Scholarship Recipient: You don’t have to be fully ready before you start

How a CGF scholarship is helping turn study into practice

For Tianyi Yin, building a career in New Zealand's construction sector has always meant learning far beyond the classroom.

Tianyi came to New Zealand to study quantity surveying, and she is now in her second year of the Bachelor of Construction (Quantity Surveying) at Otago Polytechnic's Auckland campus. As an international student, she began her studies with a great deal to absorb. Industry standards, contract systems, construction methods, and a workplace culture that shape projects in New Zealand were all unfamiliar to her.

Rather than seeing that unfamiliarity as a barrier, Tianyi treated it as an invitation. From the very start, she went looking for ways to broaden her knowledge, connect with the industry, and gain real experience. And the more she has learned, the more certain she has become that she has found the right path.

"As my studies have progressed, I've become increasingly confident that quantity surveying is the right career for me. I enjoy working with numbers and analysing information, and I like solving practical problems." says Tianyi.

Building knowledge beyond the classroom

With support from a Construction Growth Foundation (CGF) scholarship, Tianyi completed additional training in NZS 3910:2023 and construction programming through Timewise Limited. Together, these courses have helped her strengthen the link between what she studies and the way construction projects are actually planned, administered and delivered.

"For me, what I learn in the classroom is the foundation. The CGF scholarship gave me the opportunity to build on that foundation through professional training and greater exposure to the industry," says Tianyi.

The construction programming course deepened her understanding of project scheduling and planning. The NZS 3910:2023 course opened up the world of construction contracts, and it is the piece of learning she points to as having made the biggest difference.

Before the training, her grasp of contracts was mostly theoretical. Now she can see clearly how payments, variations, extensions of time, risk allocation and contract administration play out on real projects.

"Studying NZS 3910 and contract administration is the learning experience that has had the biggest impact on me."

Tianyi Yin (centre) with Timewise tutor Karsten Thomsen (right)

Connecting learning with industry practice

That knowledge has followed Tianyi straight into her internship, where it has helped her make better sense of contract management, project collaboration and the way the wider industry works.

It has also shown her that becoming an effective quantity surveyor takes more than technical know-how. Alongside the numbers, she has come to value two skills in particular: problem-solving and communication.

The scholarship eased some of the financial pressure that comes with professional training, freeing Tianyi to focus more fully on her studies and her development. Just as importantly, it gave her a stronger sense of belonging to the industry she hopes to join.

"Having the support from CGF has given me more confidence and motivated me to keep developing myself," says Tianyi.

Confidence to build a career in New Zealand

Tianyi's goal is to become a capable quantity surveyor here in New Zealand, steadily building her commercial management knowledge and project experience as she goes. She is honest about being early in her journey, and comfortable about being open-minded and learning to make the most of every opportunity until she finds the corner of the industry that suits her best.

Her story reflects the wider purpose of CGF scholarships: lowering the barriers to professional development, and helping people build the knowledge, confidence and industry connections they need to become part of construction's future workforce.

Ask Tianyi what she would say to anyone thinking about further study or applying for a scholarship, and her advice is warm and refreshingly free of pressure. “Don't wait until every step feels certain,” she says.

"Especially as a student, it is normal to have limited experience. If you keep waiting until you feel ready, you can miss a lot of valuable opportunities. So, my advice is simple: just give it a try. Don't worry too much about whether you are already good enough. Many skills, and much of your confidence, are built by taking action and gaining experience. You don't have to be fully ready before you start."

If Tianyi's story resonates with you, we would love to help you take your own next step.

Find out more about CGF scholarships and training support.