Postgraduate Diploma in Sustainable Practice

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

The Master of Sustainable Practice is designed for individuals who seek to lead innovative problem solving in sustainable practice. Across the range of core, project and applied research components, you'll gain advanced interdisciplinary skills and knowledge that will enable you to: critically evaluate and apply concepts of sustainable practice; work independently and collaboratively; and become a change-maker contributing to sustainable practice. You'll also develop and apply advanced understandings of the theories, driving forces and worldviews related to sustainable practice within the context of your discipline-specific knowledge.

The programme facilitates collaboration and innovation and applies an interdisciplinary framework to address complex sustainability problems. Upon completion of the programme you will be able to: advocate for, and lead change towards, more sustainable practices; apply high level research skills to plan and conduct independent inquiry projects related to sustainability in professional contexts; and be an independent learner who can utilise and undertake research to formulate solutions to sustainability issues.

You will gain a solid grounding in engineering theory and principles of engineering science including design and drawing, materials, surveying hydraulics, geotech structures and highways. It is expected that graduates will attain the educational underpinnings and work ready attributes defined in the Engineering New Zealand Graduate Profile for Engineering Technicians.

The graduate profile defined by Engineering New Zealand is benchmarked internationally to the exemplar graduate attributes for graduates of technical education programmes recognised under the Dublin Accord.

IT industry partners have significant input into the structure and content of this programme to ensure that what is being taught continually meets industry needs. The first year covers a broad range of ICT topics that will provide you with a solid base of knowledge in software engineering (programming), hardware and networking, website development, IT tools and concepts and mathematics skills relevant to IT.

In years two and three you'll choose one of three specialist pathways: Information Systems, Networking and Infrastructure or Software Development. During this time you'll develop in-depth knowledge of your chosen area through a range of compulsory and elective courses.

You'll also develop skills in problem solving, critical thinking, analysis, team work, project management, time management, self-reliance and communication skills. There is a strong emphasis on practical skills and work-readiness, so wherever possible, theory is integrated and applied to practical tasks.

Bachelor of Broadcasting Communications degree specialising in journalism is a highly practical programme providing you with the skills and theory to break news stories and be actively involved with the production of news for radio, television or online media. Early in your studies you'll gain a strong grounding in broadcasting and communications theory, writing and researching news bulletins for our radio station. You'll also report TV news stories for broadcast and online.

This qualification replaces the National Diploma in Construction. If you’ve started but not yet completed the National Diploma, talk to us about cross crediting to the New Zealand Diploma. This two-year program will equip you with the essential skills and knowledge needed to work in construction management, on both residential and commercial building projects.

It covers the skills required at all stages of building projects, from conception to completion, with an emphasis on building technology, communication and health and safety. Other relevant vocational skills covered include planning, methodology and site management, procurement, programming and financial administration of contracts.

Bachelor of Music covers all the skills and knowledge you need to be a multi-faceted professional musician. It’s built around collaboration - you’ll learn the foundational skills and apply them in group projects and classes that directly mirror the real world of the music industry. The programme focuses on the practical; even the ‘academic’ subjects are taught in a style that relates directly to the practical application of those subjects. More than half the programme content is practical in nature, a higher proportion than most music degrees in New Zealand. With such a focus on the practical, you’re a musician from day one at Ara.

The degree offers three pathways: Music Creation, Music Performance and Music Production. This choice lets you specialise in the area you’re passionate about, while learning alongside and working with musicians from other pathways. Your third-year capstone project allows you to design your own major project with dedicated specialist tutor support.

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 diploma is designed to enable you to apply your leadership and management skills to contribute to the achievements of a business or organisation. It covers business basics including accounting, sales and marketing, human resources and risk management, then focuses on leadership and management aspects of business. This focus will give you the knowledge and skills to be able to plan and manage projects, manage workflow and productivity, improve performance and processes, address sustainability issues, solve problems, take responsibility for key decision making, encourage innovation and recruit, lead and manage staff.

Within graduate diploma you will study all aspects of successful event management; subjects include project management, event planning and management, event logistics and event marketing and sponsorship. You will also get real world experience through team project work during your study.

This programme looks in-depth at a wide range of retail-related areas, with a focus on strategic decision making around the resources used to develop and sustain a high performing retail business. Areas covered include ownership models, channel management, human capital, technology use and adoption, customer experience and merchandising.

You'll learn how to critically evaluate management and marketing concepts in a range of retailing environments; identify and analyse opportunities for improvement; and create strategies for building and sustaining a retail enterprise.