Nelson’s leading tertiary education provider is readying its students for the next wave of tech innovation under the guidance of a globally experienced AI specialist who is supercharging the capabilities of the school’s IT and Computing programme.
Ali Kahwaji, an IT tutor in Digital Technologies at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology (NMIT), spent many years working in the tech sector across all corners of the globe – from being a Senior Software Developer in Iraq to a Researcher at the National University of Malaysia. However, it was a move to Nelson that set a new career path in motion.
Originally from Iraq, Kahwaji’s family emigrated to the US in the 1980s and once leaving school, he travelled, worked and lived in the Middle East, Southeast Asia.
Coming from an academic family – both his parents are professors – Kahwaji knew he always wanted to teach and the opportunity came about when he and his wife (who was from New Zealand) moved to Nelson in 2018.
After starting his position at NMIT in 2019, he found the role developed into a lot more than he bargained for – but in the best way possible.
“In 2019, my students decided to build a platform, called the Nelson IT Student Association, that would connect those studying with the tech industry, to help with job prospects after graduating. And of course I wanted this too, but for me it went one step further,” he says.
“I was keen to foster partnerships that would keep a young, talented demographic in Nelson, so we didn’t lose them to the bigger cities, or overseas,” explains Kahwaji.
With plenty of buzz and attention surrounding the platform, the initial set-up was a success and Kahwaji saw greater numbers of students and graduates being hired by the IT industry. Then, the CEO from industry body IT Professionals NZ reached out, asking to use it as a pilot across the country and taking a graduate student with it, establishing the position of National Student Coordinator, who was a part-time development lead within their existing student platform.
Kahwaji was rapt by this turn of events and it spurred him on to consider other ways in which he could continue to develop these kinds of connections.
“Moving forward, I saw this as bridging of trust between the tech industry and IT students, and more specifically, my school,” he says.
“So now we’ve held multiple tech weeks and through feedback from our IT advisory board with representatives from Datacom, Shuttlerock, Tasman District Council and Nelson Ports, to name a few. It has allowed us to build a better prospectus offering, with real-world preparation for students before they graduate.”
Proud of the solid relationship that has been forged between the institute and IT companies and organisations, Kahwaji has seen greater numbers of students going from work placements to paid internships and full-time positions after they graduate.
“What we are aiming for is retention of these young people here in Nelson, rather than them moving away and starting life from scratch in other places,” says Kahwaji.
Source: #nzenterpreneur, Story by Erin Harrison in partnership with Nelson Regional Development Agency (NRDA)
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