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Welcome to your May issue of TRANSmit

The cold season is upon us but despite that

May has been another busy month for us all.

It was graduation time again and the event was

a great success, impressing staff, students and

their families.

The Social Club launched their first event

with a get together at CHATS which was well

received by all who attended. Everyone is

encouraged to come along to the next

“Friday Feeling” on 26 June.

One thing we need from everyone is the

names of your colleagues who engage in

interesting activities outside of MIT for the “So

you thought you knew….” section. So start

sending those nominations in. You never know

who may be next.

Keep the ideas and stories coming and don’t

hesitate to contact us about life in and around

MIT.

Email us at mitstaffnews@manukau.ac.nz

It was a week of celebration for MIT staff, graduates and their

families as the tremendous achievements of all graduating

students were recognised during MIT’s 2009 Graduation.

More than 970 students graduated during the week with

post-graduate, degree, diploma and certificate qualifications.

They were honoured at the Faculty of Business graduation

and main graduation ceremonies, both of which were held at

the Pacific Events Centre.

As well as the two graduation ceremonies, a series of other

celebrations were held to recognise the success of students

including departmental award ceremonies, a Pasifika

celebration, a Maori celebration and a graduate breakfast.

We wish our graduates every success for their future!

News and events from around campus T r a n s2009 MIT Graduation

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Mondays and Fridays are clinic days at the newly appointed Beauty Clinic premises on North Campus. It was a Monday that I arrived at reception eager to experience a facial treatment from a first year Certificate in Beauty Therapy student.

As I noted the queen palm outside the salon reception window taking a pummelling in the heavy rain, two meticulously presented reception staff warmly welcomed me. In a flash, I was seated with a clipboard filling in details of my unhealthy habits.

All filled in, I handed over the form promising myself to start drinking the 2 litres of water per day I had exaggerated about in question 6.

There are a number of pampering treatments you can avail yourself of at the clinic for a fraction of what you’d pay at a commercial salon not too unlike the one here at MIT.

On the way to my table, I took a peep at the work being done on the other treatment tables. There were finishing touches going on a fuchsia pink pedicured set of toes, eyelashes being tinted, a hand being massaged and a skilfully executed manicure drying - all under the direction of the MIT lecturers on-hand to assess the promising young students.

Before applying my facial treatment my therapist began with a few questions about my skin. She proceeded with the cleanser, while my eyes rested peacefully under little

cotton circles. You can imagine how grateful I was when she forewarned me each time she was about to slather my face and neck with a batch of creamy product. I thought of a few girls at other salons who could learn from her.

As my mask dried, I had my table electronically readjusted so that I could take a leisurely look at the surrounding facilities in the new clinic. Situated on the second floor, above the Palm Room, the salon gets a sweeping view of the tree line with freshly painted rooms and a new bathroom, all making for a professional clinic environment.

Certainly, with professional advice from both the trainee and the lecturers I was able to find a suitable bottle of SPF tinted moisturiser to keep me from paling through the winter.

With the mask removed and nourishing moisturiser plumping up my new skin I left stroking my face and marvelling that it was now as smooth as a baby’s bottom..... almost.

Semester one bookings are Monday and Friday between 9-11am and 12:30-2:30pm. In semester two, additional services such as specialist facials, waxing and body massages will be available. Keep an eye out for email updates or book on

09 968 8733 or beauty@manukau.ac.nz.

New Clinic on Campus is a Beauty Deanne Douglas checks out the Beauty Clinic

Dermalogica sooth stress away

Prize Giveaway: Anyone who comes to the clinic

for a treatment in the month of June will go into

the draw for a winter treat - a Dermalogica Stress

Relief set valued at $99.

The set includes Dermalogica Hydro-Active Mineral

Salts, Stress Relief treatment oil and essential oils

Stress Relief Candle.

GiveAwAy MAY

Congratulations to Philippa Rogers,

MIT Marketing Account Manager, on

her win this month at the 2009 ‘Sweet

Adeline’ National Competition and her

selection to represent New Zealand

at the International Barbershop

Championships in Seattle next year.

You may have listened to her

Barbershop Quartet or chorus at

events such as Music in Parks or one

of the many other performances they

have given around Auckland.

