Unitec has hosted a delegation from the Philippines Commission on Higher Education (CHED) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).
They were here to explore potential opportunities and collaboration with both Unitec and MIT across shared areas of interest.
The Filipino delegation led by CHED Chair J. Prospero De Vera III was given a warm mihi whakatau on to Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae where they were received by MIT & Unitec Executive Director, Peseta Sam Lotu-Iiga, members of the Senior Leadership Team, Support Services and the International Marketing team.
In response, our visitors presented a Filipino song and dance performance which captured the essence of their traditional hospitality and culture.
Peseta Sam thanked the delegation for “showing us a little bit of your culture” and reiterated our commitment to respecting other cultures through Ngākau Mahaki, which is one of our Te Noho Kotahitanga values.
He said Filipino learners were an important part of the Unitec whānau and introduced two Filipino ākonga currently studying with us – Jeanne Antoinette Barretto in the Bachelor of Applied Science, and Allysa Bisam who is commencing the Bachelor of Nursing after recently completing the NZ Certificate in Study and Employment-Health.
The Philippines is currently the fifth largest source of international students for Unitec with 51 students enrolled this year. Popular programmes are the Bachelor of Nursing, Postgraduate-Level Architecture, Business/Accounting, and Computing.
At MIT, there are currently 38 Filipino ākonga with 25 students enrolled in the Certificate of Achievement in Registered Nurse Competency to Practice (Level 7). The majority of MIT’s Filipino’s learners are studying nursing or health-related programmes.
Peseta Sam also acknowledged the significant contribution Filipino communities make in a wide number of industries across Aotearoa.
An estimated 108,297 Filipino’s call Aotearoa home, according to Stats NZ.
“Your communities contribute so much to our city and our country,” says Peseta Sam, adding the exchange of cultures in education is both important and critical.
“You’re here to find out more about innovation, technology and culture and how it plays a part in the learning of our ākonga.”
“We see this as a two-way exchange – it’s what you give us and what we can give you, these exchanges build long term benefits for both countries.”
Gifts were then exchanged followed by further discussions in Puukenga. Unitec’s gift to the Filipino delegation was a wood/bone koru representing new beginnings as well as growth and harmony.
This was the first official visit from the Philippines that Unitec has hosted since the pandemic.
“We are excited and looking forward to engaging in meaningful dialogue and growing ties between the Philippines and Aotearoa vocational education,” said Interim Director Marketing & International, Don Sirimanne.
TESDA is the government agency tasked with managing and supervising technical education and skills development (TESD) in the Philippines, while CHED oversees the tertiary and graduate education sector.
Their main aim is to gain insight into Unitec and MIT’s approaches to industry-aligned and flexible learning models, digital innovation in training delivery, and inclusive education and learner support.
They are also interested in exploring potential collaboration including faculty, trainer, and student exchanges, as well as internship placements for diploma graduates, sharing of best practices in standards development and quality assurance in TVET, and benchmarking of training facilities and identifying opportunities for institutional collaboration.
TESD’s Deputy Director General, Nelly Dillera described the discussions as “encouraging” and remarked: “We’re here to learn and share best practice and what we have been doing with our learners. But it doesn’t end there. This is a starting point, a spark for a greater partnership and to a longer relationship.”
The delegation finished their visit with a tour of Mataaho to look at Unitec’s offerings in the Trades which was led by Trades and Services Head of School, Lee Baglow and Te Puna Ako Academic Advisor, Rhiannon McNamara.
Trades and Services Head of School, Lee Baglow and Te Puna Ako Academic Advisor, Rhiannon McNamara take the Filipino delegation on a tour of Mataaho