World Outlook changed by AUT Edge Award

When Peter Jean-Paul started the AUT Edge Award he had no idea how much it would change his thinking and outlook on the world.
“I’ve learned that it is important as an individual to be willing to make the lives of others better and develop yourself on a deeper level. I have continued volunteering after completing my award hours and am participating more in community activities.”

Peter won the  AUT Edge Award Overall Achievement prize, sponsored by Auckland Council, for demonstrating the highest level of achievement in all streams to complete the AUT Edge Award. Auckland Council

Graduate Programmes Leader for Auckland Council, Lacey Knight, says the Council is proud to sponsor the overall prize and support the AUT Edge Award because they believe in the emphasis on employability skills, or ‘C’ skills.

“A degree opens the doors, but it is the ‘C’ skills that give you the confidence to walk through those doors,” states Lacey.

The AUT Edge Award is an extra-curricular programme that encourages students to develop their employability skills through extensive volunteering, leadership and challenge and employability workshops.

Peter found volunteering an enriching experience because of the opportunity to connect with a wide range of people. He kept looking for ways to further grow, including becoming part of the Global Talent Intern Programme facilitated by the Superdiversity Centre for Law, Policy and Business Department of Chen Palmer Partners.

"I've learned the importance of genuine communication and of speaking up about things that I value that matter to me. Connecting with people and understanding other people's worlds is enriching."

Now 153 AUT Edge Award graduates

There are now 153 AUT Edge Award graduates in the workforce and another 1,800 students are working through the award.This semester’s 58 AUT Edge Award graduates celebrated with industry representatives, staff and family at a graduation ceremony on December 5th.

Industry sponsored five prizes to acknowledge students that went beyond expectations in volunteering, leadership, personal growth and overall achievement. The four other industry sponsors were Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand, InterContinental Hotels Group, SEEK Volunteering and YUDU.

This semester’s 58 AUT Edge Award graduates have collectively contributed more than 3500 volunteering hours to the community and challenged themselves with more than 1100 hours attributed to leadership activities. They have attended 125 employer presentations and 787 employability workshops.

The result is graduates with work ready CVs and relevant LinkedIn profiles, who are capable networkers and confident telling employers who they are, says Director of Student Employability Anna Williams.
“Our AUT Edge Award graduates gain an edge in the marketplace with great communication skills, evidence of volunteering and leadership qualities. We are very proud of our latest Award graduates.”

Winner of the AUT Edge Award Prizes 2018

• Auckland Council Overall Achievement Prize won by Peter Jean-Paul
• InterContinental Hotels Group Kingi Prize won by Jaspreet Kaur
• Chartered Accountants Australia and NZ (CAANZ) Leadership Prize won by Munaal Abdali
• SEEK Volunteering Prize won by Lauren Williams
• YUDU Personal Growth Prize won by Lovely Maralit