarks for programmes in visual imaging across New Zealand, and Canon is the world’s leading imaging brand. Together we are able to lay the foundation for students to move successfully into professional careers by empowering them with high quality education as well as industry resource and knowledge.”

As well as being its preferred supplier for equipment, Canon’s involvement with UICP/A will include training Lecturers on new technology; leading workshops, and making available specialty products for student use on occasion. Canon Ambassadors will also run workshops with students.

A big congratulations goes out to Director External Relations and Enterprise, Lyn McCurdy; and Rachel Hoskin, Ian Rotherham and Kaye Davis from the School of Art, Photography and Design for the successful set up of UICP/A.

“Together we are able to lay the foundation for students to move successfully into professional careers...”

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wananga

TE TOI TAUIRA 2014

nEw kAIAwhInA AkOngA

UCOL is excited to be hostingthe national Te Toi Tauira Conference 2014 in Palmerston North on September 30 - 2 October.

The Kaupapa, Te Toi Tauira mo te matariki, was initiated in 1999. The name means, literally, ‘exemplars for the millennium’.

Dean Rauhihi is Palmerston North’s new Kaiawhina Akonga - Māori Student Support based in the Whanau Room.

Dean has exceptional skills in student support and Manaakitanga.

He has a BA in Te Reo Māori and Linguistics from the University of Waikato, a Certificate in Coaching and Sport Science from Te Wananga o Aotearoa, and he studied health promotion at Manukau Institute of Technology.

Dean has been a Youth Programme developer with Whakapai Hauora, a Te Reo teacher at Culture Flow and has done various Youth Aid Work with the Highbury Whanau Centre.

Dean says he has felt at home at UCOL right from the start.

“The welcome was awesome, the perfect way to start... It’s been a week of meeting people. This room [the Whanau room] rocks!”

Audrey Tamanui-Nunn from the Office of the Director Māori is already busy organising the 2014 event. The theme will be He Puawai O Te Matauranga, defining best outcomes for Māori.

Keep an eye out on the UCOL website for registration details.


staff successRESTORIng ThE FOREST FLOORProgramme Leader for Science Jessica Costall knows a thing or two about creepy crawlies.

In November Jessica graduated with her PhD in Ecology from Massey University. Her research concerned the ecological restoration of forest floor invertebrates, such as insects and spiders living in leaf litter.

Jessica says her research involved comparing the types of invertebrates living in different patches of forest, and developing recommendations for the best way to protect and restore the forest floor.

jessica at graduation in november last year

2014 STAFF AwARdSCongratulations again to the 2014 staff award winners.

Each award is valued at $5,000 and is used by the winner for relevant personal professional development.

• Audrey Tamanui-Nunn - Kaiawhina/Maori student support

• Sheran Meritt - Lecturer in Tertiary Studies and Fashion and Beauty

• Anna Ainsworth - Lecturer in Medical Imaging Technology

• Dr Sarah Snell - Associate Head of the School of Business and Computing

• Dr Catherine Snell-Siddle - Head of the School of Business and Computing

control possums and rats.

“Livestock have a very damaging effect on the forest floor, and forest patches that are grazed by livestock have completely different invertebrates to fenced forest patches.”

Looking at Cave weta

“New Zealand’s native forest cover has been greatly reduced by humans, and much of our remaining native forest exists as small, degraded patches on farmland.”

Jessica found that even very small patches of of forest can support the same types of invertebrates that you would find in a larger forest reserve, as long as the forest is protected through fencing to keep livestock out, and ideally also has pest control carried out to

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alumni achievement

Born and bred in Whanganui, Andrew Stewart was brought up surrounded by artists. He also really liked cars, and at just two years of age Andrew figured out how to combine his two passions.

“I have always drawn,” Andrew says. “In primary school I won a drawing competition and that really got me started. I used to sell off drawings of cars at school for packets of chippies.”

Andrew began a Bachelor of Computer Graphic Design (CGD) at the Whanganui School of Design straight from school at the age of 18. His Wanganui High School design teacher was a CGD graduate and told him it was the programme to do.

“It was a bit of a shock at first being part of a group where everyone was equally as talented as each other, but we got to know each other well and had a lot of fun over the three years.”

Not surprisingly, for his final project in 2008 Andrew chose to brand a small New Zealand motorsport class – but in the style of large American motorsport classes. This got the attention of the Motorsport industry in New Zealand and Andrew started getting requests for freelance design work.

