Tag Archives: EIT Hawke’s Bay

Brenda Chapman bids farewell to successful stint at EIT

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Brenda Chapman has been the marketing face and voice of local tertiary education institute EIT for 20 years. You will have heard Brenda’s Canadian effervescent accent on the local radio stations promoting the many courses at EIT.

Brenda started at EIT in January 2000 when there was just over 2000 EFTS (students) and leaves 20 years later with the EIT firmly established as one of the strong education institute performers.

She is moving to Auckland to live with her new partner and is in semi-retirement.

What is your career background in New Zealand?
I was an international commerce trainee conducting market research for the Manawatu Standard Ltd, the Timaru Herald and the Southland Times for 12 months back in 1986/1987. Subsequent roles included Marketing Manager and advertising manager for the Manawatu Standard. I moved to Hawke’s Bay in 1993 and was the marketing coordinator and then the Manager – General Cargo at the Port of Napier. I came to EIT as the Section Manager – Education and Social Sciences in January 2000 and was then promoted into the Marketing leadership role in August 2000.

There will be many highlights – what are some of the ones you are personally proud of?
The many building openings and degree launches (Bachelor of Recreation and Sport, Masters in Health Science), in the early years under Bruce Martin’s leadership as our chief executive.

The events we held to commemorate the 25th anniversary of Nursing, the 40th anniversary of EIT as well as the merger with Tairāwhiti Polytechnic and the establishment of the EIT brand in that region – EIT Hawke’s Bay and EIT Tairāwhiti.

Any funny moments that you recall?

There are many but one that springs to mind is when EIT sponsored a category at the Hastings Business Awards and it coincided with the Rugby World Cup in NZ. The Canadian team was based here – so of course I needed to support them! I wore a red dress, a polar fleece maple leaf shaped hat and a Canadian flag as a cape, whilst delivering the speech. Anything to be memorable for EIT!

Are there any special mentions of people that you have worked with closely?
The many colleagues I have worked at EIT for a long time, it’s a fabulous place to work with a very collegial environment. It’s family friendly and with a great work/ life balance.

Our connections with the business community has also been a highlight. I’ve enjoyed networking with many organisations and the sponsorships that EIT has held – Sport Hawke’s Bay, Hawke’s Bay Magpies, HB Chamber of Commerce, Hawks Basketball, Hawke’s Bay Netball, the Napier and Hastings City Marketing organisations, and the various employers.

You’ve worked under two high calibre chief executives, what was that like?
Both Bruce Martin and Chris Collins have been extremely supportive and always supported our marketing efforts. We have a team of professionals and I have appreciated the support that our employer community has given us.

You have been a champion of EIT at many events, adding your own unique character. Was that important to you?
What I love about our region is that we embrace vibrancy and accept differences. There have been many events that EIT has sponsored and I have enjoyed being able to profile EIT in a memorable way.

Will the identity of EIT remain strong on the east coast?
The people who have studied at EIT and the staff who have supported them are the foundation of the region. These people have contributed to the local economy and the improvement of the quality of health of the citizens of our region – Hawke’s Bay and the East Coast.

While there is the establishment of the NZIST organisation, the people who have studied and worked at EIT will continue to improve the economy and the quality of life of our region.

You have also been a big advocate for Hawke’s Bay – why is that so important to you?
Hawke’s Bay is a fantastic place to live, work and play. EIT is a cornerstone to that – we have over 800 people on the payroll, and over 10,000 students studying at EIT.

My focus has always been about EIT making a positive difference to people’s lives – whether that is students/ graduates and employers. Making it easier for everyone to achieve their goals – whether that is personal or work.

EIT front foots once in a generation sector change

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Eastern Institute of Technology is pumping. 2019 sees an increase of 680 students up on last year’s record 10,325 people engaged in tertiary education through its three campuses in Hawke’s Bay, Tairāwhiti (Gisborne) and Auckland, across certificate, diploma, degree and post-graduate.

