At NZIE, we have students from various backgrounds who come to study the Diploma in Digital Marketing.
Such as:
- Business owners looking to learn how to better their marketing
- Marketing professionals who want to upskill and
- University graduates who are looking to get their foot into the digital marketing industry
We got the chance to pick two of our students’ brains about their experience at university and at NZIE:
What University Did You Study at And What Did You Study There?
Joshua Kim: I studied at The University of Auckland. I did a Bachelor of Commerce degree double majoring in Marketing & Information Systems.
Tamarua Payne: I studied at The University of Auckland. I did a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Sociology and Film, Media and Television.
How Was Your Experience at University?
Joshua Kim: For the first year of university I lived in a student hall of residence, O’rorke, for a year. Quite handy for two reasons. Easier to make it to class as Uni would just be a 5 min walk away. It was easier to make a lot of good friends from different backgrounds. In terms of academic experience, the lectures were large, with many students. Commerce, in general, is a very popular study option.
Tamarua Payne: Overall, University was a highly rewarding experience. I made many memories, memories that serve to shape the person I am today. It also provided me with a critical toolset to discern and engage with my everyday experiences. In saying that, it came with its share of challenges. From late night assignment crunches to crippling existential crises threatening to derail my university career. In truth, I experienced university in a time of high change; at least that was the case for me. My boundaries expanded a lot outside of university. As I grew and matured, this had an impact on my university career. However, the two were in a symbiotic relationship. University influenced my world views, and my experiences shaped my interpretation of university. I guess I’m trying to say that I’m different from the young 19-year-old, who first began his university journey in 2015.
What Did You Enjoy About University?
Joshua Kim: I enjoyed the $5 vegan lunches. I enjoyed the co-curricular communities that you could get involved with. E.g. rock climbing club, investing club, Taekwondo club. I enjoyed that it was next to Albert Park, a brief but refreshing getaway from academia stresses.
Tamarua Payne: I thoroughly enjoyed learning new concepts that expanded my worldview. Knowledge truly is power. In that being able to understand the constructs around, you enable you to better engage with your world. The more clearly, we can see, the greater our exposure to new opportunities.
What Did You Dislike About University?
Joshua Kim: I disliked how the large class sizes prevented a lot of direct engagement with the lecturer. This sometimes consequently reflected in my accountability for studying and keeping up with the workload. But you could say that it speaks more about me than the university.
Tamarua Payne: Prefacing my statement, I must say that this will be specific to my personal experiences at the UOA. I disliked the monotonous nature of lectures. PowerPoints that failed to engage large swathes of students, distracted in a world saturated by content. The university structure was too rigid and contained, with many students, unfortunately, falling to the wayside.
What Made You Decide to Do the Digital Marketing Diploma At NZIE? And What Are You Trying to Achieve with The Digital Marketing Diploma?
Joshua Kim: I had a very sale orientated background since 15 making sales at Hannahs. I went onto do Real Estate Sales at Ray White City Realty just before joining the course at NZIE. I also studied at the University of Auckland, doing Marketing and Information Systems. However, I wanted to learn more practical marketing skills. I found a lot of the course is theoretical and filled with academic research. I also thought the course had very little direct application and use for work experience. I would eventually like to use the skills I develop at NZIE to promote my own online movement arts academy. Also, to promote my father’s fine art, who had struggled to integrate into the NZ art community coming from South Korea.
Tamarua Payne: While university instilled me with critical tools to engage and understand my world, having studied Art. I lacked the practical skills required to succeed from the get-go from a business perspective. Businesses hire if you are a prospect that can add value to them. I realised that the future is digital, and it’s essential to train now to leverage digital assets in the future. Digital Marketing has so many avenues for work, it is an exciting field. I’m hoping to land a job as a digital marketer upon graduation. However, it is already providing me with the tools to support the community around me. Such as being able to promote my friends’ and families’ business ideas.
How Would You Describe Your Experience at NZIE So Far? And How Does Your Experience at NZIE Compare to University?
Joshua Kim: I’ve found NZIE quite intimate and engaging as the institute’s class sizes and general size is much smaller. NZIE also has a tight-knit family, community vibe. I have found this positive as I have freely asked many questions and connected with many of my class students. Staff, in general, have been very warm and seem to have an open-door policy, which is nice.
Tamarua Payne: The experience has been positive. From the powhiri, we received to welcome our class, to the close attention we receive from our tutors and the support staff. NZIE has a communal feel. There is a lot of support and collaboration amongst class members, which is awesome.
Is the Digital Marketing Diploma Meeting Your Expectations So Far?
Joshua Kim: Yes. One key thing of learning a course is applying it in work experience afterward, whether that be internships or working. For example, the NZIE team managed to help me find an internship opportunity within a month of my first class.
Tamarua Payne: Yes, there has been a steep learning curve for me, having never engaged with digital marketing. I have learned a lot of information in the past 5 weeks. It has exceeded my expectations, giving us access to businesses and people working in the industry.
In Your Opinion, Would You Recommend the Digital Marketing Diploma to Other University Students Who Are Looking to Get into The Marketing/Advertising/Communications Industry?
Joshua Kim: Yes. I can only speak for myself. I think that anyone who’s looking for a course in applied digital marketing would find this course well worth it.
Tamarua Payne: Yes. I would highly recommend the Digital Marketing Diploma to anyone interested in having a career within Digital Marketing.
Author Neevashni Ram
Are you a University Graduate thinking of a career in Digital Marketing? Why don’t you start by studying a Diploma in Digital Marketing with the New Zealand Institute of Education (NZIE). It’s a Level 7 NZQA accredited course which is continuously adapted to meet the needs of the ever-changing digital landscape. Click button below to start your exciting journey! Don’t delay; spaces are filling out quick!
