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BEST Leadership Academy celebrates 1st Anniversary
CEO, Beatrice Faumuinā says the journey over the past 12 months has been a hub of non-stop activity, development, and great achievement.
“A year ago, we started with just a vision and now we have launched a leadership programme and are working with 12 amazing Pacific leaders who come from different areas of the private and public sectors. We are also working with some exceptional lecturers who challenge our leaders to think outside the square in their leadership journeys.”
Ms Faumuinā says 2012 looks just as exciting and is looking forward to the introduction of the ‘Distinguished Speakers’ series.
“This
is another phase of the BEST Leadership programme where our students and
members of the public will have the opportunity to hear some of this country’s
most experienced and respected leaders share their wisdom and insights. Some of these people have transformed New
Zealand’s landscape in diverse ways and continue to influence our thinking.”
The
BEST Leadership Academy is proud to announce the first guest speaker in the
‘Distinguished Speakers’ series, which will take place in March, is
Entrepreneur, Tony Falkenstein, the man behind ‘Just Water.”
“It is difficult for me to capture in words, a man who has been
instrumental in the gift of hope for so many people. From establishing New Zealand’s first
business high school to his famous quote “Never hire
a person who walks slowly” his business philosophy says it all “If you’re not in business for
fun and profit, what the hell are you doing there” says Faumuinā.
The
former World Champion and Four Time Olympian says the introduction of a
Pacific-focused leadership strand through the Pasifika Mat workshops has also
been a wonderful aspect of the BEST Leadership Programme which officially began
in September with Roseann Gedye, a sought after consultant in Communication Advisory
services in Aotearoa.
We
are pleased to have Dr Selina Tusitala Marsh, the first person of Pacific
descent to graduate with a PhD in English from the University of Auckland and
now lecturer in Maori and Pacific Literature Studies to facilitate Pasifika Mat
which is part of the Leadership Programme.
“Pasifika
Mat is an exciting aspect of the BEST Leadership Programme and sets us apart
from other programmes as it contexts leadership for Pacific business leaders in
a New Zealand setting and incorporates Pacific views woven into the Pasifika
leadership journey” says Faumuinā.
The
BEST Leadership Academy will celebrate its one year anniversary on Saturday, 10th
December at the Villa Maria Estate in Mangere, South Auckland.
For
more information on the BEST Pacific Leadership Programme, contact
Beatrice
Faumuinā
09
825 0140
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LOGOS PACIFIC INSTITUTE OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES – BUILDING CHRISTIAN LEADERS
February 2011
LOGOS Pacific Institute of Christian Studies has launched the inaugural Certificate in Christian Studies Level 3 course starting 25th March 2011. The Certificate is taught part time over 48 weeks comprising of 4 x 12 week modules. The Certificate in Christian Studies aims to help students understand, broaden and live the Christian life in a way that will have a positive impact on the community at large.
The Certificate has been created for all Christians who aspire to become leaders and role models in the community. Course components range from Introduction to Theology, History of Christianity, Christian Spiritual Development to Christian Ethics. Discussions will encourage the development of Christian friendships, leadership roles within the church, respect for parents and leaders, understanding of the Pacific Christian culture, empowerment and much more.
The programme commences on Friday, 25th March with classes held on Fridays from 6pm - 9pm and one Saturday per month. For more details on this very valuable course, contact BEST on 0800 425 624.
PUBLICATION OF PERFORMANCE DATA A MILESTONE FOR PACIFIC EDUCATION
September 2010
BEST Pacific Institute of Education (BEST) today congratulated the Government on its publication of performance indicators, which for the first time provide an accurate representation of student achievement across the entire tertiary sector.
“The published information will help the Government to direct resources where they are most effectively used, and this is good news for Pacific people” said BEST Director Anita Finnigan. “Quality information is essential, as the proportion of Pacific people in the working age population is expected to double by the year 2026. We have enjoyed working with the Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) over the past few months to ensure that the information presented is as accurate as possible,” Ms Finnigan said.