“Relationships with our communities are strong,” says Mark Oldershaw, EIT deputy chief executive.

Courses and programmes are constantly reviewed to meet learner and industry needs – the horticulture sector story featured on page 43 aptly demonstrates this. Students across all schools are successfully gaining employment or go on to further studies (2017: 75 percent in employment, 25 percent in study).

Then in mid-February this year, Minister of Education Chris Hipkins announced a Review of Vocational Education (ROVE) that put the institute into overdrive.

With only a six-week window to provide feedback on what Mark describes as “the most significant review of vocational education provision across New Zealand that we have ever seen. A once in a generation change”, intense activity ensued.

“While some of what the Minister has proposed is warranted, there is great risk that Hawke’s Bay will lose our regional autonomy to meet social and economic needs. EIT may no longer have the agility to respond with training to fill workforce skills gaps,” Mark says. “There was absolutely no question that we needed to respond with as much strategic and deep thinking as our collective intellect could provide.”

Within the first week, Mark and Chris Collins EIT Chief Executive had digested the ROVE proposal and marketplace intelligence around it. Overarching values were established – that any response, and the process to develop that response, would put people first and foremost. The focus being on the impact on the community and employers. Regional connectedness would be clearly demonstrated as crucial to EIT’s sustained success. “From the outset we utilised a principles- based approach. We were driven by the need to propose constructive feedback and solutions,” says Glen Harkness, EIT ROVE project manager.

Mark and Glen lead the project group. EIT’s executive team had ROVE steering group responsibilities added to their workloads. Extensive consultation with staff across all three campuses resulted in both academic and administrative staff volunteering to work on a number of workstreams, holding focus sessions to explore the proposal’s impact on EIT, what was supported, and where alternative ideas were needed.

The Wellington-based ROVE team spent a day in Hawke’s Bay meeting with staff, students, EIT Council and executive. An extremely well-supported stakeholders’ meeting was also held. Mayors or their representatives from Central Hawke’s Bay to Wairoa attended, expressing concerns about the region’s potential loss of direct input in determining how the tertiary institution could continue to respond to local education and training needs.

Initially one regional submission was planned. The region’s mayors, iwi and business leaders were all keen to vocalise their support for EIT. The resulting submission had 18 signatories from throughout East Cape and Hawke’s Bay.

“As time progressed it became apparent that one regional submission could not contain the level of detail that was coming out of the ideas from EIT,” said Glen. “The questions being asked in the consultation process required more comprehensive answers.

“It is such a critical issue that we needed to model with a finer level of detail how we could operate and connect with the community while still providing the Minister with the solutions he was seeking.”

In its second submission following further staff consultation and a solid level of agreement, the proposed EIT model sets out how strong regional governance and leadership can be preserved.

It promotes regional Boards to lead and govern tertiary education in their respective regions. Regional education and training delivery plans would be developed in consultation with local iwi, industry, community, students, region and the overarching central entity. Regional providers would deliver to the plans, giving a “real life, real learning fit for the real world”.

In addition, the EIT model has an overlay that demonstrates how industry and the Minister’s proposed industry skills boards would connect to the plan.

“We accept that some of what the Minister has stated as his reasons for the review are warranted but it’s critical that we present an alternative view. The tertiary vocational sector is not as broken as central Government makes out, certainly EIT is not struggling.

“We believe that despite the incredibly short timeframe, we’ve provided a much- improved model for stronger and better provider-based training,” sums up Mark.

“I am extremely proud that once again EIT has shown an amazing ability to pool together to contribute to a significant piece of work. I believe our submission reflects both our history and what defines us now, but also makes a very strong case for the values and principles we hold to be incorporated into a possible new model.”

Minister Hipkins indicated he wants the new entity that arises from the ROVE process to be in place on 1 January 2020. Work over the subsequent year or two will be needed to transition all 16 polytechnics and institutes of technology into the one new entity.

More information about ROVE and EIT’s submissions can be found at https://www. eit.ac.nz/about/reform-of-vocational- education/ – a page dedicated to sharing information on the review proposal and the EIT response.

