UCOL BLOG

Former Makoura College student Lisa Preston has won a UCOL scholarship for effort and achievement in 2011.

Lisa is currently in her first year of the Diploma in Veterinary Nursing, moving to Palmerston North to study at UCOL’s Palmerston North campus.

The scholarship assessors said she has proven herself to be an exemplary student.

Lisa is a well-rounded young woman. As well as excelling in her study, she has won awards for sport in Masterton, including ‘Junior Sportswoman’ and ‘Contribution to Sport’ awards. In Masterton she also gained experience, working part time at the Masterton Seed and Pet Shop.  Read More: “UCOL scholarship for Masterton Vet Nurse student”…

UCOL Wairarapa Nursing students are celebrating the end of their Nursing State Finals, after completing the three year Bachelor of Nursing degree.

Twenty seven students sat this year’s New Zealand Nursing Council state final examinations, which allow graduates with a degree to become registered nurses and enter the workforce.

Student Support Team Leader Sharon Joliffe says they are set to make a contribution in the health sector, in the Wairarapa region and wider afield.

  Read More: “Celebrating the end of Nursing State Finals”…

Wairarapa secondary school students now have extra opportunities to make a head start on training for a well-paid job in trades.

UCOL is one of 10 training organisations nationwide appointed to lead new trades academies, providing tertiary level training for secondary students Years 11 to 13. They continue study at their school while gaining a tertiary qualification through the academy.

The new U-Skills Central Schools Academy has allocated extra places to the Wairarapa from its allotted overall pool of 100 places. Some are being filled by students from Makoura College which is partnering with U-Skills as a Hub school to provide tertiary-level trades training on site to the students. Further places are available to students at other Wairarapa secondary schools who can study at the UCOL Wairarapa campus.

The U-Skills Central Schools Academy allows students to make a start on a tertiary trades qualification while they are still enrolled at secondary school, studying for NCEALevel 2. The aim is to transition students from secondary into tertiary education and help meet skill shortages by encouraging young people into trades. Read More: “Extra places for trades training in the Wairarapa”…

Jacqui Phillips, the new manager of the UCOL-led U-Skills Central School Academy, will be a familiar face to many as she talks to schools and businesses in Whanganui.

Her background makes her a good fit to lead U-Skills and includes a period as Registrar of Electors for Rangitikei and Whanganui.

Jacqui took up the position of manager during October, in time to take part in the naming of the new academy. She says the title reflects the importance of partnerships with schools in the success of the academy.

It is part of Jacqui’s job to foster the partnerships with hub providers and develop new ones with other schools. “We have Awatapu College in Palmerston North, Makoura College in Masterton, Horowhenua College, City College and Intranz in Whanganui as hub providers, providing training for students on site.  Read More: “New manager for U-Skills trades academy”…

Georgia Mills and Toby Bryant, both aged 15, are amongst the first Manawatu students to sign up to study with the new UCOL-led trades academy, U-Skills Central Schools Academy.

They say they’re making the move to give themselves a head start on training for a well-paid job.

Both are students at Awatapu College – one of several ‘hub’ schools who will offer training onsite during 2012, in the U-Skills academy’s first year. Academy students from other schools in Palmerston North will study at UCOL where a new trades facility is being built.

Awatapu already has its own ‘trades academy’ but Trades Coordinator Bernie Dowrick says the U-Skills model creates a better pathway into tertiary study. He says it is an excellent opportunity for students to get a feel for training at a tertiary level, at no extra cost. “They can leave school with both NCEA Level 2 and a tertiary qualification. Even if they decide not to pursue a career in the trade they study, the experience will leave them in a much better position to make the right decisions about their futures.”  Read More: “U-Skills trades academy takes off in the Manawatu”…

UCOL Certificate in Contemporary Music students will pour a large serving of Instant Brew – Volume Two at their end of year show. The show, at the Regent on Broadway on Saturday 19th November, is open to the public.

The title reflects the range of music genres and disciplines the graduating class has studied during the year, including Rock, Reggae, Blues, Pop, and Urban.

The 35 students taking part will perform their own original music, including lyrics, as well as some covers.  Programme Leader Kane Parsons says, “After a year of putting students in many different combos for different genres, they’ve progressed to producing high quality original songs and arrangements.”

The students have recorded and produced a CD of their original sounds for sale on concert night.

There’ll also be a DVD for sale, thanks to the Music students’ collaboration with students on UCOL’s Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging programme (BAVI).  BAVI students studying film have created music videos of the Music students’ songs, while BAVI illustration students created a dynamic poster to promote the concert. Clips from the DVD will be posted on UCOL’s Facebook page and on YouTube.

Kane hopes to see Palmerston North taking a real pride in the achievements of the Contemporary Music students: “It’s been a very fruitful year, watching talent develop and begin to find their own feet. This concert will leave the public amazed at the musical prowess on offer in this city.”

Tickets for the show cost $5 for students and $10 + booking fee for the general public, available at TicketDirect at The Regent on Broadway.  CD’s and DVD’s are $10 on the night.

When: Doors open 7.30pm for 8pm show, Saturday 19th November.

Where: The Regent on Broadway.

Photo: Sam Nelson performs at last year’s Instant Brew concert.