Many hundreds of UCOL international alumni from countries around the world keep in touch with their alma mater in New Zealand and many of them now hold key teaching positions or work in design, film, television, IT, nursing, business and much others. industries and professions.
The Universal College of Learning, known as UCOL, is one of New Zealand’s most progressive Institutes of Technology: the primary goal is to help people succeed in life by equipping them with the right skills, knowledge, and attitude. correct. The success of its students, whether they study as international students or as people who have immigrated to New Zealand, proves this.
Tiffany Chew from Malaysia is a good example. While studying at the UCOL Wanganui School of Design in the beautiful city of Wanganui, she won the student section of a major national design competition.
His work, called Spinobot (which means to spin around), won the Tertiary Student Award at the Telecommunications Users Association of New Zealand (TUANZ) Business Internet Awards. The awards recognize innovation and excellence in research and development in digital and interactive media.
Tiffany created Spinobot in her last year of school to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Graphics Design. Now back in her homeland, she works for a leading interactive design company in Kuala Lumpur, developing websites and other online resources.
Many Indian students have completed their Nursing degrees at UCOL and now work in hospitals and healthcare facilities throughout New Zealand. UCOL has the largest nursing school in New Zealand and an international reputation in this rich vocational area.
Trevor Salang took a different path in life. He first learned to cook on the island of Borneo with only a machete as a cooking implement.
His first cooking lesson came from his father and grandparents, who still use traditional tribal methods, with a wood fire and two metal bars to keep the pot from falling into the fire. “From my father I learned to kill chickens, wild boars, catch fresh fish and gather vegetables from the forest, and cook them with nothing more than a machete.”
Trevor came to study in New Zealand when he was 16 years old, finished high school and decided on a career as a chef. He liked the idea that he could also develop his artistic inclination through the presentation of food.
Trevor would like to try his luck working abroad in a few years. “Someday I would like to have my own restaurant, always serving a superior product.”
Another Malaysian student, San Tan, wanted to go abroad to study and decided on New Zealand, because she wanted to experience a new culture.
San had always wanted to work with animals and had a background in science, so she chose the Veterinary Nursing course at UCOL in Palmerston North.
During her placement at a local veterinary clinic, San discovered that the practical skills she had learned at UCOL helped her land her first job as a veterinary nurse. “I started working at my placement veterinary clinic as an understudy right after finishing my course.”
San has enjoyed studying in New Zealand. “The people are good, they’re fun. And I’ve enjoyed experiencing New Zealand culture – it’s calm and peaceful, and there’s not so much of a rush.”
Bruce Osborne, who heads UCOL’s international unit, is not surprised that international students are doing well at UCOL. “They work very hard and have a good attitude towards study and life,” he says. “And of course they have the support of UCOL. We value students from other countries because they bring new experiences and points of view, and that is good for all of us.”
Bruce emphasizes that UCOL is there to help all of its students succeed, in whatever field they choose. “We are currently celebrating the success of the students and staff of our Bachelor of Visual Imaging program at Palmerston North. They took seven awards, including Institute of the Year for the fifth consecutive year, at the Institute of Professional Photographers National Awards from New Zealand.”
UCOL Catering and Hospitality students also won 10 medals (including three gold) at the National Culinary Tariff in Auckland. “We’re proud of all of them,” Bruce says.
Other features that make UCOL different include its range of employment-related programmes, its regional reach across three campuses in the North Island of New Zealand, the passion of its faculty.
UCOL offers more than 100 programs, available on campus and online, from certificates and diplomas to degrees, in a variety of business, professional and creative qualifications. They include cookery and hospitality education, fashion, hairdressing, business, computer technology, sports and fitness, fine furniture manufacturing, graphic design, fine arts, early childhood education, nursing, performing arts, applied sciences, and trades.
Small classes are the norm and programs are built around a combination of practical experience and theory.