Climbing the ladder in the apple industry

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The apple industry in Hawke’s Bay is thriving. Looking at 2017 statistics published by the New Zealand Institute for Plant & Food Research Ltd. since 2015, apple orchards in New Zealand have increased in value by approximately 70 percent. In 2017 New Zealand exported 343,000t of apples (total production of 384,000t). Of which, 70 percent are grown in Hawke’s Bay. In 2019 exports are expected to exceed 400,000t.

This boom in the apple industry is leading to increased career opportunities with more skilled labour in demand. To keep pace with the fast changing horticulture sector, EIT – aligned with industry and the Industry Training Organisations (ITOs) – is constantly widening its range of programmes. A recent addition was the New Zealand Diploma in Horticulture (Level 5), Post Harvest Strand.

“The diploma is spread over two years to meet the needs of people working in the horticulture industry,” explains horticulture tutor Chris Thorman, the programme coordinator for the programme. “This means students can work and study during the year and it is tailored to fit around the busy packing season.”

Joe Dale and Rachael Marston are two current students. These pack house managers have several years of experience in the industry and are now studying to keep up-to-date with current developments.

Joe, production manager at Freshco, says, he worked his way up from the ground. He left high school and started to work in orchards and then packhouses and in doing so, gained a lot of background knowledge about the industry. “The course enhances my management skills and gives me a deeper understanding of things that I’m doing,” says Joe who is responsible for a team of 100 employees.

“Ninety percent of the apples that get graded and packed on site are exported,” says Joe pointing out the challenges of accommodating all the various market requirements. Apples destined for the Japanese market for instance, have to be fumigated for two hours and stored at two degrees for 25 days. Joe notes that some markets even require the apples to be presented in a certain way and are happy to reject a consignment if the aesthetics standards are not met.

Rachael too has climbed the ladder in the industry. The 26-year-old oversees the crop logistics at Johnny Appleseed by organising and controlling all the incoming fruit from the orchards and outgoing consignments to cool stores and customers. “For instance, I have to check all of the bin dockets on every incoming load, whether the information displayed is correct and the fruit has met all the legal requirements. It’s all about traceability and food safety,” she points out.

Rachael was offered the chance to gain the qualification by her boss. “I thought that there would be nothing wrong with expanding my horizons and streamlining my knowledge. I’m able to understand the process now, for example why we store fruit in certain way and what difference it makes to fruit.”

The industry realises that well-trained people are the key to success and fully supports the programme which enhances the career prospects within the industry. The next Horticulture diploma (Post Harvest, Level 5) starts at the end of July at the EIT Hastings Centre.

Entrepreneurs Alive and Thriving at EIT

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The Hawke’s Bay economy is changing and EIT is adapting to meet the era of the entrepreneur.

“Over the past decade there has been a massive global shift to entrepreneurial ecosystems,” said Jonathan Sibley, EIT’s Director of Research and Associate Professor, School of Business.

“It’s been estimated that 50 percent of all jobs created in OECD countries over the last decade have been created by innovative young firms. There is an increasing need for workers to be able to create their own jobs.”

This mindset is driving EIT to adapt and extend beyond teaching business courses for students looking for full-time career employment. Now it’s also working to foster and nurture the development of students’ abilities to create new businesses and new jobs. “It is important that we develop students’ ability to adapt to an uncertain and unpredictable future,” says Jonathan.

Entrepreneurship@EIT is the School of Business’ response to this new world of work.

It has three elements, working with students and budding entrepreneurs at differing stages of their development. YES@ EIT targets secondary school students; Entrepreneurs@EIT is for students at EIT; and Entrepreneurs Gym, which is currently in development, extends entrepreneurship

development capabilities across business in Hawke’s Bay.

Managing the first two elements is Ben Deller, a Masters in Applied Management post-graduate student. He was one of the original founders of the business that has since grown to become NOW. In true entrepreneurial style, the Airnet NZ business started in Ben’s brother’s laundry.

