Practical Immersion into NZ workculture

As a newcomer to New Zealand and AUT, international student Ataa Dalal enrolled in the Beyond AUT Award to understand New Zealand better and broaden her ability to engage personally and professionally with New Zealanders.  She says it did that and more.

“It was a practical immersion into the values of New Zealand's work culture, offering hands-on experience on how to highlight my strengths,” says Ataa.

Coming to New Zealand with her daughter from Kuwait was a major life change for Ataa Dalal, who was seeking stability, good educational opportunities and a fresh start. After starting on her Postgraduate Certificate in Science at AUT, she noticed the Beyond AUT Award.

“I started the award because I could see it offered a structure I could take to find out how to build deeper connections with local communities and expand my employability. I also liked the focus on giving back to the community which aligned perfectly with my values,” she says.

Adopting to an academic system that emphasised independent learning and critical thinking was a big hurdle for Ataa - another was the emphasis in New Zealand on personal skills and experience.

“Back in Kuwait and Lebanon, formal qualifications and hierarchical authority are highly valued and a degree often took precedence over one’s skills, character or potential contributions. But here I realised that qualifications alone were not enough,” explains Ataa.

It was while volunteering at the Citizens Advice Bureau that Ataa first experienced the importance of communication and other soft skills. She encountered someone who needed help with a complex issue and she initially felt unqualified to help.

“However, I listened to her and we started to build a relationship and I found that made a big difference in how I could help and support her. I found that being approachable and willing to listen was as vital as having the right credentials, especially in community-focused roles.”

This change in perspective was reinforced by a workshop ‘So You Think You Can Network?’ that emphasised the importance of being authentic.

“An industry interviewer reminded me that in New Zealand success is about who you are and what you can contribute, not just about the degrees you hold. Now I value not only my qualifications but also building meaningful connections that allow me to create a positive impact within my community.”

Ataa also found her beliefs about leadership challenged while doing her 12 leadership hours at Communities Feeding Communities (CFC). Back in Kuwait leaders were authoritative so she used that approach too.

“I believed that was the best way to achieve results but although my team at CFC completed their tasks efficiently, I soon noticed a lack of enthusiasm and engagement among them and that frustrated me.”

However Ataa didn’t know what to change until she attended a ‘Finding Your Leadership Style’ workshop as part of the award.

"The workshop was eye-opening. It highlighted how effective leadership is about more than control.”

“This introduced the idea of collaborative leadership style that prioritised adaptability and team empowerment. The workshop was eye-opening. It highlighted how effective leadership is about more than control. It’s about cultivating an environment where team members feel encouraged to share their ideas and participate actively.”

Although this leadership approach felt completely outside her comfort zone, Ataa decided to give it a go. She admits it took time to make the change.

Her next leadership activity involved running a kitchen class for young volunteers. She immediately did what she knew, taking full charge, planning every detail and expecting the team to follow suit.

“But I quickly noticed their hesitation and lack of excitement. Then I remembered the workshop discussion about the importance of engagement. So I invited the volunteers to contribute ideas and allowed them to adjust the recipes as they wished.”

She says the energy in the room shifted substantially once she stepped back. The young girls, initially reserved, became enthusiastic participants.

“I saw firsthand how their sense of ownership and motivation grew.”

This bridging of theoretical learning and practical insights is a major strength of the award, says Ataa.

“The award was transformative for me. I have developed real-world skills that textbooks alone can’t provide, like adaptable leadership, empathetic communication and relationship-building. I would absolutely recommend it to other students.”

She is feeling optimistic about finding a good job, buoyed by the skills and knowledge she has gained from Beyond AUT Award and the AUT employability team.

“I’ve recently received several job opportunities in the early childhood education field. With over 10 years of experience in education from my previous roles in Kuwait and Lebanon, I am eager to pursue similar opportunities here in New Zealand. I’m currently evaluating these options to determine which will be most beneficial for my career, align with my personal values, and support my long-term goals to ultimately become a certified teacher.”

AUT Employability Awards

Ataa was one of 62 graduates of the AUT employability awards programme this year.

Find out more about our employability awards:

• AUT Edge Award (undergraduate)
• Beyond AUT Award (postgraduate)