With the help of Facebook, the attention quickly grew and after a few years and some hard work Andrew was running his own business - AWS Graphics. Now based in Hamilton, Andrew is 27 years of age and designs graphics for cars all over the world – including Sweden, Slovakia, Spain, U.S.A and China.

Recently he won an international competition run by California-based Falken Tyres to design the graphics for a top international pro-drift competitior’s car. The prize was to have the design used but Falken Tyres liked Andrew’s design so much that they paid him for it too.

The future looks bright for Andrew and he says it was UCOL that set him up well for the real world.

“All the latest technology was available, everything was up-to-date. There was a good atmosphere and lots of guidance, help and direction from the Tutors. It really was hands-on, and I’m still good friends with some of the Tutors now, I’m even working with some!”

“There was a good atmosphere and lots of guidance, help and direction from the tutors.”

Andrew Stewart back in whanganui recently

AndREw STEwART - COmPUTER gRAPhIC dESIgn


spotlight on

Vicky Fakan has not let her nomadic lifestyle rule her career.

“I’m a Foreign Service spouse and I follow my husband to overseas postings, and then try to keep myself employable,” Vicky said recently.

Vicky was recently awarded her second U.S. Department of State Fellowship to complete her Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Librarianship (CAS DL).

Vicky was at Whanganui UCOL from the end of July last year until the end of March, working as a part-time Library Assistant.

The $2500 Fellowship supports the Professional Development of Foreign Service officers’ spouses or partners. She will be studying online with Syracuse University, taking a Social Media in the

Enterprise paper.

Vicky has a Masters in English, a PGCE in Education, a Masters in Librarianship, and is on the verge of completing her CAS DL (Certificate of Advanced Studies in Digital Librarianship).

In her final paper she will be learning how organisations and non-profits can use social media to build an identity and develop trust/relationships/messaging with target audiences. During her time at UCOL she said she was thrilled to be studying this while working in the library field.

vICTORIA FAkAn

“...thrilled to be studying this while working in the library field.”

UCOL.AC.nz

UCOL’s website is getting a long awaited face-lift.

The project is being led by Online Communications Specialist Jennifer Monk. The groundwork started late last year and has included early stage research, the formulation of design strategies and concept testing.

The website was last revamped in 2007/08. “Since then the use of online tools has progressed significantly,” says Jennifer. “The ability to view the site on any device, like laptops and smartphones is essential.”

Early research has involved getting out there and talking to potential students to find out preferences and challenges faced by UCOL’s target market.

“We’ve been interviewing people at careers expos and school open evenings, and those at UCOL Open Days and visitors to the Student Information Centre in Palmerston North.”

The design strategy is based on research findings and how these relate to the customer ‘journey’ while interacting on the website. Research is being conducted across the different age groups, ethnicities, programmes and campuses to ensure a variety of ‘journey’ experiences are captured. There will be regular up-dates on progress through the coming months. The projected launch date for the new look www.ucol.ac.nz is 1 September.


Most UCOL staff members will now know about High Performing Teaching Teams (HPTT), the ongoing initiative that seeks to build on the existing great teaching at UCOL, and support teachers, within their teams, to further improve their professional practice. More detailed information will be coming your way soon but in the meantime here’s an update on where things are at...

In 2013 the initiative focused on leadership - at both the Executive Management and Academic Leadership levels. An Academic Leadership programme involved activities such as communities of practice, leaders’ retreats, coaching and leadership projects. Leaders themselves designed projects to build on teaching and learning within their Teaching Teams.

A new teacher induction programme has been introduced and those that have come through the programme have been very appreciative of the content and support system.

Several professional development opportunities for teaching staff were funded by the HPTT initiative, and there will be more this year.

Work with leaders will continue into 2014 and the next step is directly involving teaching teams. All teaching teams have different needs, so there will be an emphasis on gathering feedback and finding out what teachers want and need in order to be able to move forward effectively.

There are some exciting things coming up; keep an eye out for information on the Teaching Teams Innovation Grant, Director’s Awards, and a Teaching Symposium coming up on July 9.

update

International Students at the 2014 Powhiri

hPTT InTERnATIOnAL BUSInESS UCOL’s drive to attract international students to UCOL’s communities went well last year and campuses reflected a wide diversity of cultures.

Business plans to upgrade UCOL’s marketing presence in India and China were developed, and the new initiatives started in February. The India Liaison Office has taken on a PAN India focus as opposed to the previous model of working in three Indian States.

