This year, Victoria University of Wellington Women in Tech (VUWWIT) ran its first conference, WITcon. VUWWIT club president Aleisha Amohia shares what the students learnt about hosting a large-scale event—from budgets to hashtags. WITcon organiser and VUWWIT president Aleisha Amohia on stage during 2018 WITcon. The tech industry famously lacks diversity. Women and non-binary folk …
It’s New Zealand Chinese Language Week—a chance to celebrate and discover Chinese language and culture, and increase New Zealanders’ connections with China. Chinese language learner Anna de Boer, who is completing a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Chinese and Sociology at Victoria University of Wellington, shares what’s important to her about studying Chinese, and the …
There’s no better place in Wellington to enjoy the warmth and colours of spring than the Wellington Botanic Garden, which hosts the week-long annual Spring Festival to welcome in the new season. PhD student Huyen Ngyen shares her advice on how you and your family can enjoy the warmer weather without venturing out of the …
Students from Victoria University of Wellington’s Museum and Heritage Studies programme have worked in conjunction with the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, to create an exhibition that explores the social impacts of the First World War. Read more about the experience from Museum and Heritage Studies student Lizzie Callaghan. Whatever the outcome, …
Four students from Victoria Business School joined 35 others from across the world for a Social Economic Enterprise Development programme run by the School of Business Management at the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia. Students from across the world attended the Social Economic Enterprise Development programme, including four students from VBS. Read about the experience …
We know that university open days can be exciting, yet daunting. Student representative and second-year commerce student Liana Allan shares her tips for getting the most out of Victoria University of Wellington’s Open Day. Keep an eye out for Victoria University student representatives carrying our Open Day photo frame—post an Instagram photo of yourself in …
I never thought I would be literally diving head first into my third year of studying science at Victoria University. Yet there I was in Trimester One—fins on feet and mask on face, diving into the Moorea Lagoon in French Polynesia to research marine life as part of an undergraduate marine biology course. An anemone …
Professor Linda Trenberth, Vice-Provost (Academic) at Victoria University, sponsored three students from the Victoria Plus Programme to attend the 2018 Aspiring Leaders’ Forum, held at the end of July. Thomas Fuge, one of the three students who attended, shares his experiences. Attendees at this year’s Aspiring Leaders’ Forum outside Parliament House. This year’s Aspiring Leaders’ …
The University Council’s agreement in principle in late July to simplify the University’s name to ‘University of Wellington’ has set the wider university community into an agitated state, and as a result, I’ve been asked to pen some brief thoughts from a student perspective—I’m one of only 22,000+ students, and so this is a personal …
Architecture student Austin D’Souza attended an architecture conference at the Athens Institute for Education and Research in Greece, engaging with architectural experts and experiencing the country’s rich history. Austin experienced the sites of Athens during his visit to Greece in June, including the ancient Parthenon. Greece, with all its history and interesting sites, is a …
Victoria University is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Victoria International Leadership Programme (VILP) and the Victoria Plus Programme—both designed to recognise our student leaders and their contribution to our local and global community. Earlier this week, we introduced you to Nashie who shared her experience of being involved in VILP. Today, we’re sharing the …
Last week, the Postgraduate Students’ Association (PGSA) hosted its inaugural Cultural Night in The Hub on the Kelburn campus. Students take part in poi demonstrations during PGSA’s inaugural Cultural Night in The Hub. Here’s what Criminology PhD student and PGSA President Jordan Anderson had to say about the event: In the depths of the mid-year …
Victoria University is celebrating the ten-year anniversary of the Victoria International Leadership Programme (VILP) and the Victoria Plus Programme—both designed to recognise our student leaders and their contribution to our local and global community. This week, we’ll introduce you to two students who are completing these leadership programmes and who tell us about what they’ve …
Last week, Konstantina Vasileva—a PhD candidate from the School of Psychology—attended a Research Bazaar (ResBaz) at Victoria University of Wellington, an event designed to build the awareness of digital capability research across the University and Wellington. Read her observations from the two-day event: “Research is formalized curiosity. It is poking and prying with a purpose.”—Zora Neale Hurston …
