AUT is throwing open the doors to its campuses this Saturday 27th August for AUT LIVE, its largest recruitment event of the year.
For the first time in three years, thousands of future students and their whānau are expected to come to AUT’s City Campus between 8am and 3.30pm.
Visitors will be able to experience the University first-hand and have all their questions about AUT answered in one place, on one day. Prospective students can engage directly with AUT academics, attend programme info sessions, get help with enrolments, and tour the facilities and student accommodation at the City Campus.
AUT’s new Vice-Chancellor, Professor Damon Salesa, says after all disruptions caused by the pandemic, he and the wider AUT team are excited to be welcoming local and regional visitors to the unique event.
“This is my first year at AUT LIVE and I’m really looking forward to making new connections with future students and their whānau. The whole AUT team are ready to showcase the diverse range of study opportunities and support options available at AUT.
“This is an important time of the year for school students and their whānau as they consider the next steps in their education and which options are out there for them,” Professor Salesa said. “This year is particularly important for those students who have been affected by the challenges of COVID including long periods of home study and less social interaction with their peers. We’re expecting an air of excitement for these future students as they experience life at AUT and can now envisage starting campus life with us at the beginning of 2023,” said Professor Salesa.
Year 13 high school students are set to make up the largest portion of AUT LIVE visitors, along with their whānau who are also interested in student support and employability opportunities, such as AUT’s work placements and employability support.
“We are also expecting people who, due to COVID, have decided to embark on a career change and are now considering full-time, part-time or post-graduate study,” said Professor Salesa, “We welcome people of all ages, and stages in their education journey to AUT LIVE.”
The event is expected to bring a boost to central Auckland with the thousands of visitors creating a vibrant atmosphere around the student-centred part of the city. St Paul St will be closed to traffic and instead filled with food trucks and installations.
“There is going to be a great atmosphere on the day,” Professor Salesa said. “We are already home to 29,000 students from across Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand and around the globe. Coming to AUT LIVE will give our prospective students the chance to experience what it will be like to attend one of the top 50 young universities in the world.”