New Zealand is an excellent study destination for Sri Lankan students keen to study abroad. It is home to a strong Sri Lankan community and has for the second year in a row been voted the world's most peaceful destination. In another recent global survey its largest city, Auckland, was again ranked one of the top five cities in the world to live in.

Upul Herath

There is no doubt that if you are looking for a safe, friendly environment as well as educational excellence, then New Zealand should be at the top of your list. Tim Cullinane, Managing Director of private training provider New Zealand Management Academies (NZMA) has recently returned from a visit to Sri Lanka.

"I enjoyed my time there enormously. It is such a beautiful country," said Mr Cullinane. "I believe hospitality and business skills are going to be of the utmost importance as Sri Lanka rebuilds itself. For those looking to study abroad, NZMA offers excellent internationally recognised programmes in both these fields. It is a high quality organisation that gives you the flexibility to stay on in New Zealand, continue your studies through NZMA's pathways to other English-speaking countries or return home to Sri Lanka to put your training into action."

The New Zealand-owned tertiary institute offers internationally recognised business and hospitality qualifications approved by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA). It also has its own English language school, Fern School of English, so you will be able to study alongside students from a wide range of countries such as Spain, Turkey, South America and other Asian destinations.

NZMA's business courses are recognised by universities in New Zealand, Australia, USA and UK. The qualifications are UK-based and they have been accredited by NZQA so students graduate with two qualifications - one from UK and one from New Zealand. The programmes allow work options while studying as well as graduate work permits on successful completion.

Students aiming to move into degree-level studies are well catered for at NZMA. Our business programme boasts excellent pathways both within New Zealand and abroad. Level 6 Business Diploma graduates have guaranteed entry into the second year of the Manukau Institute of Technology's Bachelor of Business Programme as well as pathways into degree-level business studies at the University of Waikato. In the international arena, we have partnerships with many universities including UK's University College of Birmingham (UCB) giving our Advanced Business Diploma graduates direct entry into the final year of UCB's BA (Hons) Business Enterprise programme.

Another popular course for our international students is the National Diploma in Hospitality Management. The comprehensive two-year programme is highly practical and well respected by hospitality employers. You can also gain the globally recognised City & Guilds Diploma in Food and Beverage Service when you complete our national diploma so you come away with a more diverse range of industry skills and two international diplomas for the price of one! For those intent on pursuing an international career in hospitality, it's a winning combination.

There is no doubt that NZMA is highly respected amongst employers. We hold regular industry functions to showcase our students to potential employers and have set up industry advisory boards to ensure our courses continue to deliver what the workforce needs. In addition, NZMA has developed industry partnerships with a huge range of employers, who are quick to hire NZMA graduates because they are confident they will have the level of skills and knowledge required to be successful.

The quality of our training was highlighted last year when we became one of the first private training providers in the country to be granted a four-year audit cycle from NZQA. In the past, the maximum audit cycle NZQA granted was three years (which NZMA consistently received) however as part of a new initiative, educational organisations which part icularly impress evaluators can now be granted the full four years between audits.

But it is not just top-quality courses that NZMA focuses on. We are very supportive of our students. We understand that many of them have moved here from overseas and face a myriad of challenges as they adapt to a new country and a new culture. Our Sri Lankan students can feel confident that we at NZMA know just how they are feeling when they first arrive - two of our senior staff members are Sri Lankan and they themselves have been through the process of immigrating and settling here. They are always there to offer support, advice, and share their experiences with our Sri Lankan students.

NZMA places a very strong emphasis on employment. We have our own recruitment service, Redfish, which is 100 per cent committed to helping NZMA students and graduates obtain relevant employment. The team at Redfish do everything from assisting students with interview and CV preparation to bringing in employers for seminars and holding career open days. They even have an Internship Manager who will find internships (largely unpaid) for our students in order to help them gain work experience in their chosen field.

NZMA's Market Manager for Sri Lanka, Shaun Gear, says by choosing to study at NZMA, international students can be assured of not only an excellent education but also a fantastic all-round experience and a bright future. "The welcoming and supportive family feeling here at NZMA is wonderful for Sri Lankan students, as a journey so far from home can often appear daunting," he said.

"Everybody in the NZMA family ensures that any questions or concerns are dealt with straight away. There are class activities and visits to help understand what life and work is like in New Zealand."
Representatives from NZMA will be visiting Sri Lanka again in mid August. For more information about their visit or the programmes on offer at NZMA please email Mr Gear at shaun.gear@nzma.ac.nz or phone 64 9 309 7802. Or check out our website www.nzma.ac.nz. Sri Lankan representatives Beverley International NZ Ltd,0112 576 656. www.beverleyint.com