Meet Veronica Maihia: The graduate who completed an ITC diploma while pregnant!

Veronica was our first student to complete her studies while pregnant!

ITC and Study From Home often get the pleasure of meeting extremely hard working young Kiwis. Veronica Maihia is one of those graduates.

Veronica recently completed her diploma while pregnant – and became the first student to do so! She began with ITC but courses switched to studied online during the pandemic, and with sheer determination and serious organisation, finished her studies prior to giving birth.

Of course, we wanted to ask Veronica about her experience, but knowing she was due any day, we didn’t expect to hear back from her for a while. We were blown away when she responded to the questions below shortly after giving birth!

Read on to learn more about how Veronica managed her studies throughout her pregnancy, her plans for the future, and her advice for anyone looking to study ITC. As an added bonus, we’ve also included her fantastic graduation speech at the end. (more…)

Meet the graduate putting a spotlight on tourism’s need for more accessible travel

Paralympian Michael Johnson spoke with ITC graduate Sinead McDonnell about tourism’s need for more accessible travel.

The final subject of the New Zealand Diploma in Tourism and Travel at Level 5 is tourism & hospitality research and analysis. As part of this subject, students must choose a topic to research – ideally one they have a special interest in.

For Sinead McDonnell, the choice was simple. Her own family history inspired her to take a closer look into the accessibility of the New Zealand hotel industry, and found real gaps in what’s currently available – and what could encourage more lesser abled tourists to explore New Zealand.

Read on to find out more about Sinead’s inspiration, project, thoughts, and future goals!  (more…)

Meet Tanika Rutson: The graduate on her way to Colorado!

Adventure-loving ITC graduate Tanika Rutson is set to head to Colorado for international work experience.

Tanika Rutson is a recent ITC graduate who has recently been accepted for a position at Cloud Camp in Colorado.

The team at ITC is incredibly proud to see her land such a wonderful role in a stunning location, and to be heading overseas to earn valuable experience in the international tourism market.

We had a quick chat with Tanika to learn more about her time with ITC, her career goals, and what she’ll be doing in her new position.

(more…)

Meet Esther Fanene: The graduate who has seen NZ tourism bloom first hand!

Esther Fanene is a recent ITC graduate who landed an amazing role with Explore Group.

Esther Fanene is a wonderful ITC graduate who knew she wanted to be part of the New Zealand tourism industry from the outset.  

To do that, she enrolled with ITC, and the rest is history.

Esther has recently started a fantastic job with the Explore Group here in New Zealand. We asked her a few questions about her time at ITC, her new role, and her advice for anyone considering following in her footsteps. (more…)

International Exchange Programs in 2022: Who’s been accepted this year?

Michelle Coutts is one of the ITC graduates who has been accepted for an international working holiday this year.

One of the very best parts about studying travel and tourism is the chance to head off overseas and explore the world, working, learning, and meeting new people the whole way.

That’s why ITC has partnered up with International Working Holidays and The Broadmoor to help get our students and graduates into roles overseas where they can gain invaluable experience.

Here’s a little more about the programs, what they mean for students, and who’s been accepted so far this year! (more…)

Meet Brooke Robinson: The high-flying graduate who recently landed a job with Air New Zealand

Brooke Robinson is a keen traveller and ITC graduate who recently got a job with Air New Zealand.

Brooke Robinson is one of ITC’s lovely Christchurch graduates who graduated in late 2019. She completed both her Level 3 and Level 4 Certificates with ITC and attained Distinction with both.

Not to mention, she was also awarded the academic excellence award and was one of the student representatives for her class during level 4 as well. 

Brooke grew up in a travel-loving household with both parents in the industry, and was always interested in following in their footsteps. After graduating ITC, she spent a year working in real estate, but always wanted to get back to tourism, so recently applied for a role with Air New Zealand – and landed it.

So of course, we interviewed Brooke to learn more about her new job. (more…)

Meet Kahurangi Bray: The ITC student working at one of New Zealand’s best (and most important) attractions

Kahurangi Bray has started working at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds as she finishes her studies with ITC.

Kahurangi Bray has been studying level 4 with ITC, but this summer, she had the opportunity to work at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds.

She hadn’t quite finished her level 4 studies, so she took ITC’s flexible study option and has moved to our online platform, Study From Home, to allow her to finish the course.

This meant that she got to kick off her career in tourism and travel as soon as the opportunity arose, while also completing her qualifications. Everyone at ITC is incredibly proud of Kahu, and excited to see her take this first step.

So of course, we got in touch for an interview! (more…)

Meet Tobius Charnley: The graduate who landed his dream role after studying with ITC

Tobius has landed his dream role at Air New Zealand after studying with ITC.

Tobius Charnley graduated from ITC years ago, and has been bouncing around the travel and tourism industry ever since.

That’s taken him to Walt Disney World, Air Chathams, and now back to home ground with a brand new role with Air New Zealand. It hasn’t always been easy, but Tobius’ hard work and dedication has meant that he has the job he always dreamed of.

At ITC we are always here to support our graduates, even years after they graduate. This is the promise we make anyone who decides to join the ITC family. We caught up with Tobius to hear more about his story. (more…)

ITC sends postcards to graduates who land jobs in the industry

Sending postcards to students who have landed roles in the industry is one of the best parts of the job!

ITC doesn’t have thousands of students every year, or lecture theatres packed with hundreds of students.

At ITC, our tutors know every student by name, and throughout the course of study, get to know their students and care about them. That’s one of the biggest benefits of being a tertiary education provider on a smaller scale – our students are so much more than just numbers.

In fact, it’s this genuine relationship we have with students that led to us starting our postcard initiative! (more…)

New influx of jobs available in tourism and travel industry in New Zealand

Despite lockdowns, we’re still seeing plenty of new roles coming available in travel and tourism.

Lockdown has been tough on everyone, especially those in Auckland who remain in level 4. Yet this time around, the feel has been quite different, especially for businesses and employers in the travel and tourism industry.

Instead of hitting pause and wondering what happens next, many employers have been taking the pause to prepare for what happens next – lower levels, a mini post-lockdown boom, summer holidays, and hopefully, borders that start opening safely in the new year.

That’s why we’re seeing hiring continue and new jobs being advertised, even though travelling is limited right now. (more…)