Photo caption: UC Employer Engagement Advisor Sneha Pardeshi with the NZAGE Best Employability Service award.
Held in Auckland last night, the 2026 New Zealand Association of Graduate Employers (NZAGE) Awards saw Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury (UC)’s Te Pokapū Rapuara | Centre for Employability & Career Development take home the Best Employability Service award.
The award recognises excellence in careers and employability services that prepare students for the transition from education into employment, while building meaningful connections with employers.
The Centre was recognised for its university-wide approach to employability, which brings together career development, work-integrated learning and employer engagement to help students build the skills, confidence and networks needed for their future careers.
Recognising the need to reach more students and make a meaningful impact, the Centre is embedding career development in and alongside the curriculum, rather than relying solely on students seeking career advice. This approach helps make employability an integral part of the student experience, while creating more opportunities for students to connect with employers.
Over the past year, the Centre has connected students with more than 200 employers through industry engagement activities, while its Peer Career Mentors initiative, which provides student-to-student career support, has contributed to a 25% increase in drop-in attendance.
Work-integrated learning opportunities have also expanded, with 442 students completing almost 400 projects with 244 partner organisations through the Professional and Community Engagement (PACE) internship programme, contributing more than 40,000 hours of workplace experience.
UC is also ranked second in New Zealand for employment outcomes in the 2027 QS World University Rankings, reinforcing its commitment to preparing graduates for successful careers.
The award reflects the Centre’s commitment to strengthening graduate outcomes through collaboration with students, academic staff, employers and industry partners
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