Diploma in Outdoor and Adventure Education

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

The New Zealand Diploma in Early Childhood Education and Care (Level 5) will equip you to provide high quality, practice-based education and care in early childhood settings, and/or to pathway into higher level study leading to a teaching qualification.

Taught by supportive tutors in a practical learning environment, it covers the early childhood education curriculum (Te Wh?riki) and the role of play in child learning and development; effective written and oral communication; and the use of te reo Maori. It also explores bicultural infant and toddler care and education strategies to create high quality, safe and inclusive learning environments. You’ll develop, reflect, and receive feedback on skills in observation, assessment and planning for teaching young children.

The Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education is the only outdoor education degree in New Zealand that includes sustainability as a major component. It provides a unique combination of theory and practice to ensure you graduate with a sound understanding of contemporary social and cultural issues, geography and sustainability, and a proven capability in outdoor education. It is a broad degree that allows you to tailor your learning to meet the needs of a variety of career aspirations including teaching, conservation, outdoor instruction and guiding.

During your studies, you’ll engage with the natural landscape to develop an in-depth understanding of sustainability, and what it means to our society now and for the future. You’ll explore flora and fauna and consider social geography with the human influences and impacts on our environment including how decisions on land use are made. You’ll also develop your inter-personal skills and learn effective methods for teaching, guiding and helping other people to engage with and respect our spectacular natural environment.

Essential studies include health and wellness, geography, environmental science, professional practices, leadership and safety. These are mixed with elective theory and practical courses to foster your personal strengths and interests. Elective course options include climate change, adventure therapy, M?ori studies and cultural learning as well as adventure pursuits like rock climbing and ropes courses, white water and sea kayaking, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding.

In this vibrant and exciting industry, this specialisation will prepare you in all aspects of event logistics, planning and management. Whether you have career ambitions to run international conferences, sports tournaments or music or arts festivals, our experience tutors will help you develop real-life, hands-on skills. You’ll also get to work on an actual local event to consolidate your learnings.

Flexibility has been built into this degree, allowing you to not only to study part-time, full-time and/or in the evenings, but to choose two specialisations at no extra cost and requiring no additional time.

Develop the specialist skills and organisational strengths you need to support a career creating greater efficiency and increased productivity within diverse commercial settings.

In your first year of study we broaden your knowledge with core business strategies and operational subjects including accounting, business communication, commercial law, business heritage, culture and sustainability, marketing, computing, management and applied research. In the following two years, our degree programme examines all aspects of the Operations and Production Management major with studies in:

• Intermediate Management Accounting - Covers the processes and information required for effective planning, control and decision making.
• Operations Management - Develops the concepts and analytical methods for transforming inputs into completed goods and services via the management of people and resources.
• Project Management - Appraises project plans using MS Project and explores the basic principles and terminology of project management.
• Resource Integration Management - Examines aspects of supply chain management, business facility layout/modification and engineering economics, and their relation to effective business operation, technical management, project management and production of goods and services.
• Product Development - Evaluates appropriate tools and methods for achieving best outcomes and effective management across all facets of new product and service developments.

The Bachelor of Construction is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to work at a high level in the construction industry, as a leader who is able to innovate and contribute to new ways of creating the built environment.

The program starts with an introduction to the knowledge, skills, attributes and academic abilities required of a construction manager or quantity surveyor. You'll gain discipline-specific skills and knowledge, starting with a focus on small domestic buildings then moving on to low-rise and large commercial construction, then heavily serviced, multifaceted projects.

Your year-two project work and assessments will require problem solving, independent research skills and application of cultural approaches and aspects of sustainability. In the third year you'll be required to source and organise technical, project and academic research information, and evaluate, critique and propose well-rationalised solutions.

This Level 6 program covers a broad range of current applied knowledge and skills in systems administration. It incorporates content based predominantly on the Microsoft and Linux platforms, including server-based virtualization, directory services, network protocols and infrastructure, automated system and application deployment, and IT service management. These provide core knowledge and skills expected of someone working as an IT professional.

Nutrition is increasingly relevant in today's society due to its impact on the health of individuals, communities and populations. As people are starting to take more responsibility for their own health to prevent illness, they are faced with a confusing range of often conflicting nutrition information.

During this three year programme you will study theory, participate in practical sessions and undertaken work placements in your chosen specialisation of sport and exercise science. Your studies will allow you to evaluate, facilitate and/or enhance sport and exercise performance in a wide range of contexts using current scientific principles and technologies.

This programme is designed to enable you to perform the vital role that accounting plays across all facets of business. You'll investigate business software options, study up-to-date accounting principles and practices, and learn about risk management, ethics, legislation, economic dynamics, supply and demand, sustainable management and strategies for operational efficiency. HR, sales and marketing, innovation and communication are also covered.

You'll also gain a thorough grounding in financial and management accounting with options to specialise in taxation, business financing, or other aspects of the commercial world that interest you most.

Businesses in the 21st Century are wanting more data analytics and evaluation of business intelligence. This specialisation will equip you with sound business knowledge and management expertise, and the ability to work with business information systems and strategies to grow any enterprise.

In your first year of study you’ll develop knowledge in core business strategies including accounting, business communication, commercial law, business heritage, culture and sustainability, marketing, computing, management and applied research.

In the second and third years you’ll focus on business information systems and enhance your understanding of business decision making and planning processes. You’ll also complete a Cooperative Education Project where you’ll work 'hands-on' in a business environment applying your learning on a real-world info systems problem or opportunity.

Flexibility has been built into this degree, allowing you to not only to study part-time, full-time and/or in the evenings, but to choose two specialisations at no extra cost and requiring no additional time. Alternatively, you can personalise your degree by including up to five elective courses (Level 5 and above, equal to 15 credits each) from any subject area of your choosing.