Providing a more personalised experience during orientation has led to positive feedback from our new cohort of international learners starting Semester Two on Monday.
Two hundred and seventy ākonga from twenty-eight countries were welcomed to Unitec at the International Orientation Day at Te Puna on Wednesday. The majority of Semester Two’s cohort come from India (28%), Sri Lanka (19%) and China (16%). They were joined by thirty family members who had travelled to New Zealand.
With some of our new learners having only recently arrived in the country, it was important to put them at ease and help them adapt to New Zealand life and the academic expectations. This was the theme for the day.
International learners attended a pōwhiri welcome where Whaea Lynda Toki sung a new waiata (song) written especially for our international students, which helped set the tone for the day with warmth and cultural respect.
The group was then split into five smaller groups. Each group attended a series of icebreaker and information sessions across the campus facilitated by members of the International Success Team.
At the end of the morning programme, the groups were led back to Te Puna for an array of fun and interactive activities, including a photo-booth, food and snack giveaways, which ran into the afternoon. Our support services and teams were also hand to offer additional support and advice at service booths set up next to the library.
“International Orientation Day was unlike any we’ve hosted before,” explains Jeffrey Wu, Manager – Student Central, Ask Me, and International Success.
“We looked at the feedback from earlier events and set out to completely transform the experience for our new international students, and the efforts certainly paid off.”
A survey of 258 learners who attended International Orientation Day revealed overwhelmingly positive feedback with more than 90% in agreement that their experience had been beneficial and that they found our kaimahi approachable and friendly. Many complimented the ice breaker activities as helping them feel more welcome at Unitec.
“We recognised that past events were often heavy on information and light on connection, which is why the team shifted essential content into a concise, easy-to-access pre-arrival video. This allowed us to focus on the in-person experience on what matters most: safety, compliance, and meaningful student connection,” Wu adds.
“Rather than sitting for hours in a lecture theatre, students made new friends and had fun while learning more about our services and support. Many students described the event as fun, engaging, and memorable. We’ve set a new benchmark for international orientation that helps students feel prepared and is truly seen and valued from day one.”
Meet our new international learners
Manoj Jayasinghe from Sri Lanka (pictured above right) says the orientation was informative and he appreciated the hospitality provided by Unitec kaimahi.
“I’ve only been in the country for three days, but I feel very welcome here. I was a bit anxious trying to sort out everything before my classes start. But I was able to complete most of these tasks today thanks to the helpful staff,” he says.
Jayasinghe is enrolled in the Master of Creative Practice, and he hopes to gain important skills to advance his career as a UX Designer.
“I looked around Australia, Canada and New Zealand; but I chose Unitec because I found the MCP to be a very practical course and industry-focused.
“It was the best option for me because the content of the course and research focus was relevant to my profession.”
Hailing from Colombo, Jayasinghe did his undergraduate studies at the Edith Cowan University in Australia. For his master’s research, he hopes to develop a social media app aimed at community building and providing solutions for migrants.
Madhavi Maddumage (pictured above left) is also from Sri Lanka and is enrolled in the Master of Applied Practice majoring in Counselling.
“I had a great time at orientation meeting new people and taking part in some fun activities. It was also useful getting to know more about the services and what is available at Unitec,” she shares.
Maddumage completed a Bachelor of Business Management in human resources at the Dublin Business School in Sri Lanka. She is confident the skills taught through the MAP will enhance her career prospects when she returns home.
