New students have been welcomed to the Future Skills whānau on orientation day. In a moving ceremony, the learners were called into the café area of the Manukau campus for the first time. A traditional mihi, call, and response took place. Waiata (songs) and welcoming speeches followed.
Group CEO Sam Alavi has told the students staff are here to make sure their learning path is a successful journey. “But you are up for some hard work, some challenge and some stretching at the end of which you’ll be stronger for it,” he says. “You’ll be able to make bigger contributions than you do now to your community. There are many opportunities for the graduates of the programmes that we offer. Welcome.”
The learners met their tutors and academic leaders by touching elbows to follow Covid-19 protocols. A campus tour and a class induction ensued.