The postgraduate education institute academyEX, formerly The Mind Lab, has initiated a scholarship scheme directed towards individuals who have lost their job or been affected by restructuring. The scheme encompasses the institute's Master of Technological Futures and Master of Change and Organisational Resilience programmes. According to Simona Turin, CEO of academyEX, "Now is the time for the private sector to step in and support the local business community to become future ready as how we work continues to evolve."
In answer to the economic distress currently faced by a significant number of public and private organisations, academyEX offers self-paced learning with an 85% completion rate, making it suitable for a diverse audience. The program success is evidenced as 82% of Masters of Technological Futures students experience a significant step change such as a promotion or starting their own business, and 78% reported getting a pay hike.
The Career Change Scholarships being offered take 50% off for successful candidates (for their July onwards enrolment) for these Master’s programmes. Additionally, for short courses, they are providing an EXplorer Scholarship for Micro-credentials. The latter is a full fees scholarship with an administration fee of just $50 per course.
Turin asserts that the uncertainty led reorganisation efforts are happening due to a lack of preparedness for the evolving future. academyEX, founded on the premise of lifelong learning, emphasises that continuous self-education is increasingly crucial given the rapid changes occurring due to technologies like artificial intelligence and cloud computing. The institute aims to arm the current employees to "understand and get ahead of change" through its robust learning programs in the fields of technological disruption and leadership.
The hybrid courses, designed for connectivity particularly when performed remotely, put learners in a community of change-makers and industry shakers for support throughout the journey. Turin believes that self-change management and upskilling is the best strategy people can employ when facing the insecurity of a restructure.
academyEX has a substantial track record of upskilling New Zealanders. It is the company behind MBIE’s Digital Boost, a free online learning program funded by the Ministry of Business Innovation and Employment (MBIE) that is designed to assist small business owners in digital transformation. Another successful project is the award-winning Digital Passport, created in collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development (MSD), which offers free learning modules on digital literacy and crucial job market skills.
With job landscapes constantly evolving, continual upskilling is a necessity for New Zealanders regardless of their career stages. In conclusion, Turin stated, “We're proud to be supporting ongoing productivity by providing more affordable pathways to progress for those impacted by this massive change."