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With over 20 years’ experience working in administration, Mandy Tepania decided, with the support and encouragement of her family, that she needed to put some qualifications behind that experience.
This year she graduated with the New Zealand Diploma of Business through the Open Polytechnic and says she has been able to apply many of the things she learnt through studying in both her work and private life.
“I am fortunate that my employer has supported my study as they know the benefits are shared by both parties,” says Mandy.
“I found the first few papers very hard and really had to work at managing my time between work, family and study. Being a keen sports person as well, I never had any energy left to study if I didn’t plan my time well.
“Open Polytechnic offered a platform which allowed me to learn how to improve my learning and with their distance learning service I was able to learn at my own pace.”
My Open Polytechnic, a new online service, has improved the way students are able to update information says Mandy.
“I’m able to send off assignments and see instantly what papers have been completed; which is good when you are struggling to stay motivated. It’s also great when I am looking for results and planning my next papers.”
Mandy attended her graduation ceremony in Wellington in May and says her daughter, who is studying full-time at another institution, got as much out of it as she did.
“It inspired her to work hard and stay focused. There were so many other people there who had been through similar journeys to mine and we all had struggled to manage our day-to-day lives while studying yet we had all succeeded.
“I especially enjoyed the speech given by Phil O’Reilly (Chief Executive, Business NZ) and have thought of that a few times since when an assignment is due and I am behind.”
Mandy is now working towards a Bachelor of Business in Information Systems and Technology and while she agrees studying is no walk in the park, she believes it’s a valuable investment.
“The study has helped to keep me up to date with technology and current business practises, some of which I have implemented in my current workplace. I have also used many of the skills I have learnt to manage a sports team for international competitions.
“The diploma has given me more confidence to contribute more to team meetings and volunteer to take on roles I never would have previously raised my hand to do. The chance to put into practise some of the skills I have learnt has been very rewarding.”
Mandy compares study to exercising. “If you stop, you have wasted all that effort but if you keep on plodding away, every paper completed provides encouragement to continue to meet your goal.”
A graduate with a degree majoring in Information Systems & Technology will understand the basic concepts and operation of IS&T and be able to define problems, perform analysis and recommend systems and platforms. They will also be able to design and test systems and build, or manage the building of, IS&T systems.
Bachelor of Business Pathway
If you’re a New Zealand Diploma in Business graduate you can fast track your study to a Bachelor of Business through our Advanced Standing Pathway programme.
The New Zealand Diploma in Business is a nationally recognised, broad-based business qualification which equips you for a wide range of business careers or for further study in accounting, banking and finance, and management. It is recognised by a number of professional bodies.
Bachelor of Business Pathway
Once you graduate with the New Zealand Diploma in Business you can fast track your study to a Bachelor of Business through our Advanced Standing Pathway programme.
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