On social media, the standard response to the discourse says STEM is one of the best ways to snag a high-paying, secure job post-study. With the arts, the classic unemployment line joke is made over and over again.

Ōtautahi is home to a thriving arts scene. At its centre are the tertiary institutions that feed into it, Te Wānanga, Ara Visual Arts and our very own Ilam School of Fine Arts. Despite students exhibiting at Ilam Campus Gallery most of the second semester, it doesn’t seem exhibitions get much wider university traction.

In Aotearoa we’re never more than 130 kilometres from the ocean. This makes it unsurprising that New Zealand is home to an estimated 145,000 surfers - roughly one in every 27 people.

Everywhere you look are cries of unemployment, and unfortunately there seems to be no simple answer.

It is no secret that Māori have troubled experiences within our education system, with comments from our peers like ‘you’re smart for a Māori’, or ‘you’re taking the drop out subjects aren’t you?’

AI is developing at a rapid pace and doesn’t look like it’s slowing down anytime soon.

As University students, AI has become a huge part of our world. Chat GPT and other AI-based software have become tools to help assist with assignments or, in some cases, do a whole thing.

“This incredible amalgamation of flavours fueled my semester abroad in Chile. I have accumulated a series of completos for your consideration if you, the reader, ever make it to that weirdly long country."

As a whole, the internet seems to be on a bit of a health kick at the moment, and it feels like everyone has suddenly become a runner and joined a run club.