The tourism industry needs you

Posted on 26/11/2020 by Hayley Clark

This is a message for anyone who is considering studying for a career in travel, tourism, or aviation in 2021.

We need you!

Or more specifically, the industry needs you!

Why the tourism industry is crying out for skilled staff

It has certainly been a tough year for everyone, the tourism industry perhaps most of all. However, we’re already seeing an increase in domestic tourism, and with so much positive news surrounding covid-19 vaccines, it seems highly likely that international tourism will soon be back on the cards as well.

Yet even more importantly, local tourism providers were already struggling to find enough skilled staff to fill positions even before the border was closed. Now, as migrant workers have largely returned to their home countries, and as no visa holders are allowed to enter New Zealand and take up roles, travel and tourism providers around the country are more desperate than ever.

In a recent press release from the Tourism Industry Association (TIA), it was revealed that 45% of industry employers have found it difficult to find suitable candidates.

We recently reached out to our friends in the tourism industry to be a part of our ‘We Need You’ campaign. They were more than willing to help us share the message with you all that in fact, we need you to help us fill the employment shortage in our growing industry.

What’s next for New Zealand tourism

In a normal year, domestic tourism accounts for approximately 60% of New Zealand’s total tourism revenue. As Kiwis turn to their own backyard for holidays this year and over the coming months, it is expected that the usual domestic spend will increase drastically.

Not to mention, there is still hope for a travel bubble to open between Australia and New Zealand. If – and perhaps when – that happens, that would mean opening the borders to our largest offshore market. Australia represents almost half of all our international market, and brought in over 1.5 million arrivals in 2019 – how many more will come if New Zealand is the only international destination available?

The new tourism environment will likely lean heavily on employing local workers that have been trained here in New Zealand, already have their industry qualifications, and are ready to get started.

Between the increasing demand for tourism and the notable lack of skilled workers to take up those roles, there has never been a better time to start studying for a career in the industry.

Studying tourism and travel with Study From Home

Study From Home (SFH) is a premium supplier of level 3, 4, and 5 courses in the travel, tourism, and aviation industries.

Our students learn invaluable transferable skills specifically for the industry, which they can put to use here in New Zealand or take with them around the world. At SFH, our tutors have all worked in the industry, and we maintain many strong connections with local tourism providers.

In fact, SFH has created such a reputation for producing skilled and passionate graduates, that our students are always in demand from industry employers.

In addition, our strong focus on employment preparation and career guidance means that graduates are work-ready on course completion, and in many cases, already have job offers from employers through our career expos, industry networking events, and the sector-wide recruitment services made available to employers.

By studying in 2021, students will graduate in 12-18 months, at which point the industry could be even more exciting, and when it will likely look very different than what it does right now.

With our qualifications, you’ll be ready to enter the workforce at the exact moment the global travel industry is once again kicking off – and in genuine need of qualified workers who love to travel, meet people, and enjoy new experiences.

Could that be you?

Learn more about our 2021 courses and get in touch to kick start an exciting and rewarding career in tourism, travel, and aviation.

Study From Home – college@itc.co.nz 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or https://www.studyfromhome.co.nz/contact-us/

Posted in News | Tagged Distance Learning, ITC Award winning training, Online courses, Travel and Tourism |

How to Study From Home for FREE

Posted on 12/11/2020 by Hayley Clark

Did you know that you can enrol with the International Travel College (ITC), and complete your course with distance learning for free?

The New Zealand Fees Free initiative allows many students to study for free, even if it’s been a while since you left school, or if you are distance learning with Study From Home.

Here’s a little more about the initiative, which courses you can enrol in with Study From Home, and how to claim your free study!

What is the Fees Free initiative?

The Fees Free initiative is a relatively new New Zealand government scheme that allows students to study for free for one year, or claim two years of free training.

This means that the government will pay your tuition costs for a year, greatly reducing the cost of study for some students, and completely covering it for others.

Am I eligible to study for free with the Fees Free initiative?  

Many students are surprised to learn that they are eligible for the Fees Free initiative as they might have left school years ago, or are planning to study from home instead of at a college or university.

It is likely that you are eligible for Fees Free if this will be your first year of tertiary study after high school, regardless of when you left high school. Also, there aren’t any age limits on the initiative, so it’s ideal for those looking to return to study.

There are certain restrictions around where you can study, as not all training institutions are included in the initiative. The good news is that ITC is an affiliated provider, so courses – even if you choose Study From Home – are part of the initiative.

Keep in mind that Fees Free also only applies to Level 3 study and above, which is essentially any post-secondary school programme.

You can learn more about the Fees Free eligibility criteria on the official website here.

Study From Home with the Fees Free initiative

There are numerous courses available with ITC via Study From Home that you can take for free.

These include:

• New Zealand Certificate in Tourism with a strand in Tourism and Travel Level 3
• New Zealand Certificate in Tourism with a strand in Aviation Level 3
• New Zealand Certificate in Travel Level 4
• New Zealand Diploma in Tourism and Travel Level 5

 

All of these courses are Level 3 or above, meaning they are all eligible for the Fees Free initiative. Importantly, they all also offer important skills and knowledge for students looking to find careers in the travel, tourism, and aviation industries.

If you do find that you are not eligible to apply for the Fees Free initiative, keep in mind that you can still study with us. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is more than happy to help you apply for a StudyLink loan that can lend you the funds to take the course of your choosing and invest in your future.

What our Study From Home tutors think of the Fees Free initiative

We asked Lynelle Panton, one of our wonderful Study From Home tutors, what she thought about the initiative and how it helps distance learning students.

“Many people would love to study, but for various reasons such as family commitments or work, they simply can’t. Study From Home allows these people who can’t attend on-campus courses the ability to achieve their goals of furthering their education in an industry they are passionate about. We have now been able to tie this in with Fees Free to allow students to gain their qualification and start out in their chosen career without having a huge debt behind them.”

“This is such a huge opportunity for anyone who wants to study but couldn’t,” she explained.

How to apply for Fees Free study

Applying for Fees Free study is a simple process.

All you need to do is first check that you are eligible for the initiative by visiting the Fees Free website and entering your National Student Number (NSN). This will immediately tell you whether or not you are eligible.

If you are eligible, you simply apply to Study From Home as you would normally (by getting in touch!), and the Tertiary Education Commission will let us know that your fees will be covered, and will pay us directly for the course.

Should you have any questions at all, or if you have checked your eligibility and are ready to apply for an exciting distance learning course from Study From Home, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us today.

Study From Home – college@itc.co.nz 0800 TOURISM (0800 868747) or https://www.studyfromhome.co.nz/contact-us/

Posted in News | Tagged Course costs, Distance Learning, Fees Free, study from home | Leave a reply

Study From Home success: We speak to one of the first students completing the level 5 Diploma in Tourism & Travel online

Posted on 28/10/2020 by Hayley Clark

Study From Home recently started offering the New Zealand Diploma in Tourism and Travel at level 5 on our popular Study From Home platform. It is an intensive one-year diploma that offers students the skills and knowledge they need for a general management career in the industry.

While students of ITC have been able to study this diploma for more than 15 years, it is new to Study From Home, and we have been keeping a close eye on the first group of students to work their way through this fast-paced and challenging course.

One of those students is Marise Barrett, who is currently working her way through the diploma. She has already completed the New Zealand Certificate in Tourism (Level 3) and the New Zealand Certificate in Travel (Level 4), and already has experience working in the industry.

We recently spoke to her to see how she was finding the diploma and the experience of studying from home. (more…)

Posted in News, Student Success | Tagged Distance Learning, Online courses, online learning, study from home, Tourism training |