Supportive Extended Family: ITC’s online study makes it easy

“A Supportive Extended Family” – ITC’s online study makes it easy

The International Travel College of New Zealand (ITC) has been a premium supplier of full-time and part-time training programmes for the airline, travel and tourism industries since 1996, and has campuses in Botany and central Auckland.

Since 2006, ITC has offered several of its courses via online and distance learning.

For mums like Kim Hooper, Susannah Eaton, Ann-Maree Nimalota and Lyn Redstall, and those with full-time jobs like Harpreet Kaur, ITC’s online study offers opportunities that would otherwise be closed to them.

Ann-Maree, who recently completed the National Certificate in Tourism (core skills) while working part time, says “I had always wanted to get into the travel and tourism industry, but found it hard as I needed to work. With a young one there was no way I could go back to classes. Then I heard about ITC’s online distance learning course and I knew it was perfect for me. I was able to be at home with my baby and still work part time.”

Lyn says that the hardest part was actually signing the enrolment form and “committing to the unknown”. She had not studied for many years and was uncertain how she would fit it in around work and family commitments. “I did have a few concerns; however, most of these quickly disappeared after I’d completed my first assignment and passed – that was a big confidence boost.”

She says that the course structure means the work “isn’t hard to pick up where you left off if you do get interrupted, and, actually, at times it’s quite beneficial to have a break.” She was surprised by how much time she had available.

Susannah agrees: “I sure did have some hectic moments juggling motherhood with student life, but once I started a routine and stuck to it I had loads more time than I thought.”

Ann-Maree found that the course structure allowed her to plan ahead to ensure her success: “I found there were times when I struggled, for example, when I got sick or my baby got sick, and over the busy Christmas and New year. Being a little ahead of the course schedule meant that if I was caught in a situation where I struggled to find the time to study I was never behind, and for me being up to date helped me to keep on going and really take the time to learn.”

Kim is a single mother with two children, and it is keeping her eye on the end goal that keeps her motivated. “My future goal to be a customs officer or a check in agent is my motivation to keep me going and not to give up. I get a lot of support and encouragement from my tutor Carla as well as my classmates.”

The others all agree that the support they have received from ITC’s staff and fellow students have been critical to their enjoyment and success.

“Over the past 40 weeks I have had close contact with fellow distance learning classmates and tutors through online forums and workshops,” says Ann-Maree. “This has been very fun and helpful, asking and answering questions that we were unsure about, also sharing our thoughts and experiences with each other.”

“I cannot forget the fantastic staff at ITC,” says Susannah. “They are such an organised and friendly bunch of people. I felt so comfortable asking them questions whether it was via email or telephone.”

Harpreet goes so far as to say that ITC’s tutors “are the best tutors in the world”! “They will never put you down, even if you make a mistake,” says Harpreet. “They keep you motivated. The online system, study resources, and help from tutors are just brilliant.”

Like Susannah, Lyn has found that organising her family life and routine are crucial to success: “I now look forward to logging on to ITC Online as part of my daily routine to see if there are messages to be read and answered – it’s like I have a supportive extended family!”

All five students are looking forward to achieving their goals and working in their chosen travel and tourism fields.

“Starting here is the beginning of my future career in travel and I'm so excited,” says Kim..

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