Cherie Freeman has the auspicious claim to be the first campus director for EIT Auckland.

Cherie Freeman, Auckland Campus Manager

With 25 years in the institute of technology and polytechnic sector and the last 10 of those in leadership roles, Cherie is very comfortable to be heading up the International Graduate School campus that spans three floors of a high rise in Auckland’s CBD.

The recently renovated campus is specifically for international students who want the EIT experience but in a faster pace lifestyle more in keeping with what they are used to. The campus predominantly offers postgraduate qualifications in business, computing and health science. There are also shorter English language programmes and IELTS testing.

Cherie says meeting the students who have already studied, had jobs and life experience was fascinating. “Their experiences in their home countries and what they think of New Zealand has been enlightening.”

She comments that New Zealand is in competition with other tertiary providers nationally and globally, with the USA highly attractive for many. “To get students this far south is a huge credit to the EIT international marketing team.”

EIT established its Auckland campus in 2013 and since then has enjoyed around 60 percent year on year growth in student numbers. It is currently sitting at around 310 full time equivalent students, although the actual number of students is much higher.

For Cherie her overriding goal is to ensure student satisfaction. “It’s very important to me that we focus on our students’ experience and work to improve on that. Satisfaction levels are currently very favourable, but like any high performing institute there is always room for improvement.”

Drawing on her Ngāpuhi‎ links, Cherie is keen to bring more Mātauranga Māori into the campus and learning. This is something her international students are keen to experience as part of their time in New Zealand.

The fast pace of the Auckland environment, the strong growth in student enrolments, and current state of the ITP sector generally, means that Cherie sees the need to be agile and make informed decisions quickly.

Her experience will allow her to achieve this she believes, backed by the leadership strength she sees evident within EIT.

“EIT’s leadership, vision, and commitment to student-centred learning all align with what’s very important to me. I believe the collective emotional intelligence evident at EIT will ensure its ongoing success.  I’m looking forward to adding my contribution.”