Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
6 hours ago
Chirag Patel will receive the Top Graduate Diploma in Business Student award when he graduates at the Napier Municipal Theatre tomorrow.
Chirag Patel moved from Dubai to be near his sister and it is a move he does not regret as he is set to graduate from EIT with a top award this week.
Chirag, who is 27, was born in India but grew up in Dubai, where he obtained a Bachelor of Engineering at the Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani in Dubai. He also worked there for nearly five years as a sales manager for a building automation and fire safety company, but decided that he wanted a change of pace. He decided that he wanted to study further in New Zealand and EIT became his chosen destination because his sister, Shital, lives in Hawke’s Bay.
Chirag Patel will receive the Top Graduate Diploma in Business Student award when he graduates at the Napier Municipal Theatre tomorrow (Friday 12 April).
But it was a yearning for a change of pace that led him to Hawke’s Bay.
“I was not really happy with the entire work culture in Dubai. It’s quite fast-paced and it’s not really secure.”
“It was good to be near my sister because my parents live in Dubai and I am fond of being around family.”
Chirag could have been at EIT earlier and was all set to come to EIT when COVID-19 hit and New Zealand shut its borders.
“ I got my student visa as well, and I was enrolled in EIT. And unfortunately my flight, which was scheduled for March 23rd, 2020, was cancelled because the borders were shut on 19 March.”
His troubles were not finished because when he arrived at EIT, studies moved online because of Cyclone Gabrielle.
“Cyclone Gabrielle happened in the second semester of my studies, so I only had one course which was done online and rest of my credits were through a business internship. I was working at Specsavers in Hastings.”
Since completing his degree, Chirag has moved on to ABB, at Hawke’s Bay Airport where he works as a planner.
But for now, his focus is on graduating on Friday, where his sister and colleagues from work will be in attendance as support.
“This is the second time I’ll be wearing the whole regalia and everything, so I’m quite keen on doing it once more.”
Chirag has no hesitation in recommending the Graduate Diploma in Business at EIT.
“I would say that it’s a great pathway for someone to actually come into New Zealand and understand the work culture, which was really, really important for me. Since I come from a different business landscape, it was quite important for me to come to a different country, see how the landscape differs over here.”
Russell Booth, Senior Lecturer and Programme Co-ordinator – Business at EIT, said: “Chirag made a big impression within the first few days of starting his Graduate Diploma. He was enthusiastic to learn everything he could from his lecturers and all commented on his enthusiasm, his ability to learn things quickly and his very personable nature.”
“There is no doubt he thought carefully about the work-based internship in the second semester of his Graduate Diploma to ensure he was setting himself up for a sustainable career here in Hawke’s Bay. It was no surprise when he landed an excellent role at ABB from which he can develop. His aptitude to be the best he can has also made an impression at ABB and his future there seems very bright indeed!”
