Inaugural MBA Students Gather at the Waikato-Tainui College

Kiingi Tuheitia, Patron of the Waikato-Tainui College for Research & Development, together with tribal leaders, College and University of Waikato staff, welcomed the College’s first cohort of students who have enrolled on the University of Waikato MBA programme.

The opportunity for the College to deliver of the Waikato Management School MBA is a direct outcome of the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the College and the University of Waikato on 1 February this year, bringing to fruition Sir Robert Mahuta’s dream of a world class educational facility producing the next generation of leaders.

Dr. Sarah-Jane Tiakiwai, College Academic Director, said it was a significant occasion and one that puts the College firmly on the path of engaging in academic and research activity that has tangible benefit for the tribe and the wider community.

Twenty two participants, including 13 from Waikato-Tainui and an almost even mix of males and females will form the inaugural intake of the MBA at the College.

The MBA delivered by the Centre for Corporate and Executive Education at the Waikato Management School has international triple accreditation status to the UK Association of MBAs (AMBA), EQUIS – the European Quality Improvement System, and AACSB - the US-based Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business, which is the world’s oldest-established quality assurance body in management education.

The MBA programme aligns well with the College vision, “built for people from Waikato-Tainui, New Zealand and the world to come together to support and advance local, national and international aspirations,” said Dr Tiakiwai.
The students will have, alongside the academic staff teaching on the programme, guest lectures and presentations from a diverse range of Maaori and business leaders from around the country and internationally. The students will also be supported by Maaori mentors who, as MBA graduates themselves, will understand the rigour and demands of the residential programme. Dr Tiakiwai said these aspects of the programme provided the living and learning environment which is reflective of how the College wants to operate.

ENDS.