The warm sunshine of summer is well behind us and now we must face the stark reality of winter and how to combat it. Wellington can seem colder than most, so here are a few city-specific tips that I’ve whipped up to help keep you warm on a budget: Tip #1: Insulate Your flat …
With a high demand for rental properties in Wellington, finding a place to live can be difficult, and finding a place to rent when you have a small family can be even harder. As a parent who has experience searching for a place to call home for my daughter after we arrived to Wellington from …
As a student, healthy money habits are essential for looking out for yourself both now and in the future. I’ve put together some simple daily tips, based on my own experience managing money while studying, on how to keep your budget on track. Plan ahead and plan smart To help manage your weekly or …
In the right-hand corner of The Hub, we had students. In the left-hand corner, we had staff. But at the end of the staff and student showdown, everyone went home a winner. Members of the staff and student panels discuss a range of questions at the showdown event, facilitated by Professor Marc Wilson. This …
It’s been five years since I found myself quitting my high-paying job in Manila, the Philippines, to move to New Zealand. Geo (second from right) and members of Buklod, the Victoria University Filipino Students Association, during Clubs Week 2018. Although my family had already been living in New Zealand for six years, this was still …
When Evans Tan moved to Wellington last year from Singapore to study at Victoria University, the support of his kiwi buddy, organised through the Victoria International Buddy Programme, helped him settle into life in a new country and culture—now he’s returning the favour. Evans (second from left) and friends from the Victoria International Buddy Programme …
Student Simone Blaylock visited City Gallery Wellington Te Whare Toi to experience This Is New Zealand, the gallery’s current exhibition that explores the relationship between art and our national identity. “Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life,” says Picasso, and I discovered that nowhere in Wellington captures this sentiment quite like City Gallery …
Last month, successful entrepreneur and Victoria University alumna, Kati Kasza, shared valuable advice to a diverse group of students, entrepreneurs and working professionals as the first fireside chat guest speaker of 2018. Professor Stephen Cummings and Kati Kasza at the fireside chat at Victoria Business School. Fireside chats, hosted by Professor Stephen Cummings, the Director …
There’s no getting away from it—the best jobs most often come from word-of-mouth. By word-of-mouth, I don’t necessarily mean from close friends or family. It can come from colleagues, lecturers, tutors, the corner dairy owner, ministers, shop assistants, friends of friends, people you might meet at a conference, a social event, even someone you meet …
One of the perennial favourites of the Wellington winter calendar is back and better than ever, lighting up the city’s waterfront. The LUX Light Festival is running from Friday 18 to Sunday 27 May, from 6 until 10pm daily, transforming Wellington’s waterfront into a captivating performance of light and design. This year features a new …
Most New Zealanders live near the sea, so there’s a widely held view that everyone should learn to swim. Yet most New Zealanders live in even closer proximity to data, and relatively few know how to navigate it safely, to harness its power or to enjoy its benefits. That needs to change. You’ve almost certainly …
This is one of the questions often asked by students who visit Careers and Employment service. The answer is: It depends. Sorry, that’s probably not want you want to hear. It’s just that there are a lot of variables to finding work, from your employability to what influences your career decisions. We know some things …
Nothing signals the beginning of autumn like the end of daylight saving. The days are shorter, the air is cooler and filled with the scent of damp earth and wood smoke. Autumn also means winter is just around the corner, bringing increases to food prices and a reduced selection of local produce. With the seasonal …
Most international students will know the strange feeling that comes with arriving in a new country. You suddenly realise that you’ve left your home behind, and you’re no longer accustomed to the behaviors and culture of the people around you. But this culture shock isn’t something to stress about. As an international student who arrived …
Student Connie Brown recently visited Victoria’s on-campus gallery, Adam Art Gallery Te Pātaka Toi. This was where she experienced the first large-scale solo exhibition in a New Zealand public gallery by Luke Willis Thompson—a London-based artist—who alongside his earlier work premiered his latest work, How Long?. Luke Willis Thompson, How long?, 2018, 16mm colour negative …