“The challenge of improving Pacific education performance can only be addressed with proper information about where Pacific students are studying, their rate of progression to higher level courses, and the providers that are helping Pacific students to achieve.
“Other studies have focused on the performance of Pasifika in universities, studying degree level qualifications. While achievement at this level is important, we need better information about the performance of providers and students at certificate and diploma level” Finnigan said. “The majority of Pacific students come to tertiary education with no formal qualifications, and must progress through lower levels of study in order to achieve success in higher education.”
The information published by the TEC shows that only six per cent of university students and eight per cent of polytechnic students are of Pacific ethnicity, whereas they make up 17 per cent of students at private tertiary providers. It also provides detailed information about each provider, and their contribution to Pacific education in
The TEC information confirms BEST’s ability to outperform other providers when it comes to delivering educational results for Pacific students. Pacific students studying at BEST had higher course and qualification completion rates than Pacific students studying at other PTEs and Polytechnics (see attached background sheet for details). Over 60 per cent of all Pasifika people in tertiary education study at a PTE or Polytechnic. BEST’s 1300-plus Pacific students make up over 28 per cent of all Pacific students in the PTE sub-sector.
The 2010-2015 Tertiary Education Strategy makes ‘increasing the number of Pasifika students achieving at higher levels’ a priority of the Government. Anita Finnigan stated that the scope and accuracy of the information gathered and published by the TEC provide a strong foundation for ensuring that the Government’s priority is achieved.
“I am proud that for over 20 years BEST has been focused on the same priorities that this Government is now focused on,” Ms Finnigan said. “Currently BEST is the number one provider to Pacific people when it comes to performance - out of over 1800 Equivalent Fulltime Students (EFTS), 73 per cent of our students are of Pacific descent, and they are achieving at level four and five, which means their qualifications are translating into jobs with promising career paths, and they are going on to higher study.
“The TEC’s initiative in publishing this information is a milestone that will help Pacific people in New Zealand achieve their full potential.”
Further information:
BEST is NZQA accredited and achieved an NZQA EER report rating of Highly Confident in 2010 for the key areas of Educational Performance and Capability for Self Assessment.
BEST strives hard to achieve its impressive results and has a proven achievement record that is consistently high; in 2009, 67 per cent of BEST students graduated with tertiary qualifications, and 69 per cent of graduates have secured paid employment, while a further 14 per cent have gone on to further higher education.
BEST results exceed the performance of Pacific Students in the PTE, Wananga and ITP sub-sectors*| PACIFIC STUDENTS |
Course Completion |
Qualification Completion |
Student Progression |
Student Retention |
| BEST |
65% |
71% |
44% |
73% |
| Wananga |
72% |
65% |
32% |
58% |
| Private Training Establishments |
64% |
63% |
30% |
56% |
| Polytechnics & |
60% |
45% |
33% |
40% |
* BEST results are most usefully compared within the PTE and ITP sub-sectors because this is where the majority of Pacific students study (64 per cent of 36,253 tertiary students who identify with Pacific ethnicity study in these two sub sectors).
BEST’s uniqueness in the tertiary sectorBEST is proud that with 73 per cent of its students of Pacific Island descent, it teaches the highest proportion of Pacific people of all tertiary providers in New Zealand.
BEST is fully prepared to meet this challenge and currently dominates the tertiary sector when it comes to the number of Pacific students studying at levels four and five. In 2009, over 1100 students out of a student body of just under 1900 were studying at these levels, with 83 per cent of graduates going on to secure skilled employment and on to higher study.
BEST is particularly answering the call of the Auckland job market by working with Auckland employers to ensure that BEST vocational education is meeting the needs of the market place. BEST’S focus in providing vocational education at levels four, five and six is the reason why BEST has such a high success rate with graduate placement in skilled employment.
