Graduate Diploma in Business Information Systems

at Ara Institute of Canterbury - City Campus New Zealand

The Bachelor of Sustainability and Outdoor Education is the only outdoor education degree in New Zealand that includes sustainability as a major component. It provides a unique combination of theory and practice to ensure you graduate with a sound understanding of contemporary social and cultural issues, geography and sustainability, and a proven capability in outdoor education. It is a broad degree that allows you to tailor your learning to meet the needs of a variety of career aspirations including teaching, conservation, outdoor instruction and guiding.

During your studies, you’ll engage with the natural landscape to develop an in-depth understanding of sustainability, and what it means to our society now and for the future. You’ll explore flora and fauna and consider social geography with the human influences and impacts on our environment including how decisions on land use are made. You’ll also develop your inter-personal skills and learn effective methods for teaching, guiding and helping other people to engage with and respect our spectacular natural environment.

Essential studies include health and wellness, geography, environmental science, professional practices, leadership and safety. These are mixed with elective theory and practical courses to foster your personal strengths and interests. Elective course options include climate change, adventure therapy, M?ori studies and cultural learning as well as adventure pursuits like rock climbing and ropes courses, white water and sea kayaking, surfing and stand-up paddle boarding.

The Bachelor of Construction is designed to equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to work at a high level in the construction industry, as a leader who is able to innovate and contribute to new ways of creating the built environment.

The program starts with an introduction to the knowledge, skills, attributes and academic abilities required of a construction manager or quantity surveyor. You'll gain discipline-specific skills and knowledge, starting with a focus on small domestic buildings then moving on to low-rise and large commercial construction, then heavily serviced, multifaceted projects.

Your year-two project work and assessments will require problem solving, independent research skills and application of cultural approaches and aspects of sustainability. In the third year you'll be required to source and organise technical, project and academic research information, and evaluate, critique and propose well-rationalised solutions.

Human resource management requires a combination of knowledge and people skills. This programme will give you an understanding of both as you cover everything from employment relations and human resource management to communication and organisational behaviour management.

It covers business basics such as communication, human resources, business law, organisational culture, economics, risk management and problem solving, then focuses on human resource aspects of business.

Core skills taught include design strategies, graphics, branding and communication, typography, art direction, drawing and illustration. In addition, students will choose three courses from a range of electives, which will enable them to develop complementary skills in particular areas of interest.

As well as studio courses, students will complete a group of core courses in academic subjects. These include both professional and contextual studies, which will give them developed communication skills, a background in the history and sociology of creative practices, insights into contemporary professional ethics and some business skills.

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 programme aims to develop you as an independent animator/film maker or concept artist. Core skills taught include design strategies, digital drawing, 3D modelling and animation, videography, sound design, post-production, motion graphics and concept art. In addition, you'll choose three courses from a range of electives, which will enable you to develop complementary skills in particular areas of interest.

As well as studio courses, you'll complete a group of core courses in academic subjects. These include both professional and contextual studies, which will give you developed communication skills, a background in the history and sociology of creative practices, insights into contemporary professional ethics and some business skills.

This diploma is designed to enable you to support the operational efficiency and effectiveness of a business or organisation. It covers business basics including accounting, sales and marketing, human resources and risk management, then focuses on administration and technology aspects of business.

This focus will give you the knowledge and skills to be able to plan, organise and manage business administration functions, operations and projects, and to support management. You'll learn how to select, apply and support a broad range of current and emerging business technologies to meet a business's needs, as well as manage, analyse and evaluate administrative systems and processes and recommend improvements. In addition you'll gain skills in problem solving, critical thinking and effective communication.

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.

If you're an aspiring entrepreneur, this specialization will equip you with sound business skills and knowledge to help you kick-start your new business venture. You’ll examine how to establish and maintain a competitive advantage, and you’ll get to study and work alongside real start-up companies in our innovation hub, Te Ohaka.

Flexibility has been built into this degree, allowing you to not only to study part-time, full-time, and/or in the evenings, but to choose two specializations at no extra cost and requiring no additional time. Alternatively, you can personalize your degree by including up to five elective courses (Level 5 and above, equal to 15 credits each) from any subject area of your choosing.

This programme is designed to enable you to perform the vital role that accounting plays across all facets of business. You'll investigate business software options, study up-to-date accounting principles and practices, and learn about risk management, ethics, legislation, economic dynamics, supply and demand, sustainable management and strategies for operational efficiency. HR, sales and marketing, innovation and communication are also covered.

You'll also gain a thorough grounding in financial and management accounting with options to specialise in taxation, business financing, or other aspects of the commercial world that interest you most.