MIT and Unitec welcomed members of the Engineering New Zealand Auckland Branch to Manukau and Tech Park campuses for a breakfast event focused on building stronger links between the institution and the engineering industry.
The event brought together engineers, employers and educators to dialogue how we can work alongside industry to address New Zealand’s growing engineering skills shortage.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga, Executive Director, MIT and Unitec (left) with Steven Wang, Engineering NZ Auckland Branch Chair
Engineering New Zealand estimates the country needs around 2,300 additional new engineers every year, domestic institutions currently graduating closer to 2,000 annually.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga, Executive Director, MIT and Unitec says Auckland now has a provider with the scale and the mandate to respond directly to that challenge.
“We are ready to work with you to shape what comes next.”
Since coming together as a single organisation on 1 January 2026, MIT and Unitec is the largest on-campus vocational provider in the country, with 1,300 staff supporting nearly 20,000 learners across six campuses.
Last year, 779 learners were enrolled in engineering programmes across the institution.
Peseta Sam Lotu-Liga, Executive Director, MIT and Unitec
“At TechPark, and at Mataaho on our Mt Albert campus, our learners are not just preparing for careers — they are contributing to a low carbon, high productivity future through real projects and emerging technologies.
“We are part of the national advanced energy initiative led by Victoria University’s Robinson Research Institute, developing the qualifications and technician workforce needed for electrified heavy transport.
“We are also supporting the University of Auckland’s work to help manufacturers adopt robotics, automation, AI and cloud technologies to lift productivity and capability across their workforces.
“All of this rests on a training system that has undergone significant change.”
Paul Jeurissen, Head of School for Professional Engineering, MIT & Unitec
Paul Jeurissen, Head of School for Professional Engineering, outlined practical ways industry can get involved with the institution.
From delivering course content and sitting on assessment panels, to hosting site visits and offering structured roles for graduates working toward professional registration.
“When practising engineers bring real projects, current tools, and lived experience into the classroom, students gain insight into contemporary industry practice that textbooks alone cannot provide,” Mr Jeurissen says.
Both pointed to the need to build clearer pathways into engineering, particularly for Māori and Pacific learners, who are significantly underrepresented in the profession and make up a larger proportion of school communities in south Auckland than nationally.
Expanding apprenticeships and strengthening school-to-industry transitions were identified as priorities.
Steven Wang, Engineering NZ Auckland Branch Chair welcomed the visit.
“TechPark is a magnificent building. It offers world-class engineering studies,” Mr Wang says.
The breakfast event was organised by the external engagement team at MIT & Unitec.
Engineers, employers and educators at the breakfast event at the TechPark campus