Student councils merging to create one, strong voice

Deputy Chief Executive Learner Experience and Success Simon Nash, says the move is an important milestone in our transition to MIT and Unitec.

“As one unified organisation, it’s essential that we also have one, strong student voice. A single student council provides a clear and aligned mandate, ensuring student input is both visible and influential in our decisionmaking and integration planning.”

“With multiple campuses and an increasingly diverse student population, the new student council structure will be designed to ensure representation reflects the full breadth of our integrated student body.”

“MIT’s Head of Student Experience and Success Liz Keneti and Unitec’s Director Student Success Annette Pitovao are leading the engagement with the existing student councils. We will co-design the proposed structure of the unified student council with the student leadership. We’re working together in partnership with them.”

MIT Student Council President Terina Haimona says she and her council are already working with their counterparts at Unitec on the make-up of the new unified student council.

“We are working well together. Great minds think alike,” says the second-year Bachelor of Social Work learner.

“As much as I’ll miss being under MIT, it’s awesome that MIT and Unitec student councils are combining. It will be amazing to see what it will be like next year and to see what it can blossom into. I can’t wait.”

Unitec Student Council President Tiffany Nguyen says a unified student council creates more opportunities for collaboration, shared resources, and a wider impact when advocating for students.

“The main benefit of having a unified student council is that we can learn from each other and strengthen our key areas. It also helps ensure consistency in how student needs are represented across campuses,” says the Civil Engineering Technology learner.

“This transition needs to reflect what students actually want and need. The MIT Student Council has been very friendly, proactive, and highly engaging. It has been a pleasure to work with them.”

“At this stage, our focus is on visiting each other’s campuses to engage directly with students and understand their needs. I think the process requires a lot of work and collaboration, but it will definitely be worth it in the end.”

Student councils play an important role in the running of tertiary institutions. They advocate for student needs, contribute to policy discussions, support student wellbeing and engagement, and help organise events and initiatives that enhance campus life.