Ben started studying at EIT in 2015 and through his involvement with the School of Business faculty, he came in on the ground floor of the programme’s development. His role in the short term is to get Entrepreneurship@EIT off the ground and to create a framework to ensure it is authentic and sustainable.

“It’s amazing the ideas and existing businesses that students have. There’s incredible potential for some of them to be doing something really special. Our goal is to help them do that something special much earlier in their business career by supporting them through the programme,” said Ben.

YES@EIT, launched in 2017, aims to stimulate entrepreneurial interest by supporting the secondary schools’ Young Enterprise Scheme already running in the region through Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce.

EIT staff provide teaching sessions through its Trades Academy to those schools that don’t offer a business curriculum and an increasing number of the business faculty act as mentors for teams.

Importantly, EIT has provided seeding capital by way of competitive small-scale grants, recognising that not all school teams have family connections or discretionary income to assist teams establishing their YES business. In 2018, 28 teams were granted a total of $8400.

In 2019, EIT aims to launch the YES@ EIT programme at its Tairāwhiti campus in Gisborne.

The second element, Entrepreneurs@EIT was launched on the Hawke’s Bay campus in September this year. Its objective is to assist students to launch new business ventures or to grow existing businesses while they study. On offer are skills development, mentoring, networking, business support and an ‘entrepreneurs’ clinic’ to assist aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their skills.

An Entrepreneurs’ Clinic aims to develop self- awareness about a student’s entrepreneurial skills, capabilities, and importantly, what gaps they may have, says Ben, whose job it will then be to help develop a programme specifically to match their needs.

Ben is also responsible for helping the budding business owner with an industry- aligned mentor from the wider business community to support their business progress.

In addition, there are exclusive offers from businesses, such as membership of the Hawke’s Bay Chamber of Commerce at a 50 percent discount.

The third strand, the Entrepreneurs’ Gym is in its early stages. EIT has been exploring the concept of development capability with various other economic powerhouses in the region including territorial authorities, Business Hawke’s Bay, the Hawke’s Bay Angel Network and the Icehouse.

Services would span training, mentoring, access to finance and related business services. EIT will initially focus on relevant micro-credentials. While still in development, these micro-credentials would likely focus on capital raising, negotiation and communications, and business planning. It is hoped that the Gym will be off the ground in 2019.

EIT Hastings – a huge hit with students

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Tailored to meet student needs, EIT’s newly-located Hastings Regional Learning Centre has become a drawcard for learners since opening ahead of the academic year’s second term.

Light-filled, spacious and welcoming, the new centre exudes inclusiveness, which is encouraging students of all ages and backgrounds to engage in tertiary education.

The relocation to a single-storey building on Heretaunga Street West has also been well-received by surrounding businesses who appreciate the extra foot traffic generated at their end of the downtown shopping strip.

EIT has had a long-time presence in Hastings, initially establishing in 1982 in leased rooms on the corner of Queen and Hastings streets.

More recently, it operated out of the Tower Building in Railway Road. However, as centre coordinator Tania Kupa points out, the first-floor centre put it at somewhat of a remove from pedestrian traffic. Access could also be challenging for less mobile students.

EIT was keen to secure a site that generated more foot traffic, provided better access, was close to public transport and boosted the institute’s public visibility.

The search for a suitable location focused on providing a centre that reflected EIT’s belief that a high quality tertiary education should be available to all.

The existing building was purchased last year and an extensive renovation and refit followed, providing a flexible, largely open- plan layout which is allowing for more collaborative learning and an expanded list of programmes.

Fronting the street is the marketing area, furnished with desks, sofas and iPads so students can, for example, access StudyLink information. A step up to the side of this information hub are interview rooms and administration offices.

Opening off the generous central thoroughfare are several computing classrooms. In these collaborative learning spaces, students can move computers around on wheeled tables to work in groups.

There are also two discrete classrooms, both soundproofed for teaching purposes – one seating 25, which is the maximum number for a programme, and another accommodating 15 students.

