In an interview with The Brand Education, Professor Guy Littlefair, Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs and Head of Design and Creative Technology at Auckland University of Technology (AUT), spoke about how he led the team to overcome the social issues commonly faced by universities today and the multiple initiatives he has taken to meet the needs of the various stakeholders in the university.
As the backbone of society, universities have always been subjected to multiple external pressures and influences. As we all know, in recent years, as the impact of COVID-19 continues and cultural changes deepen, so has the pressures facing universities. Against this backdrop, education sectors around the world have adapted to help their countries and their people better grasp new opportunities and challenges.
Today, change is everywhere. The same is true of New Zealand.
Auckland University of Technology (AUT) has responded proactively, taking multiple initiatives to meet the needs of students and stakeholders.
Guy Littlefair and his team look at the big picture and plan carefully to make AUT a model for contemporary educational practice. But when the pandemic hit, both the original vision and concept were challenged.
"In 2017, we developed a mature and feasible strategic plan that everyone can participate in and benefit from, but the actual results are very different from the original idea. Today, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, everything has quietly changed, including increasing the proportion of international students and postgraduate students and improving educational equity. Therefore, as a higher education institution, we still have a lot of work to solve, and as a leadership team, we urgently need to be ready to face the challenge. Guy Littlefair said.
With the closure of borders around the world, the demand for international study in New Zealand has been greatly affected, and the number of international students applying for doctoral, bachelor's and master's degree programs has decreased by 5.8%, 20% and 18% respectively compared with the same period. For AUT, the impact is far more far-reaching and has far exceeded school expectations.
Guy Littlefair notes, "As a popular study abroad destination, the number of international students in Australia and New Zealand is there for all to see. In 2019, the proportion of international students at some universities even exceeded 30%. However, the sharp decline in the number of international students has had a significant impact not only on the school itself, but also on the city in which the school is located. Tuition fees for international students are usually three times that of local students. Located in the bustling heart of Auckland, AUT's downtown campus frequents and generates significant revenue from local supermarkets, restaurants and restaurants. There are also many international students working in the local service industry, which has been affected by the significant decline in the number of international students, and it is currently difficult for employers to recruit enough employees. ”
For the purpose of protecting cultural diversity and promoting local economic development, Guy Littlefair and his team urgently need to fundamentally adjust their admissions strategy to maintain a relatively stable international student population in the short term, and further effective admissions initiatives are needed to promote a steady increase in the number of international students in the long term.
Guy Littlefair said, "Whether it's for the school or the city, we are desperate for international students to be able to return to school as soon as possible. Currently, we focus our intake on international high school graduates within New Zealand. There are many international students enrolled in local high schools in New Zealand, and most of them travel to the UK, the US, Canada or Australia to complete their university studies after graduation. We are actively changing our admissions strategy and investing a lot of effort in in-depth communication with international students who are currently studying in high school, encouraging them to stay in New Zealand after high school to continue their university studies, rather than returning home or traveling to other countries. In addition, AUT will work on establishing dedicated representative offices in China, India and other parts of Southeast Asia. This is where we're headed, because we know that only by being well versed in the local culture, familiar with the local language, and deeply involved in local life can we truly integrate into the local area and bring us extraordinary changes. ”
For Guy Littlefair, changing with the times and going with the flow has long since become commonplace. Under the epidemic situation, he has the courage to face difficulties, always put the interests of students first, and opened online virtual classes for students pursuing technical courses under the premise of ensuring the quality of online teaching.
Guy Littlefair said, "Some universities in New Zealand have set up study abroad centres based on existing partners. AUT did not follow blindly, but responded to the impact of the epidemic by running a large number of online courses and provided students with a full range of online support services. But this is not a long-term solution, and it is difficult to solve the long-term impact of the epidemic once and for all. AUT is a polytechnic institution that offers most of its courses with a strong practical nature. Through this "epidemic", we must learn from it, actively explore new teaching models, and strive to create a high-quality educational experience. When the epidemic improves and students have more time to study in school, we must find the best balance between online and offline, and even students who like to study offline can benefit from online courses and online resources. Last year, the sudden total lockdown seriously disrupted the learning and lives of many students. Some students are unable to participate effectively in online learning due to the lack of online learning equipment, and we do our best to provide all students with the necessary support and do our best to meet the urgent needs of each student. We also provide financial support to some students who are struggling with their inability to obtain loans. AUT will continue to provide full support to students from different communities. ”
Despite the serious challenges posed by the pandemic, Guy Littlefair has chosen to face some long-standing social problems. Diversity and prioritizing the needs of Aucklandites and New Zealanders has always been at the heart of AUT's mission.
Guy Littlefair said, "Often, the diversity of the top management team and board does not reflect well the true situation of the various interest groups in the school. Having said that, I'm a firm believer that there is a good sense of the diversity gap between management and the student body. Auckland is a very diverse city with both wealthy communities and poor areas. AUT is an inclusive university and we deliberately encourage students who would not normally consider higher education to study on campus. We strive to create inclusive excellence and always be inclusive in our pursuit of excellence. As Vice-Chancellor for International Affairs, I meet monthly with Student Council representatives and heads of Student Services to respond to positives, challenges and existing issues. ”
AUT's excellence in diversity, blended learning and admissions strategies enables students to stand out in a competitive job market. Guy Littlefair draws on his extensive experience in academia and business to help students acquire core and transferable skills to seize opportunities in the constant evolution of work and business.
Guy Littlefair said, "I've noticed that the pace of change today is getting faster. Although we will optimize and adjust some of the courses that have been opened for a long time, it is difficult to meet the actual needs of the current development of the industry. Nowadays, more and more employers are looking for compound skilled talents, and the integration of education and skills has become urgent. For many years, the job market has been very competitive, which requires universities to actively develop courses that adapt to market needs and meet the realities of the industry. Where do employers look for people who can drive their businesses and meet their skills needs? Looking for it from among graduates, of course. AUT is exploring a blend of knowledge and skills to develop models that not only provide a first-class university education, but also support excellence in skills training. ”