It’s Student Volunteer Week—Victoria University will be celebrating the many volunteers who make a difference in our community, and encouraging students to give volunteering a go. Read Ankita Parmar’s student volunteer story. When I first arrived at Victoria University in March 2017 from India, I didn’t know anyone. I was on the lookout for a …
Student Natashka Wiszniewska spent time wandering through Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa’s new art gallery, Toi Art, and discovered that whether you’re an art buff or a gallery novice, the museum’s new gallery has something for everyone. After months of being closed for renovations, Te Papa’s dedicated gallery section has reopened as Toi …
Do you dream of living abroad? Of listening to people talking in their native language and being able to casually insert yourself into their conversation, taking them by surprise? Then this blog post about my experiences travelling and learning three languages is for you! As someone who had always dreamed of travelling, the idea …
You’ve just arrived in New Zealand. You don’t know where you should stay, you haven’t made friends yet, have no family nearby and your English is not excellent. How can you make sure you still keep up with your classmates? As a student who arrived at Victoria in April last year from Vietnam, I thought …
Victoria has some very well run student support programmes, which require high quality student leaders to step up to deliver services and be prepared to work hard to help their peers. The leaders need integrity, excellent communication skills and resilience but perhaps the most important quality is empathy. This reminds me of Simon Sinek’s book …
Starting university is a double-edged sword. On one hand you are excited about all the perks of moving away, studying somewhere new or learning new things. And on the other hand, you’re terrified that university may not be what you thought it would be. We can all agree that this can be a daunting experience, …
Last month, my nine-year old daughter and I joined the 6.5km fun run/walk in the annual ‘Round the Bays’ event. When we met a friend with her boy at Frank Kitts Park, she said she would happily walk with the kids while I ran the course. I hadn’t trained at all, but how hard could …
Here in the Careers team, we call this month “March madness”. There are opportunities for students to meet potential employers every day if they want to, which we know can be overwhelming! The good news is—we’ve done it before. We’re here to answer your questions and guide you through these crazy weeks, so come and …
Starting, or returning, to student life at Victoria is exciting. There’s always a buzz on campus with students beginning the academic year full of hope and expectation. But we know there’s also a period of adjustment regardless of whether you’re a first year or returning student, and the pressure ramps up quickly with a full …
Wellington is overflowing with so much culture and so much life, day in and day out. But nothing speaks more to a university student’s constant longing-for-a-caffeine-fix heart than the unbelievable coffee culture. An integral part of the city’s culture and recognised worldwide with CNN even naming it one of the top eight international coffee destinations! …
On behalf of Victoria’s leadership team—welcome. To those of you who are here for the first time—congratulations on your excellent enrolment choice! You and the 22,000 other students who study here will enjoy a wonderful period in your lives and the education you receive here will stand you in good stead for your future careers …
By now you should have seen your timetable. If not I suggest you login to myVictoria. Under the ‘My Study’ tab you will find your personalised ‘my lecture timetable’. Great! So you’ve seen your timetable, but what’s wrong with it? Free time is not so free School timetables are both great and terrible. Every minute …
On Wednesday 14 February, Te Toki a Rata (TTR), Victoria’s new pride and joy, was officially opened. This building (all $100 million of it) provides some 12,500m2 of new scientific teaching, research, and open-office space. Don’t get me wrong, the citrus-orange floors and sauna-esc stairwells of the New Kirk building facilitated countless passing discussions that …
Use this to understand how you can make your university experience that much easier from an RA’s point of view (Yay!). This post covers what your RA can do for you, how to study smart, not hard and how to make friends (bye-bye wikihow). The best piece of advice I ever got as a student …
Do you have a burning desire to tell the world about something cool you’ve been doing at Victoria? Got any top tips on university life that you think your fellow students need to know? Here’s a chance to showcase your writing skills, get rewarded for sharing your view and provide useful information for other students! …
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