First Unitec Success Scholarships give students a boost

First Unitec Success Scholarships give students a boost

Eleven business degree and postgraduate students are a step closer to achieving their goals after being awarded the first Unitec Success Scholarships supported by IBM. The scholarships of $5,000 each, which include one-on-one mentoring from an IBM business mentor, were presented at a special awards ceremony at Unitec's Te Noho Kotahitanga Marae on Wednesday 28 August.

Seven recipients of the Success Scholarships have Maori or Pacific heritage. Maori, Pasifika and women in the IT industry were a particular focus for these scholarships, as they are currently under-represented in business.

"To remain sustainable businesses need to nurture new talent and support as diverse a talent pool as possible," says Unitec Chief Executive, Rick Ede.

"We're very proud and pleased for the recipients," says Ede, "They're not only receiving a financial contribution towards their study through the scholarships but also the guidance of a business mentor from one of the world's largest and internationally respected corporate brands in IBM. There's no better foundation for success."

The Success Scholarships are the latest in a programme of initiatives that have been delivered under an IBM Unitec collaborative agreement, launched in February this year with the opening of New Zealand's first IBM Delivery Centre at Unitec's Mt Albert campus.

"The success of any business relies on great people, so we're delighted to offer these scholarships supported by IBM to such high-calibre students," says Ede.

Unitec's inaugural scholarship recipients have each shown a commitment to their studies, along with other key attributes such as community leadership, fortitude in overcoming challenges and, in some cases, courage in overcoming quite adverse circumstances."

"It's these qualities, as much as academic success, that we hope to encourage with the Success Scholarships and develop further through one-on-one mentoring and networking opportunities," says Ede.

A list of scholarships recipients and bios are available here.

ENDS

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