Master of Information Management programme postgraduate SME meeting on 31/05/2016
Jocelyn Cranefield – Programme director
Usha Varatharaju – Senior Administrator
Paul, Jane and Nick
Nick's notes
Background
They have to react to rapid technological change, and resulting changes in the job market.
This means their key messages change.
What the course offers
The place where IT and management meet
Like MBA, it's a management qualification
It teaches students models, frameworks they can use to understand, diagnose and solve problems
It helps people move into leadership roles, more strategic roles
It's interactive, e.g. involves seminars
They get to do consulting opportunity (research in/for an organisation)
Produces people with modern IT management skills in areas like:
- analytics
- data
- cloud
- security
- dealing with rapid change (agility - a good word to use in the content)
- managing IT-related change
- digital strategies (people are looking for the word digital - use it in content)
Taught in the evening and weekends
What you learn from your peers while studying is 'massive' (some of the internationals have amazing CVs/experience)
You also build connections/networks with them
And you build connections in business - the school facilitates/opens doors
Wellington attracts internationals because of logistics - it's compact, easy to get around
They run dual venue classes. The lecturers alternate between Wellington and Auckland and the classroom without the lecturer gets a feed
The term 'professional' resonates for students
Auckland
They offer the degree in Auckland
It's a large market and there's no competing degree
In Auckland they're also marketing to employers
In Auckland the school is close to Britomart and has parking for a $1 a day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Students
They get some CIOs, along with engineers, testers
Many apply at 29, 39, 49 - they're "doing it for themselves" - it sounds like they see it as a personal growth opportunity as well as professional
Domestic
Very few domestic students study full-time, most study while they work
They usually study part-time - 2 courses
Employer support is ad hoc
Getting employers on board to help their staff do the programme is a recruitment opportunity
International
5 international out of 25
They have a new recruitment channel in India
1 or 2 international students each intake have issues with the English that mean they fail (they try to manage them out with a certificate)
Common questions
What counts as full-time study?
Full-time it really needs 5 trimesters - some students try to do 4 courses a trimester but tend to find it too hard so drop back to 3
How soon can I finish (studying part-time)
Confused because of the name of the programme (they're keen to stuff in the word digital)
Family/nesting etc
Nobody wants a certificate, it's an exit qualification
Some students test the water via the PG Dip
Jocelyn prefers the term 'stepping stone'
She thinks there's a market for hooking people in do individual courses for a Certificate of Proficiency