Source: Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology
The next generation of innovators will unveil their findings at the ninth annual Toi Ohomai Institute of Technology Summer Scholarship Snapshot event this week.
Presentations will cover research topics such as the evolution of creative markets, the role of business intelligence in user-generated content in the hospitality industry and environmental variables between the Maketu Estuary and seagrass beds within the Tauranga Harbour & Waihi Estuary.
Eleven students from Toi Ohomai will present their research findings at the event, which will be held at the Institute’s Mokoia Campus in Rotorua on Wednesday, 11 March. They’ve been working on the research over the summer, under guidance of Toi Ohomai tutors.
Toi Ohomai Head of Research Heather Hamerton says the Summer Scholarship Snapshot programme aims to help grow research skills in the next generation of innovators and to provide solutions for problems faced by the community.
“Each year, we have 10 scholarships available for students who would like to get involved in research projects over the summer. The projects are staff research projects – so effectively staff can apply to have a student work as a research assistant for them on a project for 10 weeks. Staff are awarded the scholarships, then they find a suitable and qualified student to work with them.
“Students get valuable research experience from the programme and we’ve had some great feedback. Last year, one student said she had been so inspired by the research that she planned to continue studying to complete her PhD.
“There is a prize offered for the best presentation at the event. We also love how it gets students off campus doing research, often working with community groups or addressing community issues.”
Heather says some of this year’s participants have focused on environmental issues.
“There are a lot of very interesting projects all on the theme of sustainability – quite a few investigating environmental issues around the Bay of Plenty, and others investigating construction industry practice and some business-related ones as well.”
