WHO WE ARE
This website is a project undertaken by the Waikato
Institute of Technology, Hamilton City Council, Waikato Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Incorporated and WaiNet a Waikato 2020 Communications Trust initiative. The
focus of the project was to develop a series of on-line, interactive
sessions that begin to explore a number of different cultures, teach
simple foreign phrases and provide tips and tricks for intercultural
communication. The project is also a means of enabling
different ethnic communities in the Waikato region to share their
stories and their culture with the people of the Waikato, New Zealand
and globally.
It is envisaged that this website it will be accessed by a wide
range of people such as industry, government agencies, social services,
schools and the general public.
In addition to the time and effort put in by the various project
partners, the project was partially-funded by the Department of Internal
Affairs through its Digital Strategy Community Partnership Funding
pool.
 Waikato
Institute of Technology (Wintec)
The Waikato Institute of Technology is a public
tertiary education provider based in Hamilton, offering top-quality
education and practical career-focussed training at its three campuses
in Hamilton and its satellite campuses in Te Kuiti, Thames and Auckland. There
are approximately 15,000 full- and part-time students enrolled
in over 150 programmes at different levels, from Foundation to
Master’s, in Nursing, Midwifery, Media Arts, Business, Accounting,
Catering, Hospitality, Information Technology, Plumbing, Gasfitting,
Construction, Joinery, Automotives, Sport and Exercise Science,
Maori & Pasifika Studies, Science, Veterinary Science, Radio
Broadcasting, Marketing, Public Relations, English language and
much more
In its mission to “build a stronger community through education,
research and career development,” Wintec is committed to promoting
and encouraging cross-cultural communication, international projects,
import and export activities, and community pride. As the lead
organisation in this web-based intercultural project, Wintec hopes
to achieve these goals and share its vision with the people of the
Waikato, of Aotearoa New Zealand and of the world.
School of English Language at Wintec
Within Wintec, the School of English Language came
up with the idea for the web-based intercultural project and is responsible
for completion of the project.
The School of English Language is a portal
to both Wintec and the greater community for permanent residents,
refugees and Full-Fee Paying International Students from a wide
variety of countries.
In its desire to become a national centre of excellence for English
for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) education, the School of English
Language works collaboratively with a variety of ethnic community
groups, government agencies, not for profit agencies, service groups,
industry, international student agents and other educational institutions
to:
- recognize each student as an individual to be valued, with strengths
to offer and needs to be catered for
- increase the language and literacy skills of our students,
- bridge Non-English Speaking Background students into further
tertiary study
- prepare students with the literacy, language
and intercultural communication skills to gain employment within
a New Zealand and in a global context
- develop skilled new New Zealanders who possess the confidence
and cultural understanding to participate in and contribute positively
to a changing New Zealand society.
This journey is characterised by the School’s
commitment to facilitate access to learning by making programmes
as flexible as possible through the use of ICT, multimedia and
on-line resources; special interest topics; academic, vocational
and survival language options; part-time and full-time study options;
community-based classes; and supported learning pathways into mainstream
studies.
The School of English Language
also recognises that through its interaction with industry and
the community, it has a responsibility to promote intercultural
communication, awareness and acceptance. This
web-based intercultural project is one of a variety of examples of
how this responsibility is expressed.
The ASSETT Centre at Wintec - Academic Staff Support for Ecellence
in Teaching and Technology
The ASSETT Centre has provided the web development services for this project.
The ASSETT Centre was established to assist learners and educators move easily into the digital age. It now operates to sustain that movement.
Wintec uses the learning management system Moodle.
As leaders in online teaching and learning as well as emerging teaching and social interaction technologies, the Centre advises and supports Wintec staff. They help staff keep abreast of the rapid uptake of technologies that include text and video messaging and web logs (blogs). They also assist staff to work with online communities and to use a variety of Internet services. The Centre's staff includes; instructional designers, researchers, academics, multi media designers, graphic artists, web designers, programmers, web masters and admin people - all concerned with eLearning.
The ASSETT Centre's core services include:
eLearning
- professional development
- online module design
- content development
- technical support
- research.
By advising staff on the best instructional methods to use when using technology for teaching and learning they support staff to develop successful online modules. They encourage the use of well planned interactive multimedia, audio and video for use online and in the classroom.
Emerging technologies
- investigation and advice
- project partners.
Experience in the investigation of emerging technologies such as learning management systems (LMS) and object repositories, make the ASSETT Centre ideal partners for your learning technology projects.
Audio Visual
Research
The Centre supports staff who wish to carry out research relating to eLearning and emergent technologies.
 Community
Development Section at the Hamilton City Council
The aim of the Community Development section
is to make a difference in the community by ensuring that community
strength and well-being is fostered through the provision of a
diverse range of programmes and services that meet identified community
needs. Its Ethnic
Development Advisor promotes and enhances the social, cultural and
economic well-being of ethnic communities, promotes awareness of
cultural diversity, co-ordinates and enhances existing services for
migrants and assists in the development of further services to migrants
in Hamilton though building strong relationships with ethnic communities,
service providers, education providers and industry.
 Waikato
Chamber of Commerce and Industry Incorporated
The Waikato Chamber of Commerce influences
and inspires the Waikato business community by providing opportunities,
products and services that will improve the success and vitality
of business in our region. These
opportunities we provide come in various guises such as: advocacy
to local government on issues affecting business, surveys, and legislation
updates. Each year we provide dozens of networking and training
opportunities, trade shows, and expos which support business or showcase
business excellence such as the Business Excellence Awards. These
opportunities also include access to professional services, advertising
and marketing offers, business mentoring, financial savings on products,
and an extensive website with hundreds of “how to” business
solutions.
 WaiNet - a Waikato 2020 Communications Trust initiative
WaiNet is an electronic community network intended to provide access, support and training to community groups and people in the Waikato area. It is a project of the Waikato 2020 Communications Trust.
It offers free hosting for Waikato Community Groups' websites. If your community group is interested in free web hosting and free web development, register with them, or contact them.
WaiNet also provides access to information about a wide variety of community groups in the Waikato region. |
