WHENUA MAGAZINE | ISSUE 32
MORE SCIENTISTS, ENGINEERS AND CRITICAL THINKERS NEEDED
The typical Parininihi ki Waitotara (PKW) scholarship recipient is a young woman studying at Massey University for a career in the health sector and carrying a student loan of up to $49,000, according to an initiative to find out how PKW students are faring.
Results from the Student Destinations survey 2019 have been analysed to
gain insight into the impact of PKW’s investment in supporting between
180 and 200 tertiary students each
recipients and received 67 responses. The information gleaned from these
responses provides a snapshot of the current student population.
year. The grants and scholarship
“Over time, our annual surveys will
$300,000 to students annually with
impact of the scholarship programme
programme distributes $250,000–
deliver a range of insights into the
the support of co-funders Te Korowai
including where study has taken our
o Ngāruahine, Te Kāhui o Taranaki, Te
Kotahitanga o Te Ātiawa, Ballance AgriNutrients, Marsh Insurance, Meridian
recipients, what careers they are
pursuing, and whether they have found employment,” Mitchell said.
for undergraduate studies to post-
graduate awards of $7500 for up to three years.
Most respondents were females
aged 20 to 25 years, had gained an Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree
or a Masters qualification, and were completing a further qualification.
Eight of the 2019 respondents have completed their studies and found employment.
Respondents who had found Energy, Nova Energy, Victoria University “We want to understand how significant employment, including part-time of Wellington, Farmlands, Ravensdown, our support is for our scholars, and or casual roles while still studying, and BNZ.
Mitchell Ritai, General Manager
Shareholder Engagement, said the survey canvassed last year’s 180 24 | HE ORANGA
ultimately we would like to see that
recipients have entered into a career that they have aspired to achieve.” Scholarships range from $1500
were mostly working in the health or education sectors.
One concerning finding was that most students are carrying debt ranging