International student Ravneel Anand was delighted when his industry placement at a top Auckland hotel lead to a part-time job. Ravneel, from Fiji, spent a month working at The Langham as part of his International diploma in culinary course at MIT. The placement gave him a chance to work in every department in their kitchens, from pastry to mains to desserts. After Ravneel completed the internship, he was offered a part-time job as a commis chef. Ravneel loved his job and says his studies at MIT were excellent preparation for his future career.

“MIT was a??great choice to prepare me for a culinary career. I have found studying at MIT interesting and challenging and amazing. Everything has been enjoyable. The lecturers are so down-to-earth and helpful.”

Ravnell is also enjoying living in Auckland. “I like going out with my friends, seeing new places and having a good time.”

Ravneel Anand
MIT graduate

“My qualification from MIT helped me secure a graduate role at Deloitte NZ as a Junior Associate. I applied for graduate roles at all top six accounting firms in NZ, had interviews at five firms, and was presented with three employment offers.

Accounting has always been something that I wanted to do. It provides excellent opportunities in both New Zealand and around the world. It’s also a profession with excellent growth opportunities, salary advantages, and flexible work options. You don’t necessarily have to become an accountant. It could be used as background to start your own business. Having studied accounting, you will have more knowledge about the business environment, legislation regulating this environment, and the financials of the environment and business.

At MIT it wasn’t always about learning the academic work like a parrot. We had more practical interactions and assessments that tested what we could expect in the real world. MIT provides open-plan classrooms, with small class sizes, and you will meet wonderful people from all around the world. They provide great support from their friendly and helpful staff, and the lecturers know you by name, which is something special – you will not be treated as another number.

The Manukau campus is clean and tidy, and something to be proud of. MIT has a careers team that provides students with advice and assistance. The library team will ensure that you are doing your research in the appropriate manner and that your referencing is done right. This, all-combined, will ultimately provide any student with the ideal study experience.

I chose MIT for a number of reasons:

• Firstly, MIT is all about whānau, and that for me is the most important thing that any person can have in life.
• Secondly, MIT offered the qualification I was after, and provide great career placement.
• Thirdly, MIT was more affordable, and closer to where I live.
• Lastly, I chose MIT because of its strong reputation. I say ‘just do it.’ Time goes past faster than you think, it is definitely worth it.”

Theo Joubert
MIT student

“I am an international student. I study digital technologies, majoring in software development.

My husband is an IT guy, that is where my interest in the subject started from. I think it’s pretty cool. MIT is a great place to be. I have been at other institutes and MIT is the most practical. IT is a really interesting subject because you really have to understand the logic before you can further progress.

I want to further myself and see if I can go further in this area because I really enjoy it. My advice is to come along because it’s a great place to be.”

Guiyu Fei (Tracy)
MIT student

“I want to become a qualified teacher, to have more knowledge to support children in early childhood, That’s the purpose I wanted to pursue. Early childhood education is regarded as a key factor in a child’s growth development and shaping their futures. I chose this course because I feel like I can make the world and society better for future generations.??

The support from the teachers and my centre teachers to actively help me with this course, and help with assignments, has been the best part of my student journey at MIT. I feel like I have a lot of support, and without them, I couldn’t reach where I am right now.??

I’m originally from China, a lot of students studying are from different cultures and backgrounds. MIT accepts everyone and they give everyone equal education, and I think that’s unique. There are not too many male students in the class, I feel really proud of myself to be one of them.”

Lu Lu
MIT student

“I have a passion for working with children. I have worked with children for a while and I thought getting qualified would give me more knowledge and techniques to do better in my job. I also have children and this journey has really helped me to become a better person as well.

I thought MIT would be the best choice for me because I was close to home and it turns out it was the best choice that I made. The support is amazing. The lecturers are very approachable, the environment, the people that you work with, it’s got a very family approach. I love it. The lecturers are always there when you need them. They’re always there to guide you, nurture you, and send you in the right direction.??

What I enjoyed the most here is getting to work together with my group, my peers, we get a lot of interaction. We help each other a lot. I didn’t have that support before and I’m really glad that I have chosen MIT.??

MIT is very hands-on, so when you finish here there’s not much change or difference when you go into the workplace. You just fit in because you’ve already gained the knowledge and what is happening in the field because of what you’ve already done in the classroom. I just blend in with all the other qualified teachers, because that’s what MIT has equipped me with. You will never be supported as much as this place.

This qualification will take me anywhere. My dream job is to become a tertiary lecturer. I know this qualification will take me there because of what I have learnt from the lecturers. They give me so much support, they give so much energy, and the knowledge is just impeccable. I know it will take me a long way, I have no doubt.”

Alisi Latu
MIT student

“I’m international, English is not my first language, but I don’t feel like I’m an international student. I feel like I’m part of the rest of the students.

The teachers have helped me a lot. I love that MIT provides lots of theoretical knowledge and real work experience. I started as a volunteer at a centre and they saw my potential with the children, so they offered me a job. I’m working as a teacher and doing my MIT practicum at the same time. You see how it looks to be a full-time teacher, so it’s amazing.??

MIT is unique and different because of the environment, and the care of the teachers. The lecturers help us through everything that we do, and I love that. I love that we’re family, we care about each other. That’s the most amazing thing about MIT.??

I’ve been able to have balance in my life, to be able to come to MIT to study because for two days a week we are in class, the other two days at the centre, and then one day I have time to work on my assessments.??

I believe that the first years of a person life are the most important. I’m taking care of those few years for them to be great people in the future. I’m doing something for the community.??

When I graduate, I want to be the manager of my own centre.”

