Brian McLay has worked all of his career in the agriculture industry.

In 2018 more domestic EIT students than ever before chose to study where it suited them, including more online learning, studying at regional learning centres and off-campus in remote community locations. In a nutshell, EIT places great value upon its regional connectedness.

EIT lecturer Brian McLay teaches agribusiness financial management in EIT’s NZ Diploma in Agribusiness, a qualification that combines strategic planning and financial skills (e.g. writing budgets), health and safety as well as human resource management.

Some of Brian’s students live and work in very remote areas. “One student travelled two hours each way to attend a four-hour course at EIT,” says Brian. Travelling times like these are not for everyone and might even discourage some people from enrolling into a programme.

However, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and so Brian started to offer so-called “Zoom” tutorials. They enable students to upskill without even leaving their couch. “It works like skype. I invite them to the session, they can see me, the whiteboard, their fellow students and can control which is the dominant camera. And if they miss a lecture, they can just view it later. It’s very user friendly and tailored to my students’ needs,” explains Brian.

His students tune in from places like Whangara north of Gisborne down to Wairoa, Waikaremoana and Waipukurau. They work on dairy, sheep and beef farms, vineyards or orchards. “The business skills acquired during the programme are relevant to their particular industry,” says Brian who holds a degree in agricultural science and worked in the industry for his whole career. Brian is keen to share his expertise to future managers’ and owners.  

In the beginning, Brian meets the students in person in order to get a good understanding of their businesses. “This allows me to interrelate the content of the courses with their individual businesses. They are self-starters and thus very focused and committed.”

50 percent of his students are female. “A farming business is a team effort,” says Brian, and it’s great to see that both partners are involved using their own skills and knowledge.” 

Brian says that this new medium has improved access to agribusiness students living in remote areas. “Once you get familiar with Zoom, it creates an opportunity to upskill without having to travel.”