Master of Sustainable Practice

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

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.

This programme is designed to enhance your existing knowledge and skills in the construction industry by equipping you with specialised construction management skill sets. It will enable you to perform with a strong sense of responsibility for your own practice and to be capable of effectively collaborating with other construction-related disciplines. During the programme you'll extend your technical, applied and legal knowledge and critically review practice within the construction industry.

You'll also learn how to improve the productivity of construction projects and advise on construction methodology through the life cycle of a project. An industry project will allow you to apply your research and critical thinking skills.

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.

You will explore the best methods for optimising supply chain relationships and the logistics of production, including considerations from an engineering perspective.Core studies include the essentials of project management, product development, operations management and resource integration management. We also introduce you to other relevant topics including industrial relations, human resources and finance and management accounting.

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 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 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.

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

This programme is designed to equip you with the skills needed to be an effective strategic management professional, capable of working in a range of business environments. It covers applied business management, leadership, strategic planning, finance and marketing.

An industry project will form part of your studies and will provide you with hands-on experience that strengthens your understanding of the area.

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

In your second and third years the focus is on business transformation and change - you will be able to recognise where and when change is required and how to implement plans and monitor the change process. You will study:

• Organisational Behaviour - Investigates the impact that individuals, groups, and structures have on staff behaviour.
• Principles of Leadership - Builds personal capabilities with an understanding of effective leadership concepts and principles.
• Project Management - Learn to create and use project plans using MS Project®.
• Business Transformation and Change - Aligns business strategy, culture and management capability with the need for efficient transitions.
• Strategic Management - Explores organisational effectiveness with well-structured strategic goals, plans and actions.