Master of Applied Finance programme postgraduate SME meeting on 25/05/2016

Michael Keefe – Programme Director

Rachel Zhang – Senior Administrator

Paul, Jane and Nick

Nick's notes

Staircasing

Michael doesn't like the term.

Not keen on promoting staircasing as way of testing out a programme. Feels students should match the qualification they enroll in with their objective at the beginning.

Entry requirements are the same for all qualifications in the family.

Domestic: 1/2 start with the diploma

International: Mainly master's

Michael is keen on a clear structure to the programme. Prefers to start all students off in trimester 1, especially international students. Domestic students tend to work while they study so he lets them start any time.

The pitch the family/suite of qualifications together.

They don't promote the exit option

Entry

Generally only admit people with work experience

Doesn't take NZ accountancy graduates - they're directed to Honours

Marketing/key messages

Estimates that 90% of students recruited by word of mouth - their boss did the course and told them to do it

Wants to attract people with aptitude to become a quant (quantitative analyst): analytically minded math heads bored with computer science, engineering, physics, maths, stats

It's a rigorous programme - "you're going to learn" - doesn't want to sugar coat things

Can help you get jobs overseas - career boost locally and globally

Finance and economics explain how the world works

Students

International

2/3 of this year's intake

Full-time for visa

2 types:

1. Here to study then head back home - often Southeast Asian, sent by their company or government
2. Here to stay - often from China or India and want to get a job

A good chunk of international students come via NZAid 

Michael said VI "do a great job" - no issues with who answers which sort of questions

Domestic

Used to make up a greater proportion. Course designed for them but now needs to accommodate the international majority.

Usually post-experience and working while studying

Common questions

What are my job prospects?

Questions about internships - he tells them to get onto finding an internship early

Internationals - what are the requirements?

Course delivery modes

Weekly classes and block release (contact hours are concentrated in two distinct blocks of time per course, with considerable initial preparation done by the student)

Michael would like to drop the block release approach because it can cause problems, especially for international students, if the initial preparation is on the wrong track.

He does see advantages to block release:

it lets the school get in good guest lecturers from overseas and/or the industry (who can only do it if the contact is brief)

it builds camaraderie/community