Or you may have enjoyed the

melodious tune of her trombone or

trumpet.

Philippa Rogers

This undercover singer is also a

talented musician. In April this year,

her band came second place in the

National Brass Band Championships,

which all seems a natural part of her

trajectory of successes in her music life.

Philippa started the piano at 5 years

old and has moved on to the trumpet

and trombone. Some of the highlights

of her musical career have been

singing for the NZ Young Women

in Harmony Choir and touring with

NZ’s illustrious Jazz Musician Roger

Fox, one of New Zealand’s top Jazz

musicians, with the NZ Youth Jazz

Band.

SO YOu THOuGHT YOu KNEW...

It was a proud moment for 11 students from the

Department of Nursing and Health Studies as they

received recognition for their achievement at a

graduation and medal pinning ceremony in MIT’s

Marae. The students are the first Nurse Assistants

to graduate in Auckland after successfully completing

the MIT Certificate in Nursing and the Nursing

Council exam.

Congratulations to Kristina Brock, Carmille Daniels,

Badroneesah Makarani, Jamila Qaium, Harmandeep

Singh, Mui Tham, Veer Kumar, Yit Hoong Lee, Saiqa

Saleem, Anastacia Tongatala and Jane Turner.

A proud moment

“Although I still call it a hobby, I do

take it seriously. We practice a lot but

its great fun,” Philippa says. “We get

to wear full stage make-up including

false eyelashes and professionally-

made costumes. We all have a great

time travelling around the country

together.”

Philippa’s passion is also shared with

her family – her mum sings in the

same Barbershop chorus! You can

often find the two of them breaking

into song while driving or cooking at

home. As for Philippa’s dad, he shies

away from the glitz and glamour of

Barbershop.

“My dad retreats to the garden

whenever we start up,” she says.

“He doesn’t like Barbershop music,

but I don’t take it personally. He is

tone deaf.”

You can checkout Philippa

and her chorus on-line at

www.greateraucklandchorus.com

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(l-r back) A proud moment for Saiqa Saleem, Anastacia Tongatala,

Badroneesah Makarani, Carmille Daniels, (l-r front) Jamila Qaium,

Kristina Brock, Veer Kumar and Yit Hoong Lee.

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Supporting our Student Nurses

An innovative partnership between MIT and Counties Manukau District Health Board (CMDHB) is helping to educate student nurses in a fully supportive, quality learning environment. Through the work of a collaborative project team, two Dedicated Education Units (DEUs) have been established at Middlemore Hospital, where student nurses can carry out their clinical practice under close academic and clinical supervision.

The value of the project has been recognised externally, with substantial funding awarded by the Ako Aotearoa National Project Fund to the research project team, which is led by MIT’s Dr Willem Fourie and CMDHB’s Bev McClelland.

Under the DEU model, a closer working relationship is encouraged between clinical and academic staff to better prepare student nurses for the job. Each DEU is supported by a Clinical Liaison Nurse and Academic Liaison Nurse with staff committed to facilitating and enhancing students’ learning.

The DEUs’ effectiveness will be evaluated by a wider research project that will make recommendations on the model’s ability to successfully support undergraduate nursing students. The research project has the support of MIT in the form of initial start-up funds from the Research, Development and Technology Transfer Fund (RDTT). These funds helped to lay the foundations of the project at the critical planning stage.

Dr Fourie is pleased to have the backing of MIT and AKO. “This is a significant development for the Department of Nursing and Health Studies and it was important to us to

Dr Fourie’s research project is funded by the MIT Research, Development and Technology Transfer (RDTT) Fund.

If you’re considering applying to the fund please contact Deborah Kragten on ext 7684 or see the RDTT Fund page on MITNET.

MIT second year student nurses Dong Dela Cruz and Angela Taylor are given a helping hand by

Clinical Liaison Nurse Kusum Narayan (pictured centre).

receive recognition from MIT in the form of funding at the outset of the project,” says Dr Fourie. “Receiving the AKO funding was also a significant boost. Our hard work in establishing the DEUs is already starting to pay off with positive feedback from all involved. The nursing students feel they are gaining real life experience in a supportive environment and the clinical staff have the chance to extend and improve their own practice as a result of their interaction with the students.”

