The PGC-HPDE aims to equip professionals with the knowledge and skills to be successful in increasingly complex, ambiguous and technologically-advanced professional environments. Specifically, it is a qualification designed for New Zealand professionals from diverse industries, organisations and communities who need to extend and contextualise their knowledge of digitalisation, emerging technologies, societal shifts and new organisational systems so that they can lead future-focused initiatives within their specific fields of work or expertise.

Graduates of the PGC-HPDE will be able to: 1) Evaluate the impact of digitalisation, emerging and disruptive technologies, societal shifts and contemporary organisational systems in relation to their professional practice. 2) Apply a critical knowledge of digitalisation, emerging and disruptive technologies, society shifts and contemporary organisational systems in their professional practice 3) Generate sustainable and strategic initiatives in response to rapidly changing work environments within their professional practice. 4) Evaluate and develop personal and collective capability to lead strategic initiatives in response to rapidly changing work environments.

Graduates of the PGC-HPDE may progress into further postgraduate study, in particular within programmes with a
professional focus e.g. professional Master's degrees and Doctorates.

To be admitted to the PGC-HPDE , all applicants must: Have a recognised bachelor's degree or equivalent professional qualification or higher; and a minimum of two years' work experience in a field impacted by the Digital Economy; Or Have at least four years professional experience in a relevant industry or community demonstrating equivalence or higher to the qualification stated above. Note: To ensure that the PGC-HPDE is relevant to the applicant a brief Statement of Intent is required. In addition and at the discretion of the admission/selection panel, interviews may be required.