What’s wrong with New Year resolutions?

The best goals take time and perseverance: perfection doesn’t happen overnight!

Every January, everyone shares their plans for what they are going to change and how they will succeed in the next year. Often, these best intentions fail, and we beat ourselves up about an inability to do what we said we were going to do so well earlier in the year.

I am fairly cynical about New Year’s resolutions for several reasons, however I think the most important thing is not the goal. I am all for change and trying to improve and modify behaviour and habits, it is just why does it have to be January when we make the decision to form a new habit or try and curb a bad habit? (more…)

ITC supports unique, life-changing project

Manurewa High School Deputy Principal Phil Muir with some local children from Cambodia

For several years, ITC has been sponsoring Manurewa High School’s Humanitarian Aid Leadership Programme (HALP) to Cambodia.

This year around 20 students embarked on a journey that saw them that return as “empowered, passionate, worldly young adults who have a greater desire to achieve and then give back to their community,” says Deputy Principal Phil Muir.

The students spent 12 days engaged in a range of projects and activities “that opened their eyes to the history and culture of a country that has been shattered by civil war, famine, genocide and poverty,” says Mr Muir.

The group worked with a number of aid projects including the World Vision Area Development Programme at Chi Kreng, and a NZAid funded agricultural programme that helps communities turn from subsistence farmers into productive croppers on land that was until recently covered with landmines.

Students also gave blood and donated to the Kantha Bopha children’s hospital in Siem Reap and the children’s hospital in Phnom Penh.

At Kantha Bopha, students heard from Nobel Peace laureate Dr Beat Richner. Student Kate Montgomery says, “Hearing about Dr. Beat Richner’s project of building and maintaining the Kantha Bopha Children’s Hospitals was inspiring. It’s amazing how much one person’s vision can impact millions of people’s lives. This helped me to realise that I have the power to help people too.”

“The HALP programme also has a long term relationship with the Centre for Children’s Happiness – an orphanage which rescues children from the dumps of Phnom Penh,” says Mr Muir “and the students spent a full day playing, muralling, teaching and interacting, as well as giving a large range of donated gifts.”

The group also spent a day with 20 students sponsored by the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs to study as postgraduate students in New Zealand in areas such as development studies and tourism development. “The idea is that they will return to Cambodia and help to build a more successful country,” says Mr Muir. “We made some excellent links with this group, and look forward to developing these contacts – particularly when the students come to New Zealand next year.”

The students also visited the Genocide Museum and the Killing Fields. This visit had a real impact on the students, including Kate Montgomery, who says, “Throughout the entire time we visited the prison I felt numb and weak. None of what I saw looked real to me. It was so far removed from what I consider to be reality that I just couldn’t make sense of it.”

Kate says that the trip was genuinely life changing for her: “I saw, did, and experienced things that I hadn’t before. It really showed me the importance of so many things that we take for granted in this world. Things such as transport, roads, clean water, bathrooms, money, blood, education, and above all, people.”

“It truly did change my life and me as a person. I am not who I was before, and I am still not who I will be. But I can say that I am different. And I plan to use my experience to impact on others’ lives, and to make a difference in this world.”

Mr Muir says that the trip would have been beyond the reach of many of the students without ITC’s help: “The 2013 HALP team truly wishes to thank International Travel College for their generous contribution and support – your belief in our unique, life-changing project is very highly valued.  We travelled as fabulous ambassadors for our community and country and your support helped to make this project a reality.”

Mel’s trip of a lifetime Part 1: The build-up to departure day

ITC’s Short Course Team Leader Mel riding an elephant in Southeast Asia

ITC’s Short Course Team Leader Mel recently got home from a trip of a lifetime to Thailand and Laos. Mel joined Manurewa High School on their Humanitarian Aid Leadership Programme (HALP), of which ITC is a proud sponsor. In part one of this two-part blog series, she takes us back to where it all started.