Any EIT student, whether enrolled in a programme offered at Hastings or at any other centre or campus, can use the open-plan computer space, which is equipped with 12 computers and a printer.

The all-purpose meeting room was recently used by third-year nursing students to study for their exams.

As at the former centre, retail, computing and business are core programmes that have proven their worth in preparing students moving into the Hawke’s Bay workforce. Horticulture is also a The staple, with students learning hands-on skills at community gardens in the Hastings district.

New to the centre are food and beverage (hospitality), Mãori studies and skincare and makeup.

The three core staff who relocated to the new centre are steeped in EIT’s learning culture and have well-honed people skills.

Tania, for example, has had a lengthy involvement with tertiary education. Walking the talk, she started at EIT as a Bachelor of Computing Systems student in 2001.

She then tutored for EIT as a final-year degree student in 2003, and has since completed a Diploma in Business, the Bachelor of Business Studies and a Postgraduate Diploma in Business.

Last year, she and Lisa Turnbull, the centre’s programme coordinator and tutor for retail programmes, studied the Level 2 Certificate in Te Reo Mãori and this year Tania completed the centre’s 12-week short course in Mandarin.

“I’m a lifelong learner,” Tania says. “I just can’t stop.”

Lisa also is a highly-qualified tutor. Originally with Tairãwhiti Polytechnic based in Onekawa, she has continued in her teaching role since the merger with EIT seven years ago – a total of 16 years.

Tony Martin, the learning facilitator for computing, was one of the first students to work for the EIT community computing programme when it ran in three classrooms in the Hetley Building on the Hawke’s Bay campus.

These permanent staffers are joined by other tutors teaching short courses and a growing list of qualification programmes.

Located at the rear of the building, where a service lane allows for deliveries, the well-equipped training kitchen and customer service area have allowed EIT to add hospitality to its Hastings offerings.

A well-patronised pop-up café runs at the end of food and beverage courses, honing students’ skills in dealing with the public and handling eftpos and cash transactions.

fare is prepared by the students and a sample menu might include pumpkin soup, sausage rolls, butter chicken, beef panini, pork bao buns, quiche lorraine, quinoa salad, savoury scrolls, cream-filled buns and carrot cake.

Pricing is great, with nothing over $6 and espresso coffees costing just $2.

Taught by café service tutor Fliss Pullman and chef tutor Courtney Sanders, the hospitality students learn about food safety and first aid as well as cooking and barista practices.

Hands-on practical experience is also embedded in other programmes. Retail students, for example, are offered placements in stores.

Other offerings that are new for the centre include theory for 25 Level 3 carpentry students, who will proceed to building a cottage on a Maraekakaho site, make-up and skincare, employment preparation and horticulture – fruit production.

“A lot of other organisations are utilising the centre,” says Tania, “and we are able to make rooms available for teaching purpose.”

The centre operates five days a week and is open late on Tuesday and Wednesday nights. The evening hours are attracting students beyond Hastings in suiting those who work regular hours.

EIT sees the centre as a gateway for students who may want to progress to higher-level programmes.

“Would-be students can drop in completed enrolment forms,” Tania says, “and we can check them before sending them on.”

Chief executive Chris Collins says the new centre underscores EIT’s ongoing commitment to serving the needs of communities throughout Hawke’s Bay.

He points out that while Hawke’s Bay’s main campus is in Taradale, EIT’s reach extends well beyond that, into towns and rural settlements throughout the region. Nearly 1800 students study programmes off- site from main campuses, right across Hawke’s Bay and Tairãwhiti, Gisborne region.

Computing School Attuned To Industry Changes

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EIT’s School of Computing is continuing to fine-tune its suite of programmes with robotics and automation as it responds to the changing needs of a fast-growing and evolving industry.

Late last year, a Government-backed report warned of a growing IT skills shortage in New Zealand.

