Building the state of the art Whitireia Health Facility, in fast-mo.

Less than 18 months from the first shovel of dirt, to completed international health simulation facility and nearly 4000 square metres of teaching space. Here is ‘the build’ in 13 minutes of stop-motion glory.

Whitireia Health Facility construction, 14 months in 13 minutes.

On behalf of Whitireia Scholarships winners “We will repay you through being committed, focused and dedicated” says Anaru…

Fifty Whitireia students were awarded 2013 Whitireia Foundation Scholarships at an event held last night in the new Wikitoria Katene building at the Porirua campus.

Over 200 students, invited guests, Council members, sponsors, trustees and staff attended in support of the recipients.

The scholarships ranging in value from $500 to $3,000 were awarded to students and go towards study fees for this year; two were awarded as book grants.  A total of $103,000 was awarded last night; with scholarships received from 15 sponsors. 

Tim Sheppard Whitireia Foundation Chair addressed the recipients at the awards ceremony and presented the scholarships with the sponsors, while Anaru Rima a Bachelor of Nursing (Māori) student and a 2013 scholarship recipient spoke on behalf of the students.

I am privileged to be a recipient of a Whitireia Foundation scholarship for this year said Anaru. “The generosity of the sponsors and their support allows us to progress and move forward within our different areas of study.  We will repay you through being committed, focused and dedicated to our studies at Whitireia”.  Anaru was the recipient of a scholarship from Whitireia Foundation – Ngāti Toa. 

This year’s sponsors included the following businesses and organizations: Altrusa and Zonta Clubs of Mana, Canon New Zealand Limited, Commercial Property Specialists Limited, Compass Health, The Dale Family Trust, Ford Sumner Lawyers, Gaze Commercial, Kāpiti Coast District Council, The Kirk-Burnnand Family Trust, Mana Community Grants Foundation, New Zealand Federation of Graduate Women (Wellington) Incorporated, Porirua City Council, The Sheppard Family, The Simpson Family, Wellington Ostomy Association.  The Foundation gratefully acknowledges the support of all its sponsors said Tim Sheppard.  “All our sponsors are making a difference to the lives of these students”. 

Whitireia Foundation Scholarships are available to new and existing students studying at Whitireia.  They are awarded by the Foundation and recipients are selected on the twin criteria of merit and perseverance to succeed in spite of personal circumstances.  Applications are open to students in October each year. 

The Whitireia Foundation is a registered charitable trust, established in 1999.  It is responsible for managing and growing the scholarship fund which today sits at close to $400,000.  The aim of the Whitireia Foundation is to assist students to realise their potential, as well as to promote, support and enhance the goals and activities of Whitireia New Zealand through research projects, educational innovation and improving campus facilities.  To find out more about the Foundation check out http://whitireiafoundation.com

The Cert in Live Sound, Event Production has several places open, if you want to work in gigs or events.

If you want to work at events or gigs as part of the sound crew, call us to discuss the course which starts now.

The Certificate in Live Sound and Event Production, at the Porirua Campus has a small number of places left. If you want to work in events and gigs, give us a call.  

 

Orientation 2013 kicks off with a Powhiri on campus at 10am

If you are starting your 2013 study year at Whitireia campuses in Wellington, Porirua or Kapiti, there is a welcome Powhiri at 10am. The Whitireia orientation programmes for each campus are on the main website. The main Porirua campus schedule look like this:

2013 Whitireia Porirua Orientation poster.

‘Wind It Up’, Visual Art & Design students’ exhibition is at Pataka.

‘Wind It Up’, the annual graduate exhibition of contemporary Visual Art & Design students’ work is coming.

Works of final year students in the Bachelor of Applied Arts programme will be exhibited at Pataka Art + Museum in Porirua and will be open for public viewing from 15 December 2012 to 13 January 2013.

Curated by Mark Hutchins, this is an opportunity to see work by exciting and promising new local and international artists.  The exhibition will showcase various media ranging from paintings to textiles, photography to jewellery and print to design – offering a vision of art that is culturally engaged, ethically aware and environmentally inclusive.

“The Visual Arts and Design programme at Whitireia has broadened our visual aesthetic, as well as our intellectual exploration in the pursuit of careers as up and coming studio-based contemporary artists,” says graduating textiles student, Patricia Nurchandra.

This exhibition winds up three-four years of Visual Arts and Design study in the student’s chosen discipline.

The Pataka Art + Museum, 15 Paramoana Street, Porirua is open Monday to Saturday 10am- 4.30pm and on Sunday 11am- 4.30pm. Entry to this exhibition is free.

Diverse industry partners celebrated on site this week: NZ Paramedic and Xiamen University….

Whitireia and Wellington Free Ambulance have been working in partnership for ten years this November, offering the only Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) degree in the region.   The partnership is built on trust and the desire for excellence in this health field. “All the hard work that was put in ten years also is evident today.  The programme is highly regarded in the industry and there is always a high level of interest in the programme, with students prepared to travel from anywhere in New Zealand to study” said Gary Strong, Programme Manager at Whitireia.

“We look forward to our continued relationship with Whitireia and the continued delivery of a top class degree programme for students” said Sarah Hoyle, Executive Manager, Clinical Services, Wellington Free Ambulance.   “There is a bright future ahead; the success of this programme has gone from strength to strength.”

Students, staff at each organisation and industry were invited to celebrate this milestone at an event held on Wednesday.  Of particular interest was a panel discussion with Dr Andy Swain, Medical Director, Wellington Free Ambulance and Dr Craig Ellis, Regional Medical Advisor for St John.  The panel discussion was around ‘Putting it into Practice’.  Students used this discussion as an opportunity to put their questions forward and to hear from the experts in their field of study.

The Whitireia Bachelor of Health Science (Paramedic) is a three year degree where students gain skills to provide emergency medical care in a range of situations.  Students learn how to access, stabilise, treat and refer patients in the pre-hospital environment.  First and second year students are required to attend tutorials, lectures and practical exercises on campus while third year students study online and attend block courses.

Xiamen University of Technology have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Whitireia New Zealand to offer teacher exchanges, student exchanges and dual degree co-operation models.

The first group of students from the university will be at Whitireia on the 24 January 2013; they will spend up to two weeks here on a study tour.  This will follow a visit by two Whitireia staff members from Visual Arts, Deb Donnelly and Chris White, who will be travelling to Xiamen in January on a teacher exchange and to provide a New Zealand teaching perspective to the university.  A third year arts student will make the trip also.

We are very excited about our relationship with Xiamen University of Technology said Don Campbell. “Sometimes we sign agreements and they sit on the shelf.  The ink isn’t even dry on this new MOU and we are already making firm plans for collaboration.”

Xiamen University is supported by the Xiamen local government while Xiamen city, which has a population of 4.2 million people, is the sister city to Wellington City.  This collaboration completes the success of the sister city relationship.

Amelia Pascoe talks about studying jewellery at Whitireia

Amelia Pascoe in the workshop at the Whitireia Bachelor of Applied Arts programme on the main polytechnic campus in Porirua City.