FutureCOL's CEO plans for growth

New CEO of FutureCOL Bharat Guha plans to grow FutureCOL. He is taking over from Liddy Trotter who will later return in a support role. Photo / Warren Buckland

The new CEO of Hawke's Bay tertiary institute FutureCOL is the architect of the Southern Institute of Technology's (SIT) successful Zero Fee Scheme.

Bharat Guha's scheme has been credited with reversing Invercargill's declining population by attracting more students to the city.

Thanks to the 2001 scheme, SIT has a quadrupled roll, making it the sixth-largest government Institute of Technology/Polytechnic in New Zealand.

Mr Bharat was also deputy chief executive of SIT's corporate division, instrumental in setting up the Queenstown Campus and responsible for overseas marketing. SIT now has 1200 international students.

He and his Southland-born wife had no former links with Hawke's Bay but are happy to be in another rural-based region.

"The regions are the backbone of New Zealand, regardless of what the politicians say," he said.

He was shoulder-tapped for the job and plans to grow FutureCOL's roll of 300 students, half local and half international.

"We are small but we have a lot of expertise."

The Singapore-born Otago University graduate was once an international student himself and said many international students aspired to stay in New Zealand.

"It is very important we give them the training and understanding of what it is to be a Kiwi."

To that end SIT students were given free tickets for Southland Stags rugby games.

He said he is keen to foster community engagement, integrating the college's training with career opportunities, while also growing the number of international students.

"I'm very conscious of making sure there is a balance - I've noticed too many private training organisations in Auckland fully-focused on international students."

Following a close association with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt for events he is looking forward to meeting local mayors.

"I understand they are very supportive of international students."

Long-time CEO Liddy Trotter is taking a well-earned holiday and will later return in a support role.

She said Mr Guha's appointment came at good time. Thanks to the increasing international corporatisation of Hawke's Bay's primary industries, with many controlling the value chain, there was a growing demand for trained workers.