Maria Paula Peralta
MIT student

“I’m from Kenya and prior to migrating to New Zealand I worked for over 10 years as a security expert and diplomat in Kenya and the EU. When I moved to New Zealand I wanted a different career so I chose a diploma in civil engineering so I could revisit and build on the knowledge from my first degree in surveying.

My choice to study with MIT was a very practical one. I have 2 young kids and my wife works full-time so I had to juggle study and family. I wanted something convenient to me, a place I could commute to easily. I live in east Auckland, so MIT was very convenient. I also didn’t want to go to a university, I wanted a diploma that gave me hands-on experience, not just theory. Something I could touch and apply. Choosing MIT was a pretty easy choice for me.

MIT is very diverse – you see people there from everywhere in the world. It’s a big advantage as it brings in a wealth of knowledge and experience. They made me very feel welcome, like I was part of MIT regardless of where I was from, it gave me a sense of belonging.

Nick Oduol Odhiambo
MIT graduate

“I feel encouraged by the lecturers which has given me the confidence I didn’t have at the beginning. The people here make me feel comfortable and I feel like I am at home, as I came to New Zealand five years ago. MIT is a very cultural place with lots of different cultural backgrounds. I personally like cultural things very much and when I see MIT promoting a lot about it, I feel very connected to New Zealand’s culture.”

Fiona Yuan
MIT student

“I chose hairdressing because I wanted to step out of my comfort zone. I had done my undergrad in politics, in journalism, and I thought that it was about time that did something else. I chose hairdressing because it was different, it was something that allowed me to make people feel good.

MIT is very hands-on. You can see it through our curriculum. It’s been one of the most robust programs I’ve seen, and I think that that’s what is needed in the industry especially as hairdressing is very hands-on. It’s preparing you for the industry, it’s not as textbook oriented. I am well prepared to enter the industry with an entry-level.

What I’ve enjoyed the most so far at MIT has to be this environment. I think that the environment is very welcoming, especially being an international student. It’s been very warm. The people have been amazing, my lectures have been very accommodating, the whole process for me has been smooth. I’ve been able to see that there’s a lot more confidence in the work I do, in what I’m delivering, there’s less fear when I take on a client. I’m more prepared now.

My advice to anyone considering studying hairdressing at MIT is you’re going to get the hands-on experience, you’re going to get the industry placements, you’re going to feel prepared. MIT is a good place to start your journey.”

Rachael Nath
MIT student

“My time studying with MIT’s School of Logistics was very exciting, challenging and rewarding.??

As a first time international student, the staff were very welcoming and helped me settle in the new environment, new country.??

All staff members have vast practical and theoretical experience in their respective subjects, which made the class interactions particularly enjoyable and interesting.??

The course is designed rather practically to prepare the students to easily fit into roles they plan to pursue after graduation. Course structure, teaching techniques and assessment methods aptly prepared me for the next phases of my career.??

Overall the various papers provide an invaluable insight into the supply chain industry while enabling me to learn and also challenge the status quo as a part of the assessments.

The staff are approachable and very helpful. The course also provides students with an opportunity for networking within the wider industry.??

A great experience and the right program that helped me secure a good role in a global organisation.”

Parth Kukreti
MIT graduate

“Nursing is a noble career, and if you really have a heart to serve people you should become a nurse. It’s a workforce that’s valued locally and internationally. I would encourage anyone who wants to pursue study to come to MIT. It’s in the heart of the community and they cater for all students at all abilities. Its warmth and approach radiate from the facilities to the lecturers, to the support staff.

I chose MIT because my family and friends strongly recommended MIT. It was also closer to home. I started with the foundation programme and moved onto the nursing degree. I am now a qualified registered nurse.

Prior to studying I was a primary school teacher in Fiji. I moved to New Zealand in 2011 where I worked in mental health caring for people for 6 years. This gave me the desire to do more in this area. I have always wanted to work in nursing and contribute to the health environment – I didn’t get the opportunity to do this when I finished high school. After looking after my children and extended family when they were unwell – I knew I had the skill to become a nurse and contribute to society.

I started my nursing studies at MIT Manukau. I loved the warm, clean, inviting and welcoming space. As a Pacific person the space MIT has created resonates with me and my culture. The learning suite replicates a hospital setting and sets the tone for the real thing, it’s what ‘doing’ looks like in a hospital. I liked the learning provided by the lecturers – the way they prepared their materials which was at the level students could understand. It wasn’t too overwhelming, and theory was simplified so we could understand it which made me want to learn.

My qualification and work placements with local hospitals and community-based health teams helped me into the workforce when I graduated.

MIT provided me with the right opportunity, at the right place, at the right time, and nursing gave me the opportunity to broaden my scope to support people. Why would I want to go anywhere else when there is such a good facility in the community.”

Lalita Nair
MIT graduate

“I’m from the Fijian Islands and I’ve been in New Zealand for 12 years now. I’m a healthcare worker and I’ve been working in the health and disabilities sector for 10 years. I love to help people who need really good quality of care, people who are sick and I love to help people as well.

I did my diploma in healthcare management, level 6, and diploma in healthcare, level 5. Then I worked in a rest home hospital, and I was working for Bupa for three years with old aged people. Then I moved into the community for intellectual disability. My dream goal is to become a registered nurse and I’m aiming to work in Auckland City Hospital.

The thing I enjoy most here is working with my lecturers. The lecturers are really supportive to the students during their assignments. I love to do practicals in the lab, it’s very interesting and I feel very confident working in the labs.

I’m meeting different cultures and nationalities. Sometimes it’s hard to communicate and to understand different perspectives. We are focused on our active listening and keep on asking if we don’t understand. So that’s how we can solve our problems so there won’t be any barriers.

Age is just a number. If you are really interested and you want to achieve your goals, just come and join.”

Shon Prasad
MIT student