Santiago had completed two years study in Audio Production at MAINZ (Music and Audio Institute of New Zealand) Christchurch for a diploma and wanted to continue with the Bachelor in Audio Production at SIT, but he couldn’t spend the whole year in Invercargill. “I didn’t want to lose the house I had, plus I had a few commitments in Christchurch…” he explains.
However, a solution was at hand for Santiago with SIT’s HyFlex delivery mode which is available on the Audio Production degree as well as a number of other SIT programmes.
Having already had a four-year career as a Rope Access Technician, Santiago was motivated to retrain in Audio Production because he wanted to work in a sector he felt passionate about. It also provided the opportunity to progress from a physically demanding job into a more sustainable career.
Situating himself in Invercargill for two months, then completing the rest of the year in Christchurch, Santiago’s final-year major project was the implementation of sound design for a game, where the sounds react to the players. “I had to learn a new software to put sounds into the game so they’re adaptive to the player; I enjoyed the challenge.”
Santiago also enjoyed living in Invercargill. “Everything was very close; study was walking distance,” and admits he was quite surprised at how good SIT’s campus was. “The facilities were great, everything you needed was there.”
“I never had the university experience; it was quite nice to mix with other people who were studying degrees. If you’re passionate about what you want to study, it’s a good place to focus.”
While he acknowledges it’s “a bit scary taking that leap” and move locations, Santiago relished his time in the south and made the most of its stunning scenery. “There are beautiful places all around, just one hour’s drive - Hump Ridge Track and the Catlins; the beaches are beautiful; everything is very accessible.”
Upon returning to Christchurch, HyFlex allowed Santiago to easily structure his life, such as no commute to classes, which was a big time saver. “The day was shorter studying from home … I was able to achieve the degree more on my terms,” he says.
He found the toughest part of undertaking home-based studies was time management and self-discipline. “…in your final year you have a lot more freedom. I had to keep reminding myself to stay on top of things.”
And Santiago has nothing but praise for SIT’s Zero Fees Scheme. “It was fantastic; I saw it as I was getting paid to study, which is amazing.”
Recalling discussions with his MAINZ classmates about whether they should go down south to complete their degrees, Santiago is delighted he was one of the graduates who went and pursued the opportunity. “It helped to solidify all the things I learnt in the first two years, and I’ve learned so much more. I’m glad I did it. In hindsight, it definitely was the best decision.”
Since graduating in 2025, the icing on the cake for Santiago has been achieving his goal of finding work in the sector, as an Acoustic Engineer for Powell Fenwick Consultants. “I’m very happy to have this opportunity,” he says cheerfully.