The research aspect of the project will be concluded by the end of the year with the final report expected by the end of June 2010.

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Students have been beating a

pathway to the doors of MIT’s new

Career Centre since it opened for

business in March.

Career consultants have been working

flat out with teaching staff, students

and members of the local community,

providing a comprehensive career

advice service.

Chrissi Bollard, Career Centre Co-

ordinator is overwhelmed by the

positive response the centre is

receiving. “We’re getting great

feedback from all visitors, particularly

the students,” says Chrissi. “People

are genuinely surprised at the full

service we offer ranging from general

career advice and guidance to updates

on the current job market and training

options available.”

Teaching staff have been taking

advantage of the support available

from consultants who provide in-class

workshops on CV and cover letter

writing, job search strategies and

interview techniques.

Students are enjoying the one-to-one

career sessions which give them the

opportunity to have their CVs checked,

learn the most effective job searching

methods and gain confidence as they

make the transition from studying to the

workplace - a scary concept for many!

Angela, an MIT student, is already

benefiting from the career advice she

received. “I was interviewed by two

people and was able to respond well

to their questions thanks to practising

interview techniques with an MIT Career

Consultant,” says Angela after a recent

job interview. “I felt comfortable in the

interview and did my best to sell myself

Photo (l-r): Always ready to

help with their invaluable

careers advice are Chrissi

Bollard, Career Co-ordinator

for MIT’s Career Centre and

Jill Bice, Career Consultant

for Career Services.

Open for Business

and my interest in the job. So, fingers

crossed and thanks to the

Career Centre for empowering me!”

If you haven’t visited the Career Centre

yet - drop in! You can find the team

on the ground floor, JKL Block, South

Campus. For more information call

Chrissi Bollard, Career Co-ordinator

on Ext 8198.

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It was Girl Power all round at the Faculty of

Engineering and Trades inaugural awards

celebration, with a record number of females

scooping top accolades.

Five women were recognised for their overall

commitment and ability with the Top Student

Award. This is a marked change from the

Department of Technology Awards of previous

years, where only two females have been

presented with top awards during the last five

years.

Paul Jeurissen, Dean of the Faculty of

Engineering and Trades is pleased with this

positive outcome. “We’re extremely proud of

this result,” says Paul. “Traditional stereotypes

are starting to be eroded so we’re seeing more

women enter professions in engineering and

the trades. There’s still a long way to go but

we’re committed to attracting more females

into the Faculty.”

Proudly claiming their Top Student Awards at

the celebration were Priscilla Pihema from the

Certificate in Automotive Technology (Level 2),

Christina Steunebrink from the Certificate in

Horticulture (Level 4), Jahna Stephens from the

National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering

(Level 2), Yuting Wang from the Diploma in

Engineering (Civil) and Noreen Burchell from

Light Fabrication, who was presented with Top

Year 2 Apprentice Award.

Feminine Touch for Engineering & Trades

Christina Steunebrink, recipient of the Top Full Time Student Award in the Certificate in

Horticulture (Level 4) programme, tends to some roses.

MITskits is an opportunity to show off

talent from your department and do

a small skit. Singing, dancing, acting,

- anything you like, just use your

imagination!

Get a group together from your

department and come along and

have a great night!

To register your group/skit,

email the Social Club:

socialclub@manukau.ac.nz

or for more information

ring Lisa Ransom extn 8793

Keep an eye on Transmit for more details.

Bookings available for dinner in July

MITskits is coming in August!

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Now that Marius mensis has past and as

we look forward to Junius mensis, what

do we have to look forward to? Well for a

start there is the upcoming battle of the

browsers.

In the squared corner we have the

reigning champion, with a poor showing

recently, releasing Internet Explorer 8

(IE 8) facing, in the circular corner, the

young upstart with the promising lead up,

Google Chrome.

And a standup fight it looks to be.

Microsoft has been performing poorly

in recent releases of its Internet Explorer

browser. Poor compatibility between

versions 6 and 7 meant web pages were

rendered differently and it seemed as if IE

was moving apart from its rivals in terms

of operating standards, bringing with it

fears of the return of the bad old days.