The industry-driven Digital Skills Forum study, described as this country’s most comprehensive report on technology in a generation, noted that the number of New Zealanders graduating with tech- related degrees and diplomas was increasing at the rate of about seven percent – encouraging, it said, but not enough to meet industry growth.

Responsiveness to computing sector needs is reflected in EIT diploma and degree programmes that include industry-based placements or internships. These can and often do lead to offers of permanent employment.

Consulting regularly with an advisory committee that includes people working locally in the IT sector, the School of Computing tailors its programmes to prepare students for the fast-paced job market.

As an example of that – and subject to NZQA approval – it is introducing a new intelligent systems major as a further option for Bachelor of Computing Systems students.

Following a generic first year, students major in the second and third years of the degree. The existing majors are systems development, support infrastructure and information systems.

Creative and hands-on, the new major, expected to come on stream in the second semester this year, is likely to attract high-achieving school leavers who want to future-proof their jobs.

As assistant head of school Dr David Skelton points out, “things are changing so quickly in technology”.

Students have access to a new robotics lab equipped with 3D printers and electronics to create parts for building electronics and robots, along with the software development training.

Student activities in the robotics lab will prepare students for real- life industry scenarios, such as the automation developments at companies like T & G and Pan Pac.

The school’s suite of programmes range from level 2, 3 and 4 certificates through to the bachelor’s degree, graduate and postgraduate diplomas and the level 9 Master of Information Technology.

A final-year Bachelor of Computing Systems student, 22-year-old Harley Simmons appreciates the different entry points available to those wanting to study computing.

Leaving William Colenso College, Harley didn’t know where to head his life and took a year out, working in a manual job. The experience confirmed that he didn’t see his future in labouring, and, deciding on EIT study but not feeling especially computer savvy, he started on a level 4 programme and progressed to the degree.

From the outset, he says, the school’s lecturers emphasised the need to keep upskilling.

And it’s with that in mind that Harley plans returning to EIT after he graduates, perhaps undertaking a course each semester, to keep current and develop new skills.

NOW Co-Founder Embraces Study at EIT

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Widely known in the business community as the co-founder of NOW, Ben Deller delights these days in telling people he is a student.

Having left the successful telecommunications company early last year, the 38-year-old is now dovetailing business consultancy work with part- time postgraduate studies at EIT.

Ben enjoyed his 14 years heading NOW’s sales and marketing team, but over time, he says, the focus became less about innovation and more about management and scale.

Having broadened its customer base, the company was continuing to expand beyond Hawke’s Bay. It needed an injection of capital to achieve further growth. In 2015 Spark bought a stake and, over a period of 12 months, Ben started looking at what else he might do.

“I was working with some really smart people,” he says, “and one in particular – she has a master’s degree – suggested I study, as she had, purely for the enjoyment.”

Learning by chance about EIT’s suite of postgraduate programmes, he worked through his study options with School of Business Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley.

Ben had good reason for feeling tentative – his first experience of tertiary study hadn’t gone well. After leaving Lindisfarne College, he abandoned Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science studies after just a fewweeks.

“It really wasn’t my thing, but it’s taken a long time to pay back that student loan,” he ruefully reflects. The move to Palmerston North wasn’t a total write-off, however. He reopened a disused nightclub and attracted DJs from around the country in staging “a lot of parties”.

Jonathan suggested Ben attempt a course that took his interest to determine how he felt about study aligned to his passion for business. He enrolled for a leadership course taught by applied management Robbie Field and “absolutely, thoroughly, utterly enjoyed it”.

Tackling one course each semester, he is now on the way towards gaining a Master of Applied Management.

Ben says he wouldn’t keep coming back to EIT if he didn’t see the value in study – “I’m learning skills beyond those I already had.” His wider skill set comes into play in advising clients of Workshop X, the specialist consultancy he established to grow business ventures here in Hawke’s Bay.

And EIT is also gaining from Ben’s enthusiasm for study. He has agreed to feature in a light box advertisement to be prominently displayed in the Hawke’s Bay Airport.

“It’s going to be odd seeing myself on a poster board,” he says with a grin.