The event aims to re-establish connections with the school’s alumni and celebrate the achievements of our high achieving ākonga who graduated last week.

While acknowledging the school’s strong industry partnerships and the impact Unitec graduates are making in industry.

Bailey Development Partners Owner and Development Manager Luke Bailey and James Reed, Divisional Manager – Structures at Dominion Constructors Ltd, were among the awards’ presenters.

Representatives of event sponsors New Zealand Chinese Building Industry Association and Dimond Roofing were also in attendance; along with industry partners from Architectural Designers New Zealand, New Zealand Institute of Quantity Surveyors, Quantity Surveying Emerging Professionals and New Zealand Institute of Building.

They joined Unitec kaimahi, alumni, ākonga and their family members for a night of networking and celebrating student achievement.

“This is a new initiative where we’re trying to connect our alumni, who are movers and shakers in the industry, and link them with our recent graduates and students looking for employment,” explains Paul Jeurissen, Head of School, Building Construction.

 

The head of school confident this event will create more opportunities for graduates to forge valuable connections.

“It’s a great start, something for us to build on,” says Jeurissen.

“Obviously, we want to connect with as many priority learners and graduates as we can because up until two years ago, we could pretty much guarantee employment. But it’s getting harder now, so we must try and make these connections more effective.”

Unitec is proud of its track record of connecting its teaching with projects that are live out in the industry. This ensures our students gain exposure to what they’ll be dealing with on a day-to-day basis in the workplace.

“I really enjoyed my time at Unitec,” says Samuel Ward, the recipient of the top award in Bachelor of Construction – Construction Management, who is now employed as a site manager for Titus Group, an Auckland-based company which delivers affordable housing.

“I had some great lecturers who taught me a lot that I was able to use in my working life. They do a good job of teaching industry-related knowledge and ensuring we graduate ready for the role.”

Olivia Nott was delighted to receive the top award in the New Zealand Diploma in Architectural Technology and has now started a Bachelor of Architectural Studies at Unitec.

“I don’t think I would have had the confidence to start the BAS if I didn’t do the Diploma in Architectural Technology,” she says.

“I knew I was in the right place when I started studying here. The teachers were always encouraging and had the right contacts. There are people in the industry who really like this particular pathway.”

Paul Jeurissen encouraged new graduates to actively explore current opportunities and stay connected.

“Doors will open because you’ve got a body of knowledge in construction now which a lot of people coming into the industry haven’t got. And when times do turn, employers will be scrambling around looking for the skills you’ve got,” he told attendees at the event.

“Stay connected with us because your success is our success and the relationships we build here, will hold us in good stead moving forward.”

 

Top Students for 2024

• Qiuyuan Zhao NZ Diploma in Construction – Quantity surveying
• Kun Chan NZ Diploma in Construction – Construction Management
• Olivia Nott NZ Diploma in Architectural Technology
• Rui Huang Bachelor of Construction – Property Development
• Samuel Ward Bachelor of Construction – Construction Management
• Xiaoye Huang Bachelor of Construction – Construction Economics
• Lee Barber Graduate Diploma in Construction Project Management