A total of more than one thousand eight hundred visitors attended our recent Open Days
Prospective learners and their whānau explored MIT and Unitec’s complete applied education offering at our major annual Open Day events.
These took place over two weekends on Mt Albert and Waitākere campuses (Saturday 5 September) and Manukau and TechPark (Saturday 12 September.)
In total, close to 3,000 people registered for the events with a 21% increase in attendance at Mt Albert and Waitākere activations compared with the previous year.
“At MIT and Unitec learners across Tāmaki Makaurau – Auckland have access to an incredibly broad range of study and career pathways. Open Day is an opportunity to see that breadth across our six campuses, to explore different options, experience our learning environments, meet the people who will teach and support them, and start to see where their interests could take them,” says MIT and Unitec Chief Executive Professor Christina Hong.
Eight hundred and sixty-one people attended at Mt Albert and Waitākere.
Industry Events Coordinator Kit Yim says the programme for the day gave visitors multiple opportunities to experience different areas of study.
“We had ten tours running with a total of 41 sessions across seven schools, two information sessions and more than six activations – including a VR student orientation demo – across both campuses,” he says.
Susan Bennett, Head of School for Computing, Electrical & Applied Technology at Mt Albert Campus, was pleased with how the day went.
“It is awesome to meet potential students and see the family support. This year, Electrical Engineering, especially Electrical pre-trade seemed to be very popular,” Ms Bennett says.
“Our team conducted tours of our specialist labs, so that students could see their potential learning spaces. Computing also had plenty of interest with a couple of activities on our stand that allowed potential students to engage with technology. The Bachelor of Applied Technology team talked Automotive Engineering, with interest in working with the technology for electrical motors.”
Associate Professor Laura Harvey, Head of School for Environmental and Animal Sciences, says Open Day was a “resounding success” for her school, with plenty of foot traffic and interest in its offerings.
“It was so busy with queries for study in 2027 and 2028, across all our programmes. Our facility tours to Te Puna Kararehe, and to our science labs and vet sim clinic were also popular for prospective students (and their parents). It’s great to see so much interest. We will need a bigger space next year.”
Visiting parent Jeremy Yee accompanied his daughter to find out more about the Landscape Architecture programme.
“We both did some research and heard some great recommendations about Landscape Architecture school, so we came here intentionally to meet some of the lecturers and gain a better understanding of the programme before making a decision,” he says.
Rutherford College student Siliva Tuli came along with three of his schoolmates, who all ended up enrolling in the Level 3 New Zealand Certificate in Plumbing.
“We heard from some of our friends that this was a good course and plumbing is a good trade too, it pays well,” he shared.
At the Waitākere Campus, Linda Aumua, Head of School for Healthcare and Social Practice, says there was a steady flow of people throughout the day.
“We had over 200 visitors with medical Imaging proving very popular with groups of over 90 each in the first two morning sessions. Nursing was kept busy with a steady flow on interested students, and the Bachelor of Social Practice had to be redirected to level 2 classrooms to manage the numbers. Student reps managed the register, and we ran campus tours for the first time which were popular.”
Prospective Medical Imaging student Madeleine Bowker wanted to understand more about the programme and learning environment.
“The location was a big reason for me because it’s closer to where I live and also, the start date and course times are more suitable for me too,” she says.
“It was good coming to Open Day because I found out there is more one-on-one teaching, so you get more time with your teachers which is why I chose to study at Unitec,” she says.
Jenelle Rabanal says the event allowed her to find out more about the Nursing programme and the learning environment at Waitākere campus.
“I heard some good feedback from other students and also my brother is already studying at Unitec so hearing their experiences helped me decide to want to study here. It is close to where I live too so that was other reason,” she says.
Open Day activities at Mt Albert and Waitākere campuses included tours of specialist facilities and conversations with lecturers and support teams
Open Day activities at Manukau and TechPark campuses included tours of nursing school and the state-of-the-art trades and engineering facilities
A week later, Manukau and TechPark campuses welcomed 1,006 people.
The School of Hospitality, based at the Ōtara campus, showcased its culinary expertise through cake icing, along with activities including spin the wheel and blind tasting games challenging visitors to identify different spices.
Floristry and Hairdressing gave visitors the opportunity to try some of the skills taught in their programmes, including wrapping flowers and braiding hair.
Arrow, a six-month-old macaw brought along by Rana Rodney, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Education was one of the stars of the day.
Rana says Arrow regularly joins her classes and provides another way for students to think about relationships, attachment and emotional regulation, concepts that also connect with early childhood education.
“It actually connects really well with early childhood,” Ms Rodney says. “Because it’s all about how we play with kids. How we make them secure in their attachment. How we build relationships.”
Prospective students toured the School of Nursing labs at the Manukau campus, where they received a CPR demostratio. Prospective tradies and their whānau also had the opportunity to tour the state-of-the-art facilities at TechPark.
Leana Jo, a Year 13 student, came to find out more about studying education, with a particular interest in early childhood.
“I did have a chat with the teachers at the education school. They were nice and provided so much information. I just like the idea of teaching kids, that’s why I am interested in this.”
Across the road at TechPark, engineering lecturers were asked questions ranging from programme content and part-time study to further qualifications and employment.
Dr Hussein Janna, Lecturer in Civil Engineering spoke with visitors about the wide range of careers available through engineering study, including structural, water and geotechnical engineering, land surveying and engineering management, and more.
Prospective engineering student Jemmima Rabba was among those using the opportunity to speak with lecturers about the different pathways available.
“I am not completely sure which area of engineering I want to go into, so being able to talk to different lecturers has really helped. I spoke to quite a few people about the different programmes, and they gave me really good guidance, in terms of how to find out what might suit me. So, I feel good,” she says.
The interest was also reflected in enquiries and applications received on the day.
Across both Open Days, 440 staff and students helped visitors navigate their options, from directing people to the right programmes to providing information, application and enrolment support.
Trish Cochrane, Event Manager – MIT and Unitec says, “Open Day is a true team effort, and I’d like to thank the many staff across our six campuses who helped bring both events to life. Their commitment, expertise and enthusiasm gave prospective students and their whānau the opportunity to experience the breadth of programmes, services and support available at MIT and Unitec, to connect directly with subject matter experts, and gain confidence in taking the next step towards their future with us.”
For prospective learners, the two weekends provided an opportunity to explore what could come next, and the range of pathways available across our organisation to help them get there.
