Ara's Emerge exhibition showcases innovation and industry-ready graduates

_{L - R: Front row: Arsenie Sarmiento, Jacqui Webster, Yeshi Birhanie, Maryam Mohebi, Iris Guo, Maria Lisov, Sophia Liang. Second row: Christopher Ireland, Clarence De Jesus, Iolanthe Warburton, Cushla Guo, Terrence Beach, James Cross. Third row: Ollie McColl, Blake Davis, Craig Harris, Jan Ben Eric Escleto, Lex Suarez, David Watts. Fourth row: Jacob McLure, James Elliott, Flynn Stevens, Huy Nguyen, Graeme White, Josh Merkin. Fifth row: Daniel Templer, Steven Snelling, Adrian Lim.}

Ara Institute of Canterbury's annual Emerge exhibition shone a spotlight on the creativity and technical expertise of final-year Bachelor of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) and Graduate Diploma ākonga (students).

The highly anticipated showcase was the culmination of months of work-integrated learning, during which students presented projects that merged academic rigour with real-world application.

Emerge isn't just an exhibition; it's a launchpad for careers. Many graduates secure roles before completing their studies, thanks to Ara's strong industry partnerships and hands-on learning approach. This year’s event continued that tradition, highlighting projects that demonstrate innovation and practical impact.

The showcase highlighted the breadth of work produced by final-year students, with displays featuring software development, cybersecurity, networking, mobile technologies and information systems projects, all developed in partnership with industry clients.

Dean of Faculty – Applied Technology, Peter Sauer, opened the evening by emphasising the rigour behind the work on display.

"Ākonga spend a full semester working on their capstone projects, working closely with clients to solve real-world problems. It tests their talent and perseverance and ensures they're work-ready," he said.

For several graduates, their Emerge projects had already led to ongoing work or interviews, demonstrating the value of Ara's work-integrated learning approach and the strong engagement of local employers. Industry representatives were in attendance, talking with students about their project outcomes, career aspirations and the skills they've developed during their studies.

Guest speaker Stuart Dillon-Roberts, CEO and Founder of Hail and Careerwise, shared insights from his journey in technology and his company's innovative use of AI.

"I'm lucky to work at the intersection of creativity and technology," he said, reflecting on how Careerwise has gained 70% market share in two years.
Stuart spoke candidly about the transformative impact of AI on his business.

"Schools typically spend eight hours a week creating content. Hail takes that down to 30 minutes," he explained. "AI has given us superpowers. We haven't downsized; we've just got more efficient. AI has given us the toolset to do things efficiently – exploit it! Use it!"

He also shared valuable lessons from his early career, including learning to "stand back and ask the right questions to ensure you're solving the right problems" and to "never make an assumption without testing it first."

_{Guest speaker Stuart Dillon-Roberts, CEO and Founder of Hail and Careerwise, and Peter Sauer, Dean of Faculty - Applied Technologies}

Dr David Weir, course convenor and principal academic staff member, noted the dedication required to complete these final-year projects.

"What we see at Emerge is the result of months of collaboration between our students, industry partners and academic staff," he said.

"These projects showcase not just technical skills, but the problem-solving abilities and professional communication employers are looking for. It's incredibly rewarding to see our ākonga transition from learners to industry-ready professionals."

Zul Zakaria, Service Management Centre Manager at Tait Communications, was at the event looking for new talent. A graduate of Ara's ICT programme himself, Zul started at Tait in 2004 after being scouted by a former Ara graduate. Now managing a team of 26 at the leading critical communications solutions company, he represents the kind of career trajectory Ara's programmes enable.

"I'm proof of where an Ara education can lead," Zul said. "With 95% of Tait's products consumed overseas, we need people with expertise in network infrastructure and communications systems, which are used to keep communities safe around the world. Events like Emerge let us connect with graduates who have that hands-on technical experience and are ready to contribute from day one."

This year's Work Integrated Learning Project Top Student, Adrian Lim, embodies the pathway Ara offers to students seeking hands-on, industry-focused education.

After a semester at the University of Canterbury, Adrian realised the traditional university environment wasn't the right fit and made the move to Ara – a decision that proved transformative.

With five years of IT experience and a background as a combat medic, Adrian brings a unique perspective to software development. "There's nothing quite like the rush of leaving solid ground and trusting your training and your parachute," he said.

"That mix of fear, excitement and focus has shaped my ability to handle the unexpected. I bring that same spirit to software development."

During his project with Wedpro, a wedding planning company based at the Ministry of Awesome on Ara’s City campus, Adrian built a sophisticated wedding vendor directory featuring automated data scraping, vendor portal integrations and OpenAI-powered vendor data population. The solution makes it easier for administrators to scale and opens new revenue streams for future monetisation and growth.

The project's success extended beyond the exhibition. Adrian started work last week as a full-stack developer at hairyLemon, securing the role before completing his studies.

_{Left to right: Jeremy Ainsworth, Portfolio Manager, Adrian Lim, 2025 Work Integrated Learning Project Top Student, and David Weir, Principal Academic Staff Member.}

The evening also recognised excellence through additional awards:

• Work Integrated Learning Project Top Student: Adrian Lim
• Best Poster: Daniel Templer
• Highly Commended Posters: Reuben Davern and Cushla Guo

For students and their whānau, the night served as both a celebration and a milestone. Many commented on the confidence gained from presenting their work publicly and the excitement of stepping into a growing tech industry.

With strong employer interest and an expanding learner pipeline, Ara's ICT programmes continue to enhance opportunities for work-integrated learning and deepen collaboration with the sector.