The School of Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology (SCEAT) concluded 2025 on a high note, celebrating the outstanding achievements of its students at the annual SCEAT Prizegiving.
Unitec kaimahi, ākonga, and their whānau gathered in the Red Lecture Theatre, Te Puna, on 15 December to recognise excellence across programmes ranging from certificate to postgraduate level.
The event highlighted not only academic success, but also innovation, perseverance, and the strong community that underpins the school.
Senior Lecturer Dr Masoud Shakiba guided the evening as Master of Ceremonies, bringing warmth and insight to the celebrations.
Head of School – Computing, Electrical and Applied Technology, Susan Bennett congratulated students on their achievements and reflected on what had been a landmark year for SCEAT.
“We celebrate your hard work, commitment, and resilience. What you have gained is not just technical knowledge, but the ability to keep learning, adapting, questioning, and growing,” she said.
Ms Bennett referenced the whakataukī Mā te huruhuru ka rere te manu (With feathers, the bird can fly), noting that students’ studies had equipped them with the “feathers” needed to succeed.
“Your studies have given you skills, knowledge, confidence, and capability. Continuing to learn will keep you flying. As you step forward, carry Ngākau Māhaki with you — the humility to keep learning, the respect to value others, and the openness to grow wherever you are.”
She also highlighted several milestones that made 2025 a particularly successful year for the school, including sustained excellent student success, the launch of the Doctor of Computing (DCOMP) programme, the graduation of the first cohort of Master of Applied Technology students, and the orientation of the inaugural cohort in the Joint Programme with Hebei University of Engineering in China.
Individual achievements were also acknowledged, including Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical) student 
Matthew Macklin, who placed second in the nationally recognised GT Murray Award. Kaimahi excellence was celebrated with recognition of Dr Masoud Shakiba and Dr Soheil Varastehpour in the Unitec Staff Excellence Awards.
The evening also showcased a selection of outstanding student projects, demonstrating the practical impact and creativity of SCEAT programmes. These included innovations in electrical engineering, computing systems, automotive technology, and information systems—ranging from transformer protection systems and smart factory prototypes to digital platforms and public transport evaluations.
2025 Prizewinners
Electrical Engineering
- New Zealand Certificate in Electrical Pre-Trade (Level 3)
Semester 1: Seungwhan Moon
Semester 2: Anita Davis - New Zealand Diploma in Engineering (Electrical)
Semester 1: Taketi Ki He Lotu Soakai
Semester 2: Dongzheng Tang - Top Project – NZDE (Electrical)
Semester 1: Taketi Ki He Lotu Soakai
Semester 2: Microcontroller-based Single-Phase Biased Differential Relay for Transformer Protection
Moazan Gull Qaisrani & Aukawin Thinthanee - Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical)
Semester 1: Willem Gerhard Van Zijl
Semester 2 (Joint Award): Ana Mockford & Matthew Macklin - Top Project – Bachelor of Engineering Technology (Electrical)
Semester 1: A Prototype Dark Factory – Matthew Macklin
Semester 2: Ana Mockford
Applied Technology
- Bachelor of Applied Technology (Automotive Engineering)
Semester 1: Midhun Joseph Kuttikatt
Semester 2: Samiuela Manitisa Fifita Teulilo - Top Project – Automotive Engineering 2025
Evaluate Tongan Public Transport System for Efficiency
Samiuela Manitisa Fifita Teulilo
Computing & Information Technology
- New Zealand Certificate in Information Technology (Essentials)
Semester 1: Ora Jade Coe
Semester 2: Daiyan Razin Ahmed - New Zealand Diploma in Information Systems (Level 5)
Semester 1: Ulysses Veragos
Semester 2: Brian Laanmets - Top Project – NZDIS (Level 5)
Semester 1: Ross Museum (Help Desk Management)
Haydn Beckett, Akijiang Bolatijiang, Ulysses Veragos & Kimberley Jane Waters
Semester 2: St Abert Hospital (fictitious)
Fabio Correia, An-Ting Hsu, Brian Laanmets & Ashley Jest Rosario Valerio
- New Zealand Diploma in Cybersecurity
Semester 1: Christopher Pahnke
Semester 2: Young Kwang Kweon - Bachelor of Computing Systems
Semester 1: Akiko Ikeda
Semester 2 (Joint Award): Riya Vishnoi & Aditya Wadhwa - Top Capstone Project – Bachelor of Computing Systems
Semester 1: AI-Driven “Micro-Donations” for Social Good
Akiko Ikeda, Jau-Chian Pan & Sourabh Sharma
Semester 2: Domio.nz – Property Rental Platform
Daksh Karki & Kushal Navle
- Graduate Diploma in Computing
Semester 2: Chengfeng Li - Postgraduate Diploma of Applied Technologies – Computing
Semester 1: Yuguang Zhang
Semester 2: Nikeeta Kumari - Master of Applied Technologies – Computing
Semester 2 2024 (confirmed 2025): Shuvodeep Biswas
Semester 1 2025: Manochitra Loganathan
