Media Release: 15 November 2016
Tech Futures Lab offers innovative one-year Masters
Professionals, leaders and entrepreneurs will next year be able to study for an innovative new Masters of Applied
Practice – Technological Futures, through Tech Futures Lab.
Enrolments are now open for the one-year specialisation which has three start dates for 2017 of 7 February, 6 June and 7
November.
Tech Futures Lab and its partner Unitec Institute of Technology co-designed the flexible and intensive specialisation
where candidates will learn to link successful business decisions with technological advancement and innovate in a
shifting business landscape.
“This new one-year Master degree is a game-changer for New Zealand,” said Frances Valintine, founder of Tech Futures
Lab. “It provides the ability to learn and apply new knowledge, skills and technologies that increase productivity and
provide a distinct competitive advantage with a uniquely global perspective.
“This degree is an extension of the working environment. Candidates will develop and innovate with the support of highly
skilled technical experts, with wrap-around support from industry and academic mentors. The degree is designed for
immediate impact back into industry, in the shortest time possible.
“The projects undertaken are defined by candidates during their first 12 weeks of study and may be developed to
integrate back into an existing business, as an innovation or service designed for a new business opportunity, or start
up.”
Masters’ candidates will customise for approval their own assessment criteria, and then map how they’ll meet it over a
work-based research project.
Industry partners will bring insight, experience and advice to help refine and tweak concepts, deploying an agile
approach to development and a collaborative culture of creation and refinement. These partners include Air New Zealand,
ASB, Datacom, SkyCity, IAG, Xero, Microsoft and IBM.
“Our partners will help candidates gain in-depth understanding of relevant emerging technologies, how to forecast
disruption and lead through unprecedented change,” said Unitec’s Chief Executive Dr Rick Ede.
“Candidates will develop specialist knowledge in new and emerging disruptive technologies such as automation and
robotics, data-science, machine learning, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence.
“The degree is designed for those who want to harness the opportunities emerging technology presents, including those
who want to re-engineer their careers.”
ENDS