Graduates vital to industry: English

Queenstown Resort College plays a special role in the education system, graduates and their families were told by the Deputy Prime Minister and MP for Clutha Southland Bill English when he spoke at the graduation ceremony at the Millennium Hotel on Saturday.

The graduation was only the second since the college opened in 2006 and the first for diploma of adventure tourism graduates, 17 of whom had their diplomas conferred.

Another 27 students graduated on Saturday with a diploma of hospitality management and higher diploma of hospitality management.

Mr English told the graduates they were the future leaders of the tourism industry, and as such were vital to the largest single industry in the country.

Furthermore, in initiating the courses, Queenstown Resort College had responded to changing tourism industry needs, something traditional tertiary education providers were not always good at doing, he added.

"Much of our public tertiary system could learn from Queenstown Resort College and the way it's gone about its business," Mr English said.

He complimented the college on its industry focus and the students on their professionalism, which was better than when he was their age.

The tourism industry demanded such professionalism for the country to succeed in the highly competitive global tourism market, he added.

Mr English's words were supported by college chairman Eion Edgar who, in his closing address, said the achievements of the students reflected the success of the college as a private education provider.

Mr Edgar offered two pieces of advice for the graduates.

"Never do anything you wouldn't be comfortable to read on the front page of the newspaper.

"And clean your teeth. A smile and good manners go a long way."

Diploma of Hospitality Management and Higher Diploma of Hospitality Management: Jennifer Bye, Joshua Davies, Thalia Evans, Cameron Finlayson, Hannah Fredricson, George Gaddum, Lucy Gain, Chantelle Hadley, Stephanie Havard, Kelly Holmes, Eun-Ae Hwang, Sophie Hyde, Kristen Israel, Barbara Jenner, Han Kang, Jacob McDonald, Lucy Mathews, John Matias, Ann-Marie McKenzie, Adrienne Miller, Anna O'Tolle, Kathy Potter, Sophie Pring, Aftaab Sandhu, Alexander West, Denis Willis, Marjoree Wimmers.

Diploma of Adventure Tourism Management: Sarah Clayton-Greene, James Coventry, Jehan Driver, Michael Galley, Clare Gordon, Arpan Keshav, Tenzin Lal, Emma Mason, Nicola Miller, Oliver Popley, Jack Randall, Michael Rose, Graeme Sharp, Guy Steel, Louise Stewart, Amanda Wheeler, Hamish White.