About Jason

Student Success Tutor: I've lived this

My talk is walked with 100% integrity and congruency. That is why this academic life coaching is so profoundly powerful and different to all other study skills and student tutoring services. I offer a fully supportive framework, developed since 1989, three decades, through university studies, post graduate research, working with schools and one-on-one and workshops with students and adults.

Applied Experience

with 6 years postgraduate academic research

The principles embodied in this service have also been applied to commercial settings, not just education. Everything that is shared I have lived, experienced and tested through trial and error. This is why I can define the nuances of different approaches and techniques.

I researched my in-school study skills course effectiveness with students' final marks in national qualification exams. My Masters thesis examined the effectiveness of these learning techniques when applied in a nationally recognised commercial leadership training course.

Jason Hopkinson
M. Com (Hons); B. Com & Mgmt (hons); Pg Dip AFIS
Teacher Effectiveness Training Instructor
Internationally certified NLP trainer, Master Practitioner and counsellor
Cert IV Training & Assessment TAE40110
Student motivator and Study skills instructor

Experience in Learning & Development disciplines

I only share what I have actualised within myself. That’s my assurance of credibility and quality. I have:

Thirty years of extensive research and training in the areas of learning, learning design, motivation, depth psychology, personal development and leadership. The focus was on how to practically apply this in study, school and the workplace.

Been at the leading edge of education and learning since 1989. I was the first student ever at Lincoln University (New Zealand) to draw mind maps in lectures. This was new note taking method was found amusing by the lecturers.

Built on my personal research to graduate with a Masters Degree (Hons) thesis focusing on The Application of Accelerated Learning to Management Training with the NZIM (New Zealand Institute of Management).

Undertook PhD research on leadership development. As part of that I developed a theoretical base to extend Carl Jung's model of Individuation (including its importance to leadership development). In the following years since 2001 my observations and experience proved accurate regarding this theoretical extension. The 9 pillar framework is a further refinement of this research and personal application.

Undertaken extensive training in counselling and communication skills. Internationally certified Trainer of NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming) since April 2000 and NLP counsellor (1995). See Richard Bolstad's reference who was my supervisor at this time.

Employed full time in a High School after my Masters Degree teaching students these study skills. I worked with Christine Ward who has self published four books including Learning to Learn (which has sold over 100,000 copies and is still being reprinted 25 years later).

Undertook research at a high school showing students who attended my High School study skills classes increased grades of by an average of 10.6% (internal mid-year exams compared to external finalexam results). The random control group who didn’t attend only increased a 5.6% in national final year exams. Please note; this was for 6 classes only and was not one-on-one tutoring which is more effective.

I Worked in and consulted with schools, training teachers on training, being a Student Success Tutor, counsellor and workshop instructor.

Received parental feedback over 3 to 6 years after the academic life coaching is that students who had the private tutoring continued to improve and stay focused for long periods after coaching finished. I received comments like "he made it to university which I really didn't expect" which was four years after coaching finished.

I used these Student Success skills sets in a postgraduate diploma in accounting which secured three job offers from global accounting firms. I was the first student at University of Canterbury to undertake Tax and Advanced Tax subjects at the same time, special permission was granted to allow this. The 15% grade jump shown in my academic record demonstrated I had the learning capacity to cope with an advanced subject while concurrently studying its pre-requisite.

Everything shared is from solid experience and actual achievement in these methods.

Model Excellence: My Mentors

This is what my Mentors have to say about me

These three referees below are also role models and mentors in their fields. It has been a great gift to work with and be supervised by these people. This academic life coaching service is to pass on this gift of a lifetime to others.

I have trained and supervised Jason. He is committed to his clients and to the process of supervision, systematically reviewing and learning from each client case. He has rapidly integrated the core helping qualities and therapeutic techniques into his way of being with those he assists.
Jason prepares extremely thoroughly for each session, and operates with a clear understanding of the ethical guidelines underlying counselling.

His study skills programme is an inspired application of the latest accelerated learning techniques. He is a thorough, encouraging and personally respectful guide for those who are ready to reach more of their potential and discover skills they didn’t realise they had.

Jason has considerable training in the field of interpersonal skills, motivation, counselling and negotiation. He is a supportive and inspiring group leader, committed to the success of the people he works with. He takes the time to check others concerns, is respectfully assertive, and knows how to develop win-win solutions in a practical setting. Jason is one of those people who gives complete attention and energy to the project he is involved with. He'll be up front, vitally involved in your organisation, and willing to go that extra kilometer for the success of a task. Jason would be a valuable resource in any organisation where team development, negotiation, and management skills are at a premium.
Richard Bolstad, PhD. World Leading NLP Trainer
Fellow Member Trainer of NLP (IANLP), Transformations International Consulting & Training Ltd, Author of 10 NLP books in over 8 languages

"I had the pleasure of working with Jason Hopkinson, teaching study skills to students in the school where I was Head of Counselling.
Jason had developed a personal approach to mindmapping and associated skills which he passed on with enthusiasm and effectiveness to staff and teachers.

I am happy to endorse Jason's new systems to train today's youth in those essential skills which are vital to enable life-long learning.
Although we use digital systems for so much now, all learners need to understand and use their brain's unique storage system, which does not work digitally. Successful study has always required activation of body, mind, and spirit (head/hands/heart) which Jason calls the Learning State.

Jason Hopkinson knows about these connections and will use them, I'm sure, as an essential foundation for his study skills training. These skills he teaches gives students skills and confidence for life.”

Christine Ward Founder of Brainfriendly Teaching and Learning


Co-author of 'Learning to Learn', (100,000 physical books sold, self published)Author of 'Study for Success', 'Teaching to Learn', 'The Parent's Homework Handbook'.

"In 21 years of supervising and mentoring Jason I can say categorically he operates from integrity and congruency.
He examines any topic beyond completion to mastery. His insights and depth of inner peace make him a trailblazer for others to learn from, and enhance their life.
Jason’s wisdom has been earned through life’s tough lessons. He is a role model and guide of what possible for us all.”
Miriama: Supervisor and Mentor

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