Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti
November 6, 2024
EIT students living in Student Accommodation recently got together for a BBQ at the Village in Taradale.
EIT’s student accommodation in Hawke’s Bay is providing a supportive and welcoming environment for both international and domestic students, helping them focus on their studies and achieve their academic goals.
Located just across the road from EIT’s Hawke’s Bay campus in Taradale, the purpose-built Student Village offers comfortable shared living spaces for 72 students in 12 x 6-bedroom Villas. Each Villa has a shared kitchen, laundry, lounge, and bathrooms. In addition to the Student Village, EIT also provides more independent accommodation options in EIT managed flats nearby.
Most students in EIT accommodation are from overseas, with residents hailing from countries such as Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, China, Germany, and Canada. EIT also accommodates domestic students from outside the region, ensuring a diverse and vibrant student community.
Jo Bird, the newly appointed EIT Student Accommodation Manager, says the institution has worked hard to create a home-like atmosphere for students living away from home. Since taking on the role in July, Jo has overseen renovations and improvements, including the installation of heat pumps and ongoing upgrades to the bathrooms.
“Our Student Village is more than just a place to live—it’s a supportive community designed to help students thrive,” says Jo Bird. “We provide pastoral care to ensure students feel supported as they adapt to life in New Zealand and work towards their qualifications.”
While the Student Village is exclusively for students, EIT’s community flats are available for international students and their partners. Often International students choose to stay in the Village for their first semester, which gives them time to settle into their studies and then find suitable private accommodation for when their families are able to join them
To ensure the accommodation remains comfortable and well-maintained, EIT has introduced monthly deep cleaning services. The students themselves play a key role in maintaining their living spaces, with a dedicated cleaning roster in place. Senior residents, appointed for each villa, support the smooth running of the Villa, provide peer support, and alert staff to any students in need of assistance.
“Building a sense of community is one of the most important aspects of our accommodation,” says Jo.
EIT students living in Student Accommodation recently got together for a BBQ at the Village in Taradale.
“We’ve seen time and time again how students from similar backgrounds look out for one another, offering advice and guidance to help newcomers settle in.”
One student who has embraced the community spirit is Tripti Ligal of Nepal, working towards a Graduate Diploma in Business. “The Village has been a great experience for me,” Tripti says. “When I first arrived, I was homesick, but the accommodation manager and everyone here were so helpful in making me feel at home. It’s a wonderful community.”
EIT’s commitment to providing safe, supportive, and homely accommodation plays a key role in helping students succeed both academically and personally, creating an environment where they can focus on their studies and feel part of a global student community.