Student-centric learning gets results

Claire Dallison is a celebrated fitness tutor at NMIT Te Pūkenga, whose practical teaching approach works well for those who aren’t ‘study-centric’. 

“I started here around 25 years ago,” says Claire. “Throughout that time, I have helped grow opportunities here, to where students can now receive an Auckland University of Technology (AUT) degree right here in Nelson.” 

Claire explains the way the fitness programmes are structured at NMIT offers a huge amount of flexibility.  

“You can exit at any stage and get as much out of it as you possibly can,” she says. 

The Level 5 New Zealand Diploma in Sport Recreation and Exercise(external link) will get learners ‘floor ready’ in gyms and rehabilitation centres. The Level 6 New Zealand Diploma in Sport Recreation and Exercise(external link) produces confident and capable personal trainers and the Bachelor of Sport and Recreation(external link) is for those who will manage these teams, or who go on to teacher training or postgraduate study.  

“A number of graduates throughout the Nelson region are teaching Physical Education (PE) in schools and teaching in primary schools because of studying here and going onto their teacher training,” says Claire. 

Claire also says there are heaps of NMIT graduates working in the community.  

“Current students doing their final project are working alongside graduates of the same programme, so there is that element of understanding and connection already there,” says Claire. 

The connection with industry is one of the real strengths of the programme. Gyms and clubs frequently approach NMIT asking for employees from the current student pool. 

“We give our students these opportunities from those contacts,” Claire says.  

For those that find theoretical study difficult or have been out of practice for some time, Claire has this to say: 

“We are really good at taking people and teaching them to learn how to learn.” 

Programmes at NMIT are student-centric and involve a lot of practical, hands-on learning. People walk away with degrees who might otherwise not believe they can.  

For more information about our fitness programmes at NMIT(external link), visit our website.