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ITC students raise funds for Arthritis NZ at Auckland Airport

Some ITC students from Botany proudly collecting money for Arthritis New Zealand at Auckland Airport last Saturday

Several generous students from the ITC Botany Campus spent last Saturday afternoon raising money for Arthritis New Zealand at Auckland Airport.

Wearing bright orange vests and even brighter smiles, the students caught the attention of visitors to the Airport and encouraged them to donate to a good cause.

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ITC’s Botany Students Take to the Lanes

ITC Students from the Botany campus bowling us over with their outfits!

To study travel and tourism you have to have a fun and adventurous side and our students never fail to show this off at our college events.

Last week ITC’s Botany students went 10-pin bowling at Xtreme Botany. Each team came up with a name and a theme, and in true ITC style, got dressed up to the nines. Prizes were given for a variety of achievements – some of which even involved bowling! (more…)

New Botany Campus Tutors

It is with great pleasure that we introduce the team of new tutors joining us at Botany Campus.

One of the key reasons ITC students go on to do us proud in their chosen area of work is because of our wonderful tutors. They bring real-world industry experience, knowledge and contacts, but more than that they take a personal interest in each and every student. If a student is prepared to work hard and show their passion and commitment for travel and tourism, our tutors will do all they can to help them realise their dreams. (more…)

ITC Offers Exciting Futures for Year 12 and 13 Students

ITC Account Manager Ceri Jenkins made a recent presentation to Kelston Girls’ Careers Academy. The event also included presentations from other tertiary partners of the academy and highlighted potential pathways for the students’ future training and employment.

2013 was the first year of ITC’s involvement with Kelston Girls’ Careers Academy. This exciting project enables students at years 12 and 13 to gain standalone travel and tourism qualifications at level 2 and 3. These can also be used towards their level 2 and 3 NCEA qualifications. These students then have clear pathways into tertiary courses at ITC if they choose to take them. (more…)

ITC offers diploma qualification to Botany students

ITC welcomes their first Diploma class to their Botany Campus.

The International Travel College (ITC) Diploma in Tourism and Travel Management will be offered at the ITC Botany Campus from 2014, allowing students to take their studies to the next level.

“This is the first time a diploma-level qualification has been available to our South Auckland students,” says ITC’s Marketing Director Claire Huxley. “Previously, students have travelled to our City Campus for this course.” (more…)

Auckland Airport and ITC Volunteer Work Experience Programme

One of the benefits of studying with ITC is the great industry connections we have. One of those connections is with Auckland Airport, and we have placed over 20 proactive students in volunteer roles as Domestic Terminal Airport Hosts. This is a fantastic stepping stone to a career in the aviation, travel and tourism industries. (more…)

ITC’s Amazing Race 2014

ITC’s first student event of 2014 was The Amazing Race.

This is a fun-filled day where students from ITC’s City and Botany Campuses race around Auckland performing crazy in full costume, with their eye on the prize! ITC have been running this event for over 6 years now, with ITC making sure that the students test their tourism knowledge of Auckland.

Challenges and quizzes meant that all the teams really had to try very hard. From belting out ballads at Vector Arena to team members spelling out ITC with their bodies in Aotea Square, it was a day not to be missed!

As always we had great support from our industry contacts, both during the race and  with some amazing donated prizes, including Explore NZ Americas Cup Sailing Experience, Stray Jack Passes to the Bay of Islands, Auckland Adventure Jet Rides, accommodation at Nomads Backpackers and free pizza and drinks at Globe Bar.

First and second place went to our City Campus teams with a FANTASTIC time of 1hr 30mins and 1hr 35mins respectively, and third place went to a Botany Campus team with a time of 1hr 45mins. There were also prizes for the best-dressed teams and sportsmanship on the day.

With the sun out and a beautiful end point at the Auckland Domain, the day provided a wonderful chance to get out and about with our ITC family.

Thanks to everyone who particpated!