BackgroundEstablished in 1988, BEST is New Zealand’s leading provider of tertiary education to Pacific people, with 73 per cent of its student body of 1871 of Pacific descent.
The primary focus of BEST is to provide Pacific Island people with the relevant skills needed to achieve a recognised tertiary qualification and transition into skilled employment and/or higher education.
Since its inception, BEST has provided a vital service to Pacific peoples by enabling them to flourish in its unique tertiary model.
BEST works closely with all its students to provide quality educational programmes that responsively and effectively help them meet their learning and career goals.
BEST has developed a tried and tested formula to continually improve the performance of its students in achieving educational qualifications, while at the same time accommodating the other commitments they have to family and community. BEST’s unique learning model is integral to its achievement in enabling the largest body of Pacific students in the country gain tertiary qualifications and quality employment.
Key components to this model are:
-
BEST has pioneered a cutting edge e-learning platform like no other in New Zealand, allowing students to study in a flexible learning environment while remaining strongly connected to their tutors and other students.
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BEST recognises that a crucial requirement for its students to succeed in study and in the workforce is upskilling in, and access to, information and technology (IT). Because of this BEST provides computer and internet access in the homes of its students for the duration of their study.
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BEST provides robust support networks to its students including ongoing progress evaluation and career mentoring throughout the course of study and into the workplace.
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BEST has developed a strong standing in the wider student community so that it understands the world in which the students live, and has the respect of that community.
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BEST has forged strong links and a two way dialogue with the employment sectors its qualifications aim at, ensuring that what is taught at BEST is relevant and up-to-date for prospective employers.
The Sky's the Limit with Youth Guarantee
Now that exams are over, the question on everyone's lips is "what next"? Youth Guarantee is a great answer to that question for 16 and 17 year olds who want to take the next step towards achieving their dreams and goals.
So what is Youth Guarantee?
Youth Guarantee is NO FEES* vocational tertiary education that provides a stepping stone to good jobs, careers and higher education.
Youth Guarantee lets students successfully finish their education in a non-school environment that provides the support they need to achieve.
At BEST they will graduate from a Youth Guarantee programme with an NZQA approved level 2, 3 or 4 tertiary qualification and the skills and confidence they need to move to the next level, be it work or further study.
The programmes at BEST are very exciting - they range from Computing and Employment Skills to career focused programmes in Sport, Business, Tourism and Travel and Freight Forwarding.
Our 16 and 17 year olds and their parents should sit up and take notice of Youth Guarantee - it is a pathway that recognises their talents and abilities and focuses their success.
*Conditions apply
Find out more about Youth Guarantee
Church Leaders Celebrate Learning
BEST's inaugural Community Leaders Certificate has become a popular programme for Pacific Church leaders in Auckland. Since BEST introduced the certificate in 2007, the Pacific Church communities have not stopped talking about it.
The programme is focused on providing the Church leaders with computing and organisational management skills and leads to nationally recognised certificates in business and computing.
We spoke to Reverend Alesana McCarthy from the BEST Pasifika Advisory Board who has been working closely with our churches providing key information about this programme. He has found a strong sense of pride among our Church communities that BEST is able to offer a Pacific family environment.
Some of the leaders who spoke with Alesana said they were looking to do a similar programme elsewhere but when they heard about BEST and our learning environment, they wanted to come here instead.
2009s Church leaders can now use PowerPoint to do their presentations for church and have also improved their internet skills and other Office software. Some Ministers were so inspired that they have showed interest in other programmes such as BEST's new Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education programme.
Senior Church ministers commented that they wished they would've had this opportunity earlier in their lives...but are grateful that they still learn and gain a qualification.
It is evident that after the success of the programme last year, the Stage One graduates are very keen to come back to complete Stage Two. Approximately 80 Church leaders have expressed interest in the next Stage One programme commencing on August 22nd.
A special celebration to launch the Community Leaders Certificate and the Certificate in Pre-Teacher Education will be held at the Manukau Campus on September 5th.