There were the times when browsers

would read the same piece of web page

code completely differently and in many

cases in exactly the opposite way.

But with the release of IE 8, it seems as

if Microsoft has seen that this is a self

destructive way to go in the face of quality

opposition from the likes of Firefox.

Innovation and leading the pack is a fine

thing but it can just as easily turn out to

lead to self isolation and being lost in the

wilderness.

IE 8 has shipped with new features such

as Accelerators, which are built in tools

designed to better mirror how people

use the Web. Accelerators help share

content and blend services from various

sites. An example is the map Accelerator,

you highlight on an address to launch

an online map from Microsoft, Yahoo

or Google. There are Accelerators for

e-mail, news, currency conversions, eBay

auctions, searching through Facebook

friends and more.

Also new is the privacy mode which allows

you to surf without leaving a trail on your

machine to show where you were.

In a bid to make up for past errors there is

also an in-built backwards compatibility

mode which displays pages built with

the older IE coding correctly, thereby not

breaking large sections of the web for

users.

An interesting add-on is the colour coded

tabs – when you open a new tab from a

web page you will see both the new and

old tabs change to another colour so you

can easily see related tabs – doesn’t seem

much but its one of those useful little

additions that really help browsing. I like

the new browser.

But bring on the contender, Google

Chrome. It would seem that coming from

the Google stable would almost guarantee

success. It probably will, especially when

you consider this browser is fast and I don’t

mean fast as in it takes a mega computer to

distinguish the difference – browse around

a bit to your favourite sites and you’ll see

the speed difference. In one recent study

of 10 browsers, Firefox registered as the

fastest with Google Chrome, then still in

beta form, came second (Poor old IE came

9th - IE 8 and 10th - IE 7)

While not as feature-rich as IE (it does

incognito mode as well) and is only

available in Windows – Mac and Linux

versions to come – it’s still in its early

phase and with the Google pedigree you

can bet those features will come thick and

fast in later versions. It’s under the hood as

such that Chrome has made its innovations

but you still get upfront functions such as

a task manager that show you how much

memory and CPu usage each tab and

plug-in is using, dynamic tabs that you

can drag to form their open windows and

back and new support for web applications

such as Gmail. You can create a shortcut

on the desktop, in the Start menu, or on the

Quick Launch bar and open your Web apps

without opening the browser - they run in

a dedicated window that’s streamlined so it

feels more like you’re using a regular, local

application rather than the Web.

Which to choose? – well, I use both and

Firefox, but try them out for yourselves and

pick the one that best fits your web style.

Each browser runs independently of each

other so there is no harm in trying all three.

Bonus Pasco

by Allan Gatland

Horizons

SPINNING THE WEB

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International Student Recruitment Office The International Student Recruitment Office is available to international students who would like information on studying at MIT and assistance with applications. The office is staffed as follows: Monday To FRiday 11am - 2.00pm

LOCATION: INFORMATION CENTRE, L BLOCK, SOuTH CAMPuS

TELEPHONE: 8620 during office hoursPIP SCHOLLuM-MANASE International Marketing and Recruitment MANuKAu INSTITuTE OF TECHNOLOGY TEL: +64 9 968-8742 FAx: +64 9 968-8741 www.manukau.ac.nz/international

NOTICES

HOuSE-SITTING REQuIRED FOR LECTuRER AND CAT

I have a leaky house in Panmure and I am looking for somewhere to live from 10 August 2009 to...?Please email Kathy Skellern on kathys@clear.net.nz or phone on 021338000, or

5276164

The official launch of the MIT Staff Social Club was held at CHATS on the 8th May. Around 100 people attended from around most of the departments from MIT.

Dr Peter Brothers, Stuart and Johann welcomed the staff and introduced the social committee. Staff were divided into groups - according to colour of stickers - and were able to mix and mingle with other staff that they had not met before. Donations by departments for spot prizes were given out and the game about MIT was well received.

A good night was had by all - further Friday Feelings are being held monthly and additional events will be organised. Watch Transmit for more details.