UTSNZ’s Tertiary Challenge Series Breaking Down Barriers for ITP Students
For students studying at Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs), staying involved in organised sport comes with unique challenges. Unlike universities, ITPs don’t have designated sports departments, making it harder to coordinate teams and access facilities. With diverse student demographics, including part-time and short-course learners, the sense of community often fostered through traditional sports programmes can feel out of reach. Recognising this gap, UTSNZ has been expanding its Tertiary Challenge Series - a flexible and inclusive initiative hoped to engage more ITP students alongside their university peers.
Through formats that include online and physical events, UTSNZ has made it possible for students from all institutions to stay connected to sport, reaping the rewards of physical activity, mental well-being, and personal growth. For archery enthusiasts Orion Elward and Ben Way (both studying at Unitec Institute of Technology), the Tertiary Challenge Series has been a game-changer in keeping their passion for sport alive while juggling study demands.
“It has been quite challenging to find the time”
For Orion Elward, maintaining his commitment to archery alongside his tertiary studies hasn’t been easy. “I’ve personally always wanted to excel in archery and so I have been making sure to keep at it,” he shared. “It has been quite challenging to find the time to keep shooting as much as I’d like, but I’ve been working with some other archers so myself and them can keep shooting during class time and with assignments due.”
Orion highlighted the Tertiary Archery Challenge as a valuable way to stay engaged and motivated. “I found it fantastic as I could regularly compete against other archers around the country that I would not normally be able to shoot against. I find it good to have competition almost all the time as that forces me to improve and get better and stronger.”
Beyond competition, archery provides Orion with balance and peace. “I have always found archery as a sport gives me a sense of peace and helps me clear my head, particularly after a tough week at uni. It’s what helps me recover. On top of that, I like to solve problems, and trying to improve my archery skills is essentially finding faults and fixing yourself.”
“I found competing online very easy”
For Ben Way, studying at Unitec meant adjusting to a heavier workload, but he was fortunate to have his archery club nearby. “Having started competing in tournaments while I was in high school, I found it easier to maintain my current schedule when transferring over to Unitec. Another factor that helped my training is that Unitec is down the road from the archery club, allowing me to finish my classes and walk up for a quick shoot.”
However, balancing study and sport wasn’t without its challenges. “Some challenges I had transitioning were the difference in the workload - the change made it harder to allocate time for me to focus on my training. But as I have gotten through the first year, I have become more confident in my ability to effectively manage my time between school and archery.”
Ben also praised the flexibility of the Tertiary Archery Challenge, which allowed him to compete online. “I found competing online very easy. Obviously, it’s very different to competing in a tournament where you are surrounded by other archers competing for the same thing. I found it easier because there was significantly less stress and anxiety when doing a league instead of a tournament.”
He also shared how archery has helped him navigate the pressures of student life. “My main motivation for continuing archery while studying is the same reason why archery benefits me as a student - by giving me something to look forward to outside of school, especially when classes are going into the later stages of the year when assignments are due.”
The Tertiary Challenge Series: A Path to Inclusion
The Tertiary Challenge Series has been designed with inclusivity in mind, allowing students of all abilities and institutions to participate. Its flexible format - spanning online leagues and physical competitions - removes barriers to participation, especially for ITP students who might not have access to on-campus sports infrastructure or teams.
By actively expanding the Challenge Series, UTSNZ is creating meaningful opportunities for tertiary students to stay connected to sport. These initiatives not only help students like Orion and Ben manage the pressures of tertiary study, but also highlight the importance of sport in maintaining mental health, building skills and forming connections.
UTSNZ Confirms Plans for 2025
In addition to UTSNZ's flagship National Tertiary Championship Series, big things are also on the horizon for the Tertiary Challenge Series in 2025! UTSNZ is teaming up with key partners to expand and innovate this inclusive framework, providing even more opportunities for ITP students to get involved. With a dynamic mix of both new and familiar sports set to roll out across the year, 2025 promises to be an exciting and accessible year of sport for all tertiary students.
Watch this space for more information on 2025 Tertiary Challenge events coming soon!
Posted: Mon 27 Jan 2025