Get Set for '26 helps learners make confident start

_{A "student hacks" workshop underway at Ara's City campus}

Ara Institute of Canterbury’s Get Set for ‘26 series has helped people move from pondering to progress as they prepare for study in 2026.

Following a successful pilot last year, Get Set for ‘26 returned during January with events across Ara’s Trades, City and Timaru campuses - offering learners direct access to enrolment services, StudyLink support, programme advice and student support in a single visit.

Blair Kaad, Ara’s Community and Outreach Manager, said the series was designed for the moment when learners and their whānau were looking for clarity and practical help.

He said enrolments were completed on the spot at each of the events and there was high demand for campus tours and workshops.

_{Campus tours were popular at all Ara campuses}

“Get Set for ‘26 is designed for taking action," Kaad said.  “Bringing our experts together in one place meant learners could talk things through, get their questions answered and find out where to go - right from on day one on their new study path.”

Unlike traditional Open Days, Get Set for ‘26 focused on supporting learners who were ready to act - whether that meant verifying documents, exploring funding options or double-checking study pathways with staff and current students.

Learners attending the events came from a wide range of motivations and backgrounds, from school leavers exploring creative pathways to people reconsidering their options after time in the workforce.

_{(L-R) Xanthe Bridgeman supports friend Frankie Kelly and Aleisha Smith with enrolled ākonga (student) Chloe Harvey at Ara's City campus}

Looking to study in art and design, Frankie Kelly said the chance to experience Ara’s learning environments and specialist subject offerings had helped clarify future plans.

“It’s so different from school - there’s such a mix of styles and approaches. Being able to ask questions and get answers - even to questions I hadn’t even thought of  - really helped me decide what to do next,” Kelly said.

For others, familiarity and confidence were key. Ethan Simpson, who plans to study the Level 4 New Zealand Certificate in Exercise before joining the Air Force mid‑year, said the event helped him feel prepared.

“It’s been great to get to know where things are so I can find my way around easily when I start,” he said.

Chloe Harvey, preparing to begin a MAINZ Audio Engineering  course at Ara, said seeing the facilities in person had reinforced her decision.

“I’m turning what’s been a hobby into a study path and I’m really excited about it. I heard about the course from a friend down south and I’ve already moved up from Timaru to get started,” she said.

Kaad says Get Set for ‘26 complemented Ara’s wider engagement calendar by supporting learners at a different point in their decision making.

“We’re looking forward to our mid-year Open Day which is a great platform to showcase all of Ara,” he says. “Get Set for ‘26 has been a great fit for people wanting to take action now and get everything organised in one hit.”

From questions to clarity, the Get Set for ‘26 series helped learners turn uncertainty into clear next steps. But it’s still not too late to contact Ara’s enrolment team, with spaces remaining in some 2026 courses.