This approach will allow the UCOL brand to have greater prominence and exposure for increased market share. The China initiative will see UCOL have a regular in-country contractor solely marketing UCOL’s educational product.

All UCOL’s International agents continue to work hard, and UCOL frequently hosts agents at our Whanganui and Palmerston North campuses to provide them with facility updates and the chance to meet their students and gain greater educational product knowledge.

UCOL remains committed to delivering programmes that will continue to attract increased enrolments of international students, such as the new Graduate Diploma in Nursing implemented last year which will attract Internationally-qualified nurses who want to work as New Zealand Registered Nurses.

HIGH PERFORMING TEACHING TEAMS


orange juicenEw UCOL BLOgWe’re excited to announce the launch of Orange Juice, UCOL’s new blog at www.ucolblog.co.nz

We’ll be posting freshly squeezed news and events; student, staff and graduate success stories; guest blog posts and more. We encourage you to subscribe to the blog or bookmark it/link it to your favourites.

You’ll also find a blog feed on the UCOL

Facebook page.

The header image was illustrated by Whanganui School of Design Masters student Charlie Treefrog.

We’re always on the lookout for inspiring, interesting or just plain cool stories. If you’d like to submit a guest blog post, get in touch with us - [email protected].


power to the peopleBREAkIng RECORdS AT UCOLUCOL recently hosted the biggest powerlifting regional champs in New Zealand, with many Central Districts records broken as well as unofficial Oceania and World records too.

A large crowd of public spectators attended the event in the Palmerston North atrium on Saturday 5 April, sponsored by Fitsupps, Fitwear and Industrial Athletic.

UCOL Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science Lecturer Hayden Pritchard, who is the Central Districts Powerlifting Association Palmerston

North Representative and also competed in the event, said the day ran smoothly.

“It was a very successful event. Of particular note was Masterton’s Brett Gibbs who hit Unofficial World Records for Under 83kg Junior Men’s on the squat with 272.5kg, deadlift with 300kg and total of 752.5kg.

“We also had 17 females compete which was brilliant, to see more ladies competing than has been seen before at the Central District Champs.”

Hayden himself hit his goal of the Unofficial Under 93kg Open Men’s Oceania Squat record with a lift of 270.5kg, and did well on his other lifts to total a personal best of 713kg.

UCOL Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science Lecturer hayden Pritchard. Photos by Ian Rotherham

“It was a very successful event.”


out there

An exhibition of paintings and woodcuts by senior art students at Wanganui High School, inspired by the story of the Huia, will be on display at Whanganui UCOL’s Edith Gallery from April 16. Staff from the contributing school are graduates from the Quay School of the Arts.

COmIng UP AT EdITh gALLERY

UCOL is now known as the “Training Home of the Breakers Manawatu Jets” and as such the Jets are offering UCOL Staff a special ticket offer this season.

The gate price for a ticket this year is $10 for adults and $6 for students. The Jets are offering season tickets to UCOL staff at $35 for the season. Family season tickets are $100 per family. That gives you entry for the nine home games of fast paced basketball action.

You can reserve your “UCOL special” season ticket by emailing your details to [email protected].

Check out www.thejets.co.nz for game info.

BASkETBALL SEASOn


finish line dRIvERS STAR In UCOL BUILT RACE CARSTwo UCOL built race cars have taken their drivers to victory recently.

Simon Manthel from Property Brokers won the SF Cup in a Corolla FXGT, a hotly contested race class in the Roadmarking Services Summer Race Series at Manfeild last week. Former UCOL Lecturer and local driving instructor Dave Jenkins was a well-deserved winner of the RS Cup class, driving a UCOL Motorsport built Toyota Starlet.

Both Simon and Dave were introduced to motor racing by UCOL Motorsport where they were trained in track driving at Manfeild, leased UCOL cars for a trial period, and then went on to purchase completed race cars built by the students on the Motorsport course.

Certificate in Motorsport students also assisted during race meetings as pit crew for both cars.

“If there was a constructor’s trophy, UCOL Motorsport would have won it,” says Motorsport Lecturer Lance Funnell. “Well done guys.”

“If there was a constructor’s trophy, UCOL motorsport would have won it... well done guys.”

Simon manthel in action on manfeild.

dave jenkins does his best greg murphy impression.


gOT A nEwS LEAd? LET US knOw. [email protected]


campus connectionsISSUE 67 APRIL ‘14

Documents

Campus connections April 2014