Work-integrated learning creating shared value for students and businesses alike
Master of Professional Business Analysis (MBusAn) students are applying the professional skills they've developed throughout their studies to deliver ongoing solutions for local businesses.
This year, several MBusAn students partnered with businesses based in the Taiawa Wellington Tech Hub, providing a unique opportunity to collaborate with organisations operating within Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington's broader innovation ecosystem.
Located at the University's Pipitea campus, Taiawa Wellington Tech Hub provides a collaborative environment that supports innovation, knowledge-sharing, and meaningful industry engagement.
Among the businesses hosting student projects this year were Cogo and Numa, two companies who noted the sudents' work produced insights they expect to continue using.
Numa is an AI-powered platform that helps businesses streamline administration and operational processes.
Working with Numa gave MBusAn student, Grace Nguyen, the opportunity to apply her analytical skills in a professional environment while developing a stronger sense of her future career direction.
"As I complete both this project and the Master of Professional Business Analysis programme, I leave with a clearer understanding of the type of business analyst I aspire to become: evidence-driven, stakeholder-focused, adaptable, and willing to challenge assumptions in pursuit of better organisational outcomes.
"The Numa project provided an authentic opportunity to begin developing that professional identity, and its lessons will continue to shape my future practice."
Numa CEO, Asa Cox, says working with the students was rewarding on all levels.
"The quality of their work, research, insights, and presentation all surpassed my expectations.
"Their work has already had a material impact on our product strategy, something we would not have unlocked ourselves. The small investment in time is well worth it."
Dr Jocelyn Cranefield, Academic Programme Lead for the Master of Professional Business Analysis, says the industry project transforms how students experience their learning.
"By the time they enter the project, they've developed a strong foundation from their courses that build core analytical and professional skills. Then, working with real organisations, including Taiawa partners, they apply those skills in practice.
"With support from client and academic supervisors, they tackle real challenges, contribute meaningful work, and build confidence in their capabilities. It's hugely rewarding to see the quality of their solutions and the value they create, and we're very grateful to the organisations who partner with us to make this possible."
Cogo, a company that helps households make informed decisions about upgrades such as solar power, electric vehicles, heat pumps, and hot water systems, also worked with MBusAn students this year.
For student Manmeet Singh, the project demonstrated how business analysis can contribute to addressing complex sustainability challenges.
"This project reinforced my interest in the intersection of sustainability, technology, and business strategy. Spending twelve weeks immersed in the Australian sustainability ecosystem, the home electrification policy landscape, and the mechanics of how mission-aligned organisations can work together to drive household climate action has deepened both my knowledge and my motivation in this space.
"Cogo is working on a genuinely important problem and the experience of contributing to their Australian market entry strategy, even at this early stage, felt meaningful in a way that purely academic work rarely does. If this project is any indication of what a career in sustainability-focused business analysis looks like, it is a direction I am very much looking forward to pursuing."
According to Cogo's Josh Dry, the students delivered insights with immediate practical value.
"Working with the Te Herenga Waka MBusAn teams has been a real highlight for Cogo. The depth and rigour the students brought to their research was genuinely impressive, in places sharper than the preliminary work we'd done ourselves.
"We're walking away with two pieces of work we'll actually use: a channel-partner go-to-market framework that shapes how we scale, and an Australian supplier onboarding playbook that has effectively pre-loaded conversations with our priority partners across the Tasman. For a small team like ours, having capable, curious people dig into our hardest strategic questions is hard to overstate."
For the Wellington School of Business and Government, the partnership with Taiawa Wellington Tech Hub creates a unique environment where learning, research, and industry engagement come together in one place.
Having businesses co-located on campus gives students direct access to organisations tackling contemporary challenges and provides opportunities to build professional networks before they graduate. It also enables businesses to engage with talented students who can bring new ideas and analytical expertise to strategic projects.
For academics, the collaboration helps ensure programmes remain closely connected to industry practice while creating opportunities for meaningful partnerships with organisations across the Wellington region.
As the number of collaborations grows, the relationship continues to demonstrate the value of work-integrated learning. Students graduate with practical experience and greater confidence in their capabilities, organisations gain high-quality insights and solutions, and the University strengthens its role as a connector between education, industry, and innovation.
Alumni and businesses who may be interested in partnering with us to offer work-integrated learning are welcome to get in touch with us.