Joshua Turia
Master of Science in Geospatial Science student
He first discovered AUT and the geospatial science programme when he attended a regional GIS conference hosted by the university, says Joshua Turia, who came to AUT as an international student from Papua New Guinea, supported by a Manaaki New Zealand Scholarship.
“That visit gave me a real sense of the place, the people and the possibilities ahead. From there, it was an easy decision – I could genuinely picture myself studying at AUT and growing through the programme. It honestly felt like the right fit for me. I had the chance to meet students and staff during the conference, and the energy of the place really stayed with me. The programme, the teaching style, the syllabus and the learning outcomes all resonated strongly with what I wanted from my postgraduate study.”
He has enjoyed how hands-on and workplace-focused the programme is.
“Across both semesters, we’ve worked with peers on major projects, including a week-long field trip where we looked at real-world problems. Those experiences gave us the chance to engage with government and private stakeholders, listen to their stories and understand what matters to them. It made the skills we were learning feel practical and purposeful, and it gave me a clearer sense of direction.
“The programme has also included two networking events and the opportunity to attend the FOSS4G conference, a global event for open-source GIS professionals and academics. These experiences added so much to my learning and personal growth. They allowed me to connect with people from around the world, learn transferable lessons and build a valuable network of like-minded people. The teaching staff have also been incredibly supportive, sharing not only classroom knowledge but also insights from their own professional experiences. After graduating, I hope to apply my new knowledge and skills to support conservation and natural resource management initiatives in my home country, Papua New Guinea. For me, that would be a meaningful way to bring what I’ve learnt back home.”
Enjoying his time in Auckland
The cultural and social experiences have been a real highlight for him, Joshua says.
“Auckland is such a vibrant mix of cultures, and I’ve been able to build friendships with people from places I had only ever seen in movies or on a map. The student accommodation events were also a lot of fun and gave me a good excuse to step away from study for a while. Those little moments helped me enjoy my time in Auckland even more than I expected.”
There are two AUT staff who had a particular impact on his university experience.
“I found the staff and student services at AUT to be extremely supportive and kind. If I had to name two people who made a particularly strong impact on my academic journey, it would be Graham Hinchcliff and Professor Bradley Case. They taught me across my first and second semesters and helped shift the way I think about solving problems. Thanks to them, I have an even deeper appreciation for educators and the influence they can have on students.”
Advice for other students
Expecting to graduate from AUT later this year, Joshua has some great advice for other international students.
“As an international student, my advice is simple: don’t take the opportunity lightly but also remember to enjoy the journey. AUT is a highly recognised university with a wide range of student services designed to help students succeed academically and prepare for the real world. One standout service for me has been the Employability Lab, which hosted workshops and talks that strengthened my career prospects and gave me more confidence about what comes next and how to navigate it.”
He wouldn’t hesitate to recommend AUT to others.
“I’ve recommended AUT to people in my network, and I’ll happily continue to do so, especially to those in my field. AUT offers fantastic student support services, strong academic programmes and teaching staff who genuinely care about helping students grow into capable, confident professionals.”
