Unitec’s first event management graduates make their mark

Unitec’s first event management graduates make their mark on Grad Show

A new one year Graduate Diploma in Events Communication was offered by Unitec’s Department of Communications this year and the first students to complete the new qualification organisied an event as part of the annual Grad Show.

The Grad Show will see hundreds of students from The Faculty of Creative Industries and Business display their work at Unitec’s historic building one, opening tonight and running until Saturday November 27.

The show will feature a free exhibition of student works open to the public from this evening until Saturday 27 November featuring innovative new products, stunning contemporary jewellery, ceramics, craft, traditional and contemporary Maori weaving, painting, cutting-edge multi-media, world-class dance and acting performances, and radical interior and landscape design.

The new Graduate Diploma in Event Communications offers majors in event management, public relations, media, and international communications. To showcase their event planning skills, course graduates are hosted their very own public relations and media industry event last night.

Graduating diploma student and director of the evening Kirsty-Emma Gray says, “There’s really no better way to exhibit the talents of the events graduates. In past years the creative arts have dominated Grad Show, this year Communications graduates really have a chance to show off.” Kirsty-Emma and her team, who come from backgrounds in design, editorial and theatre, have been working on the spectacular evening event which featured guest speaker Andrew Young from the Starship Foundation, cocktails, little black dresses and speed networking. “Our aim was to create an environment for graduating students to potentially meet a future employer and build their network and the event was fantastic,” she says.

Programme leader of Communications, Sara Donaghey says, “Unitec’s Graduate Diploma in Events is different to others of its kind in Auckland as it’s the only institute where industry experience is a compulsory aspect of the course. So far it’s been a huge success, students are already being placed in full time jobs before they’ve even graduated.”

The event was held on last night and the Unitec Grad Show opens to the public tonight. Enrollments for the Graduate Diploma in Event Communication will be taken in early 2011 for commencement in August 2011.

What: Unitec Institute of Technology annual Grad Show

When: Opening party Wednesday November 24 from 5.30pm. Exhibitions continues on Thursday until Saturday from 10am - 4pm.

Where: Unitec Institute of Technology, Building 1, Entry 1, Carrington Rd, Mt Albert, Auckland

For more information go to www.gradshow.unitec.ac.nz

ENDS

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