Keeping up with shifting student need

Amy Uluave

Waiariki Institute of Technology's student association is testing student opinion to ensure its services fit their needs.

Association chairwoman Amy Uluave said students were changing so the association's services also needed to change.

Ms Uluave said the number of Waiariki students studying bachelor's degrees had increased significantly.

According to data published by the Ministry of Education, the average number of students studying towards a bachelor's degree has more than doubled between 2006 and 2013.

"Waiariki Institute of Technology has also developed a significant post-graduate student base since offering graduate certificate and graduate diploma programmes with an average of 236 students each year.

"Every dollar matters, so we need to make sure we are doing the best job with the resources available."

Ms Uluave said they already had some good ideas about how to deliver better services to students and better outcomes for the Rotorua district.

"We have ideas that deliver significant value at marginal costs. These ideas will be tested with students to understand priorities.

"We can't go into those ideas before students have responded but we will publish a summary of results once students have spoken.

"This will give students, future students, the polytech and the wider public a useful source of information about student service priorities.

"Apart from the internal value of the research project, the results may include market opportunities for businesses as well as better alignment of services from central and local government to student priorities," she said.

"The methodology includes bench research, depth interviews, focus groups and a survey instrument.

"The work is being led by the association and supported by an experienced researcher."

Ms Uluave said she was excited to develop the association's services to better serve students.

"We know this will strengthen the Waiariki Institute of Technology student association and contribute to our long-term viability."