Professional and Personal Wins through Beyond AUT

Beyond AUT Overall Acheivement Prize Winner Karan George with AUT Vice Chancellor Damon Salesa

A significant chapter of personal and professional growth is how Beyond AUT Award Overall Prize winner Karan George describes her Beyond AUT Award journey.

Karan was presented the Beyond AUT Overall Prize for demonstrating high and consistent levels of achievement in all streams of the award.
“The award has helped develop my leadership skills, bolster my confidence, and foster community engagement and compassion,” she says.

Karan has gained far more than she expected after leaving family behind to move to New Zealand a year ago to embark on her post graduate studies. She completed many hours of leadership activities, including working as an AUT STEM Women executive member and collaborating with AUT Employability and Careers team and the wider university to help facilitate successful and high profile events.

“The experience cultivated a profound sense of social responsibility and leadership,” she says.

Karan was one of 21 students to graduate with the Beyond AUT Award at the Employability Awards graduation ceremony on 6 December, along with 50 AUT Edge Award graduates.

AUT Vice Chancellor Damon Salesa, who presented the graduation certificates, praised the recipients for their resilience and commitment to volunteering and leadership.
“I’m humbled by what you’ve done. These awards not only make you a better employee, but they also make you a better family member, a better friend, and a better member of society.”

AUT Director of Student Employability and Recreation Anna Williams described the 50 AUT Edge Award and 21 Beyond AUT Award graduates as truly inspiring.
“The employability awards foster students’ work readiness through graduate ready CVs, relevant LinkedIn profiles, networking skills and elevator pitches etc. The awards also build self-confidence and compassion and helps them find their passion in their career journey.”

What is involved in the awards?

Employability Awards specialist Horowai Broederlow says the AUT Edge Award is open to all undergraduate AUT students, while the Beyond AUT Award is for postgraduate students.
“The Awards encourage students to be active either on campus or in their communities which increases their transferable skills and helps them connect. They can participate in a variety of ways – including in clubs, volunteering for charities or conservation activities – and once completed the award is formally acknowledged on their academic transcript.”

*The Beyond AUT Award involves 35 hours of volunteering, 12 hours of leadership, seven employability activities and a personal reflection.
*The AUT Edge Award involves a minimum of 50 hours of volunteering, 18 hours of leadership, 14 employability workshops and a personal reflection.
*Once completed the award appears on students’ academic transcript.

Want to know about our services?

Find out more by contacting autedge@aut.ac.nz or looking at our webpage
Come and visit us at the Employability Lab at WA202 on the city campus
Use Elab Online, our online portal, to book into events and appointments that are offered in person and online.