Studying a full-time Digital Marketing Diploma isn’t possible for everyone, especially when you’re working 40 hours a week. Trickier still, is when you’re also living in rural New Zealand with no learning institutes nearby to attend.
Whitianga resident, Kat, was one of the many out there looking for a way to up-skill in her job and faced with the challenge of finding somewhere that could provide her with the type of guided education traditional universities supplied, with the problem of being unable to attend in-person. She needed somewhere that would provide an online course in digital marketing, but it was hard to find! Thankfully, after a quick Google search for online marketing courses, Kat found NZIE’s Diploma in Digital Marketing and quickly enrolled in their two-year part-time option.
“Living rurally, I wasn’t close to a big city to study. It was awesome to see NZIE’s programmes. I had a look through the modules and the diploma’s eight papers and thought ‘Ohhh yes, that sounds good! Ohhh so does that! I think I can do this!’ It was really great that I was able to do it from home.”
Studying Online and Working Rurally
Throughout the two years she dedicated to her part-time study, Kat remained focussed and engaged in her classes, made easier by the fact that she was backed by a great employer.
“My employers supported me wholeheartedly and they certainly benefitted from what I was learning.”
From content and social media marketing to graphics and design, eCommerce, SEO and beyond, Kat thoroughly enjoyed all her papers in the Digital Marketing Diploma, which was designed to provide her with a holistic and multi-disciplinary approach to digital marketing. By far, though, was Email Marketing
“The paper that I feel I got the most out of was Email Marketing because it brings in elements of all the others. You’ve got design, creativity, content, analytics and SEO – they all come into that paper. That was definitely my favourite class.”
Working for a company that promotes local businesses in Whitianga, Kat was keen to apply her newfound knowledge from her classes as soon as she was able…which was pretty much immediately!
“Each week I’d have a lecture and then go into work the next day saying ‘oh we can do this! Oh we can try that!’ The Diploma was awesome for my job because I look after the email newsletters, and our social media. I also update the website and look at SEO and all that sort of stuff, so it was fabulous to have all those skills to take back to my job.”
An Incredible Support Network
Despite living in rural New Zealand and getting to know her classmates and tutors through a screen, Kat thoroughly enjoyed her classes, not only for the content they provided but because of how much support she was given.
“The tutors were awesome! They were really friendly and really helpful. They were always available by email, giving feedback and helping me. You can always ask questions at any time. I also had a group chat going with other students, and the student support staff were great too, so I felt really supported the whole time.”
Now a successful graduate, Kat is putting everything she learned to good use in her job. She is thriving and confident in the digital world and has gained a lot of valuable skills that can see her across a multitude of roles.
“Even if you’re in another career, I think all the skills that you learn in the Digital Marketing Diploma cross over into other areas and so many different roles. It’s really just another feather to put into your hat!”
Looking to upskill or change careers, either full-time or part-time? Check out our Diploma in Digital Marketing and enrol in our next intake!
