Southern Institute of Technology has seen a noticeable increase in the number of MFAT (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade) scholarship students from Pacific Island nations choosing to come to the deep south for their studies this year.
Sam Sala, SIT’s MFAT Coordinator, believes scholarship students, especially from the Pacific region, come from increased recognition and establishing the name of SIT as a suitable option. “Generally we only get one or two scholars per year, but this year we have seven,” he said.
The seven students are from Papua New Guinea, Tonga and Vanuatu. They are studying a range of qualifications including business, accounting, pre entry health science and hospitality management.
The Manaaki Scholarships are for high- achieving students from specific developing nations to undertake undergraduate or postgraduate study, while the MFAT short-term scholarships are for study that is one year or less, focussing on a specific skill set or acquisition.
Pacific eligible countries are The Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji (postgraduate only), Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.
Mr Sala says the students take part in international student orientation and receive all the information they need about SIT and what’s required from them whilst studying.
His role is to also help the students connect with the Pacific community in Invercargill working with the Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust.
“Making those connections with them, and making myself available to the students as often as I can,” supports them while adjusting to life here.”
MFAT scholar, Jude Brown, has come from Vanuatu to study a New Zealand Diploma in Hospitality Management (Level 6) at SIT. Mr Brown says he’s been well supported by SIT tutors and staff and thinks the student accommodation is great.
He’s also discovered the joys of the city’s green spaces. “The parks are wonderful with beautiful scenery, where you can visit and unwind after a long day in class.”
Compared to the tropical heat of home, not surprisingly, New Zealand Diploma in Business Studies (Accounting strand) student Ranche Tago, from PNG, says the hardest adjustment in living here has been the weather.
“Though the sun is up, it’s very cold, then suddenly it turns to be windy or it rains,” she said, but it hasn’t stopped her from exploring the south. A highlight was travelling from Invercargill to the Catlins, then to Waipapa point, where she witnessed sea lions coming up on the sea shore to bask in the sunshine.
Mr Sala hopes to see more inquiries from the Pacific region and further increases in the numbers, when the current group of students return home and share their SIT experiences with their communities.
