New Zealand Career College (NZCC), incepted in 2004 by Founder-Managing Director Feroz Ali, is a Private Training Establishment (PTE) providing vocational courses to domestic and international markets in Early Childhood Education, Health, Automotive Trades, and Business.
It is accredited by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) and approved by the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) for government funding, student loans and allowances. Achieving a Category One provider status in 2012, it is committed to maximising educational outcomes and pastoral care to its students. Critical to this provision is a nurturing, inclusive learning environment, and a teaching delivery mode which is attractive to learners from a multitude of ethnicities and people groups.
NZCC has grown to six campuses located throughout high density population areas in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. Training and transitioning almost 1000 students per year, NZCC provides a vital educational link for local and international learners aged from 16-64 years. As of June 2013, NZCC employs 63 FTE staff in a variety of teaching, administration and management roles.
NZCC resolutely protects the quality and integrity of its programmes, entry criteria and attainment standards. These are evidenced by the esteem with which it is held by the Government, employers, higher educational providers and students.
Articulation pacts
Maintenance of this stance has been vindicated in that AUT University, Manukau Institute of Technology, Chartered Institute of Purchase & Supply (CIPS), and Chifley Business School (Melbourne) have all offered and confirmed articulation agreements, meaning that NZCC is a preferred supplier of Foundation Certificates and Diplomas for subsequent entry into degree programmes and professional memberships such as MCIPS.
The College takes its mandate seriously – to deliver learning outcomes and pathway its graduates into real jobs and/or entry into University degree programmes.
NZCC began developing and offering an appropriate range of its programmes to a growing international market particularly in Asia. The unusually high percentage ratio of domestic to international students (9:1) has proved a boon to the business. This product/market mix continues to be a recognised and differentiating factor between NZCC and others.
As its logo indicates, NZCC embraces the philosophy of ‘Te Kura Umanga o Aotearoa,’ connecting the individual to the College of New Zealand. The company culture born out of that is one of caring and nurturing individual students from enrolment to transition.
Compassion & Commitment
Company-wide roles focal to delivering commitments include Student Services, Programme Practicum Coordinator, and Quality Assurance Managers. Commitment can regularly extend to helping (and intervening for); individuals struggling with serious family issues, giving additional unpaid tuition, regular class excursions (e.g. Park, Museum, Waiheke Island), regular shared meals and cultural days, supporting alumni during subsequent university studies, finding placements, and employing some as staff – of those who progress to a degree.
This philosophy is pervasive across NZCC people, systems, and processes and is regularly reflected by its customer communication and the results achieved.
Proud testimonials
NZQA conducted an External Evaluation and Review in October 2012. NZCC received ‘Highly Confident’ rating in educational performance and ‘exceeded the NZ National Median’ for completion of qualifications and courses, student retention, and stair-casing to higher-level programmes.
Tutors were rated ‘highly skilled and experienced’ and ‘committed to personal improvement of the students as well as academic and vocational success.’
The Review noted that students gained in confidence, self-worth, and communication skills and that the programmes enabled them to become the best they can be, in terms of gaining assurance and enhancement of skills.
It commended tutors and management for excellent student outcomes, a judgment endorsed by students,
“Tutors form the most vital part of the NZCC community; that is where the College struck gold. My experience at the University would not have been the same without the hugely enthusiastic teaching staff who do their best to help you succeed.”
Strategic Partnerships
Our partner relationships with global standards and training body are of specific value to our students. NZCC is the exclusive New Zealand Study Centre for the world-recognised CIPS qualification, awarded in tandem with its own Diploma in Procurement & Supply (L7).
Chifley Business School, an AACSB accredited institution, selected NZCC to deliver its L7 Project Management and Professional Retailing Programmes (with NZQA approval) to students studying in New Zealand.
These qualifications are proving to be of great interest to international students, particularly from the Indian Sub-Continent, due to the enhanced probability of securing employment upon completion. Being a vocational College, all new programmes are developed in close consultation with the industry, resulting in high levels of support. Examples of such support include a nine week internship programme and potential pathways to managerial positions and/or higher learning outcomes.
International enrolments for Level 7 (one year Diploma) offerings will commence in October 2013 and February 2014.
Further information can be obtained from Recruitment Manager Harjinder Sadra on 021-1006651. Email: harjinder@nzcc.ac.nz.
Dr Paul Pickering is Marketing & Development Director of New Zealand Career College (NZCC) based in Auckland. NZCC is the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in Export to India’ Category of the Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2013
Photo : NZCC courses attract students from India