Olympic gold medalist to attend Otago Polytechnic graduation

Media Release – Otago Polytechnic
For immediate release, Wednesday 6 March

Graduand and guest speaker: Olympic gold medalist to attend
Otago Polytechnic graduation

Former professional wind surfer and Olympic gold medalist Barbara Kendall will not only be attending the Otago Polytechnic graduation ceremony as a guest speaker this Friday 8 March, but will be walking across the stage at the Regent Theatre to graduate.

“I am thrilled to attend the graduation ceremony this Friday, both as a student and as a guest speaker!” says Barbara, who will be graduating with a Graduate Diploma in Applied Management and Bachelor of Social Services (Career Practice) from Otago Polytechnic’s Capable NZ.

Capable NZ is a subsidiary of Otago Polytechnic that provides a world-leading Assessment of Prior Learning (APL) service. It works by measuring candidate’s knowledge and skills against formal qualifications, including certificates, diplomas and degrees. The process requires far less investment of time and money, so it’s especially valuable for those who are currently employed.

“After finishing school, I went on to concentrate on my sporting career without much chance to continue on with my education,” Barbara explains. “Capable NZ gave me an opportunity to acquire a qualification that would be formally recognised in the workplace.”

Since 2009, Barbara has been a Facilitator for the International Olympic Committee’s Athletes Career Programme, which aims to educate athletes and their entourage on transferrable competencies and leadership.

“While running one of these workshops I was approached by Glenys Ker, a Capable NZ Facilitator and Assessor suggesting I look into their programme,” she says. “It would have been hard for me to balance my study and work life if I were to apply at a university, so the Capable NZ programme really appealed to me because it was flexible and the study time was reduced due to my work experience,’’ she says.

With the support of her Capable NZ Facilitator and the flexibility to work through assessment during times that suited her, Barbara was able to complete her qualifications over the course of one year.

“I realised that I’m a much better student now than I would have been before. The programme has given me a lot of confidence and has enhanced my skills, which I will use in my workshop and mentoring programmes.”

As for her speech, Barbara says she will be “speaking from her heart” at the ceremony and hopes she can pass on the message of how rewarding the study experience is at Otago Polytechnic.

Barbara is an Olympic gold, silver and bronze medalist, quadruple world champion, New Zealand sports woman of the year (1996, 1998, 1999 and 2002), has been inducted in to the International Sailings Hall of Fame and has a MBE for services to windsurfing.

The Otago Polytechnic Graduation ceremony will commence at 3:00pm on Friday, 8 March at the Regent Theatre.

For more information about Capable NZ, visit www.capablenz.co.nz
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