“It’s incredibly satisfying to see students receive job offers as a result of their hands-on experiences.”
Sanjeev Vellore Ranganathan’s focus on real world experiences strikes you as he begins to talk about what he loves about his work. The man from Hyderabad has built quite a reputation for himself at Unitec, where he works as a senior lecturer in management.
“I enjoy placing students in the industry. The biggest roadblock for migrant students here is a lack of New Zealand experience. I try to bridge that gap.”
Sanjeev teaches applied operations, a Level 7 course and Supply chain design @ the Masters for applied business, at Unitec’s Mount Albert campus. He is also Co-ordinator of the Bachelor of Business and Bachelor of Accounting Internship-Based Learning (IBL) programme at the facility.
His focus on job placements features in nearly every conversation you have with his colleagues.
“My work requires me to be in touch with the market, and that comes in handy when I am getting students placed in internships or connecting them with prospective employers,” he says.
Sanjeev moved from India to Australia in 2005 for his masters in logistics.. He lived their for six years doing private jobs, then went back to India before arriving in New Zealand.
“I like the peace and calm of this country. My stints in Mumbai and Sydney were quite hectic,” says Sanjeev, who lives in Auckland with his wife and two children.
He took the plunge in the education industry once he moved to New Zealand, taking guest lectures and picking up extra teaching assignments.
A big part of his role at Unitec is to work with students on real time problems, which requires him to set up industry gigs for his pupils.
“Just a few days back we went to Gilmours for an industry visit. We converted that into an assessment for students. This way they got realtime experience, and it also created an opportunity for them to interest the client with their skills.”
Malama Saifoloi, Academic Programme Manager at Unitec, says Sanjeev's keen interest in applied research in the supply chain and operations field is key to his students’ success.
“It’s a dynamic discipline – constantly changing. Sanjeev researches local and global trends, so he knows how best to prepare students and how to keep the IBL programme and his teaching relevant," she explains.
Sanjeev's teaching style balances research-based insight with a keen eye for practicality – he wants to set his students up to hit the ground running as they start their careers. He uses a mixture of lectures, group work, and one-on-one support to make learning as effective and engaging as possible.
"Sanjeev's classes have always been closely linked with the real world," explains former student Ricky Dragland, who now works as National Workshops & Reverse Logistics Manager at FujiFilm NZ.
Ricky frequently thinks back to his classes with Sanjeev. "A lot of his teaching and advice I still use every day, in both work and personal life."
Ma'ata Lavaki Ma'u, Student Representative with Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand, points to Sanjeev's ability to deliver complex academic concepts alongside realistic workplace advice.
"His seminars taught me and my fellow students a lot about being professional and self-reliant in the workplace," she explains.
Sanjeev's teaching style balances research-based insight with a keen eye for practicality – he wants to set his students up to hit the ground running as they start their careers. He uses a mixture of lectures, group work, and one-on-one support to make learning as effective and engaging as possible.
"Sanjeev's classes have always been very engaging and closely linked with the real world," explains former student Ricky Dragland. Now working as National Workshops & Reverse Logistics Manager at FujiFilm NZ, Ricky frequently thinks back to his classes with Sanjeev.
"A lot of his teaching and advice I still use every day, in both work and personal life," Ricky says.