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Three new courses have been added to EIT’s joint winemaking programme with China’s Qilu University of Technology (QLUT), as the partnership marked its eighth graduation in Jinan. EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen attended the June 16 graduation ceremony during her first visit to the QLUT campus. She also signed an addendum to the partnership agreement, adding Academic Wine English, Wine Industry Sustainability, and Global Wine Business and Marketing to the curriculum EIT delivers in China.

A new poupou was unveiled at EIT’s Central Hawke’s Bay Regional Learning Centre in Waipukurau last week as part of a wider carving project marking the institute’s 50th anniversary and return to independence. Designed and created collaboratively by Ngāti Kahungunu carver and Bachelor of Creative Practice graduate Emanuel Dunn, and Ideaschool senior lecturer Chris Bryant-Toi, the poupou was blessed by Professor Joe Te Rito on Thursday.

EIT has marked the opening of a new nursing clinical simulation suite with a blessing at its Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale. Named after former Chief Executive, the Bruce Martin building, which was damaged during Cyclone Gabrielle, has undergone seismic upgrades and remodelling and now includes Te Kahikatea – Clinical Simulation Suite as well as teaching and office spaces.

An EIT beauty therapy graduate who was inspired to enter the industry by her mother has now opened a business alongside her. Shakilah Araia (Ngāti Porou) graduated in April with the New Zealand Diploma in Beauty Therapy (Level 5) after previously completing the New Zealand Certificate in Beauty Therapy (Level 4) at EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale.

Graduates from the EIT Data Science and Communication College were celebrated in Shaoxing, China, last week as students, families and staff gathered to recognise their achievements during a ceremony held at Zhejiang Yuexiu University (ZYU). The ceremony was attended by EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen during her first visit to China and ZYU, which also included the signing of a new 10-year extension agreement between the two institutions.

Kayleigh Oakham always wanted to be a vet nurse, and in her early 30s, the mother-of-four decided to make that goal a reality through EIT. Originally from the United Kingdom, the now 38-year-old graduated with the New Zealand Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Level 6) in April. “It was always in the back of my mind. Animals have always been a big passion of mine.” Kayleigh Oakham has finally achieved her long-held dream of becoming a vet nurse after graduating from EIT.

Students from three EIT hospitality programmes joined forces on Thursday night to deliver a 10-course degustation at Scholars Training Restaurant. NZ Diploma in Cookery (Advanced Pâtisserie strand) (Level 5) students designing and leading the degustation, supported by NZ Certificate in Cookery (Level 4) students in the kitchen and NZ Certificate in Food and Beverage Service (Level 3) students managing front-of-house service.

After returning to study following a 16-year break, EIT Auckland Master of Information Technology graduate Afshan Mushtaq has secured hands-on experience in cybersecurity through an industry internship. Originally from Pakistan and most recently living in Qatar, Afshan moved to New Zealand in July 2024 with her family to pursue further study and new opportunities.

Returning to study was something Shaye Tamatoa once doubted he would do, but the Hawke’s Bay horticulture worker is now in the final stages of completing EIT’s Diploma in Fruit Production. The 27-year-old initially enrolled in one course as part of the Diploma in Fruit Production before deciding to continue with the qualification after completing his first paper.

EIT Chief Executive Lucy Laitinen has signed a new 10-year extension agreement with Zhejiang Yuexiu University (ZYU) during her first official visit to China, strengthening a partnership that has seen more than 900 Chinese students enrol in an EIT degree delivered at ZYU since 2020.