Supplied Content
Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) has been announced as a Finalist in two categories of the Westpac Auckland Business Awards.
These are ‘Best Customer Service Delivery’ and ‘Employer of the Year’ for the South and East regions.
“We are delighted to have made a high quality list of finalists. It is a great acknowledgement of hard work, innovation and challenging established ways of thinking for the benefit of students and staff,” Chief Executive Gus Gilmore said.
Project Reretahi
MIT’s complete redesign of its customer service experience through Project Reretahi was a key feature of its award entry.
The Project brought all customer service staff together in one unified team as well as making the application and enrolment process more user-friendly and efficient with positive results.
Deputy Chief Executive (Pasifika and Student Journey) Peseta Sam Lotu-liga said that MIT’s brief is to change lives through education.
“The Institute itself has undergone a process of major change to maximise these benefits while also delivering targeted assistance to priority learner groups,” he said.
Such innovations include Hokule’a – an early intervention programme for Māori and Pasifika students – piloted in Engineering and Trades. This resulted in a 26% increase in retention and a 23% lift in completion for the students involved.
Diversity and Inclusion
Diversity and inclusion were also strong themes in MIT’s successful entry for Employer of the Year.
The Chief Executive has created two deputy roles reporting directly to him tasked with realising the goal of educational parity for Māori and Pasifika students, while a talent strategy is in place to deliver a workforce that reflects the community we serve.
It’s MIT’s objective to achieve gender pay parity by 2023.
Recently, the moderation of all salary reviews through a gender lens was introduced, with a similar process to be brought in for recruitment and promotion salary offers.
Shift in Thinking
External Relations Head Julie Prentice said that taken individually, these improvements would represent a big shift in thinking.
“But seen as a whole they sum up a boldness at MIT to adapt so the organisation can continue attracting the best talent and perform its important role well into the future,” he said.
Another benefit of taking a ‘whole of organisation’ approach to key challenges was seen in the dramatic reduction in workplace incidents and ACC Claim costs that decreased by 80% between 2015 and 2018 achieved through an overhaul of the safety and wellbeing system.
About MIT
Manukau Institute of Technology aims to get people into great jobs.
The Institute has been changing lives in South Auckland since 1970, and is one of the largest providers of technical, vocational and professional education in New Zealand.
Every year, 15,000 students choose to study at MIT spread across nine campuses in the greater Auckland region.
For more information, please visit www.manukau.ac.nz
Manukau Institute of Technology is the Sponsor of the ‘Business Excellence in International Trade with India’ Category of the Twelfth Annual Indian Newslink Indian Business Awards 2019, entries to which will close on Saturday, August 31, 2019. The Awards Presentation Night will be held on Monday, November 25, 2019 at SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland. For more information, please call 021-836528. Email: venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz
Photo Caption:
- MIT Chief Executive Gus Gilmore (From Website)
- MIT Deputy Chief Executive (Pasifika and Student Journey) Peseta Sam Lotu-liga (INL File Photo)
