Matthew Sorola

Matthew is currently pursuing a PhD, and sees his course as a solid foundation on which to build his academic career.

Initially, I was interested in Victoria University of Wellington because of the work Professor Judy Brown had done in the field of social and environmental accounting.

I had multiple Skype interviews with her in the process of applying, and felt very comfortable—this was a level of personal involvement I did not find in any other potential programmes.

I'd never been to Wellington before I came to study, but it only took a week for me to know I’d made the right decision. I was surrounded by people involved in the same process as me, who would engage in constructive debate.

The learning environment for PhD students is just what I was looking for, and I believe it will increase my capacity for critical analysis and give me a solid foundation for a continued role in academia.

I've had the opportunity to live in various parts of the world, so it is with great confidence that I can say Wellington is a great place for me to study. As a "suspended backpacker"—I'm originally from Texas—Wellington is also ideally located in New Zealand for quick (and cheap) weekend trips!