Autumn 2005 Activity: New Zealand Program Grants First Global Assessment Certificates

The Global Assessment Certificate (GAC) prepares students whose first language is not English for study at an English-language university. Graduates take with them an ACT score and up to a year of college credit to transfer to one of the participating Pathway Universities in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, or New Zealand. Students also are well prepared to take either the IELTS or TOEFL exam.

The program, a product of ACT subsidiary ACT Education Solutions, Limited, is offered at 38 approved teaching centers in 12 countries. One of the centers, Unique New Zealand, recently graduated its inaugural GAC class of 10 students from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China.

The first GAC class at the Unique New Zealand school included students from Korea, Taiwan, Japan, and China.

More than 80 guests attended the ceremony, including Unique New Zealand students and teachers, families who host the students, and representatives of the local press. Murray McCully, a National Party member of New Zealand’s parliament, and Gaye Pullyn, academic director for ACT Education Solutions, Limited, presented the graduates with their certificates. Wearing graduation gowns, the students beamed throughout the ceremony.

“It was especially evident that close bonds between students and teachers had been formed at this school,” said Pullyn. “Directors Clive and Angela Oliver are to be congratulated on creating a school with such a high level of individual care and academic integrity. They have truly created a family at Unique New Zealand.”

GAC Graduates Can Apply to U.S. Universities

Upon successful completion of the GAC, students can apply to any Pathway University. More . . .

Offering a university preparation program was a bold move for Unique New Zealand. The school had already established itself as a provider of English-language programs for students from age 8 through adulthood. The directors researched a number of university preparation courses before committing to GAC. They liked the access to universities the GAC program offers graduates. Now that the first cohort has finished the program, the Olivers are happy with their choice. The course is well regarded by staff and students alike, they said, and they have had excellent support from staff at ACT Education Solutions, Limited.

Recent GAC graduates from Unique New Zealand have enrolled in universities in New Zealand.

Seine Furukawa, the top student in her GAC class, is from Kawashima in southern Japan. She is excited about commencing her bachelor of arts degree at Waikato University, where she plans to major in education and minor in either English or Japanese. Furukawa plans to return to Japan to teach when she completes her degree.

Brothers Hyuk-Pil and Hyuk-Joon initially enrolled in an English-only program, planning to go directly on to a university. When they realized they needed more preparation for admission to a university, they chose GAC at Unique New Zealand.

The brothers now have begun studying for bachelor of commerce degrees at the University of Ballarat at New Zealand International Campus in Wellington. They hope to transfer to the Australian campus before returning to their native Korea.

“Unique New Zealand’s first group of GAC graduates turned their dreams into reality by studying hard and working cooperatively to achieve results they had previously only dreamed of,” said school Director Angela Oliver. “Everyone at Unique New Zealand is extremely proud of them and looking forward to sharing news of their successes as they embark upon their university studies.”

For more information on Unique New Zealand, go to www.unz.co.nz (Opens new window).