Jeron Gwaite’e was the first in his family to pursue tertiary study, thanks to the Manaaki scholarship programme that he credits for securing “a life-changing opportunity”.
Thousands of students from developing countries apply for the Government-funded Manaaki scholarships each year, with fewer than 500 making it through the competitive selection process.
The three-year scholarship covers tuition fees, a living allowance, travel, and setup costs, allowing Gwaite’e to leave his home country for the first time and study in New Zealand within the civil engineering programme at Unitec. After graduating in 2022, he secured a role as a graduate construction engineer for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) at the New Zealand High Commission in Honiara.
Gwaite’e believes the credibility of the scholarship was key to his success.
“When the MFAT position was advertised, being a Manaaki scholar graduate was a requirement. I used my Unitec experiences to support my application,” says Gwaite’e.
Unitec support integral to success
Gwaite’e acknowledges the support of Unitec’s teaching and support staff throughout his studies.
“They were approachable and interactive,” he says. “Massive credit to my final-year project supervisor, Don Houghton, who guided me through my development project. Unitec’s student support team regularly checked on the welfare of international students, which was especially helpful during Covid. The Pacific Centre and Student Support & Scholarships team were welcoming and supportive, making my Unitec experience fantastic.”
Sophie Aleke Fa’avae, the New Zealand scholarships and youth guarantee lead at Unitec, says Gwaite’e stood out as a positive, enthusiastic student and an inspirational role model: “We’re looking for students who can represent their countries with pride. Jeron’s vitality and success have inspired others to follow the same path.”
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