Graduate Diploma in Strategic Management

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

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.

The Postgraduate Diploma in Creative Practice has been designed for musicians, dramatists, performing and visual artists, designers, film makers, writers, directors and other professional creatives who wish to take their first foray into postgraduate study. It will enable you to advance your creative practice and develop knowledge and specialist skills, beyond those gained through your undergraduate degree.

As a student of this programme you'll have the opportunity to use reflection on creative and critical theory to initiate and develop an area of interest into a supervised research project within a domain of practice.

During the first two years of the programme we will take you through foundation studies in drawing, computer-aided design, building design and related sciences. You will also study building legislation and codes as they relate to architecture.

In your final year you will specialise in architectural technology with a focus on technological subjects such as:

• Construction and Technology
• Architectural Science
• Computer aided design

One of the most important resources in an organisation is its people. This specialisation will develop your management skills and knowledge in people and culture. During your studies you’ll analyse organisational staff behaviour and its impact on business, and learn about wellbeing leadership, health and safety and the latest employment legislation. In your final year you’ll explore advanced HR strategy and contemporary issues in human resource management.

It takes great skill to turn an idea into a successful product in today's market. With this qualification you will learn ways to grow an existing company or establish your own business venture. You will learn how to think about, create and grow ideas from conception through to commercial success. Using leading-edge concepts, methodologies and tools, this qualification has a strong emphasis on combining theory and real world application.

You will study the theory of entrepreneurship, strategic planning for small business and managing for growth and product development. You will also have the chance to undertake an industry project.

With this program you will have the expertise to strategically direct the future focus of your organisation with regards to Food and Beverage, and Accommodation and Facilities. You will combine your knowledge and skills gained into a practical industry project, completed within a work context further developing your skills and ability, whilst assisting an organisation to resolve a business issue.

This diploma is designed to enable you to support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of a business or organisation. It covers business basics including accounting, sales and marketing, human resources and risk management, then focuses on administration and technology aspects of business.

This focus will give you the knowledge and skills to be able to plan, organise and manage business administration functions, operations and projects, and to support management. You'll learn how to select, apply and support a broad range of current and emerging business technologies to meet a business's needs, as well as manage, analyse and evaluate administrative systems and processes and recommend improvements. In addition you'll gain skills in problem solving, critical thinking and effective communication.

Our qualification equips you with the skills and knowledge in peak demand and builds on your basic accounting skills and provides detailed study in taxation and compliance, as well as advanced financial and management accounting.

You will be capable of identifying opportunities for cost efficiencies, savings and future growth, and helping business leaders understand fiscal risk. In addition, you will also complete work experience on a business project. You will need to have current knowledge of accounting at an introductory level to enrol in this programme.

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.

You will develop the attributes for professional social work practice in New Zealand as you engage in study integrating practice and community within the classroom. This programme is underpinned by a philosophy of bi-culturalism and anti-oppressive practice.

Our four year programme will take you from the fundamentals of professionalism, research skills, critical thinking and informed decision making, in your first year through to your second, third and fourth years when you will take these skills to an advanced level.

Each year has an integrated practice course where learning is linked to the practice environment. In the second, third and fourth years integrated practice includes significant time in social work agencies.