UCOL BLOG

UCOL is once again hosting the Kia Maia Careers Expo for 2012.   

In its third year, the annual event is a cooperative initiative, involving Te Wananga -o -Aotearoa, Te Wananga-o-Raukawa, Massey University, START Youth Transition Services, and UCOL, designed especially for Maori learning choices.

The Expo has a number of unique features. Although four training organisations will take part, material is presented according to career and programme topics.

UCOL’s Community Liaison Officer Gloria Evans says the Kia Maia Expo is the only careers event to do this. “The displays are divided into programme topics, such as business, science and health, rather than displays for each institution,” she says. “Visitors can then go to an area of study they are interested in, and compare each provider’s programmes.

Read More: “City’s tertiary educators team up for Maori careers expo”…

UCOL says it’s great news for the region that more than half of those in the finals for Innovate Manawatu awards are aged under 25.

Entries for the competition also included 80 from UCOL students and 80 from Massey University students.

UCOL’s Deputy Chief Executive Strategy Clare Crawley says this early stage creativity confirms the region’s strength as an excellent environment for young, entrepreneurial talent, supported by the presence of two leading tertiary education institutions.  “It’s a strength that allows us to take a very positive view of the future of Manawatu, as these young people add to growth and progress,” she says.

Innovate Manawatu announce the Top Ten finalists at a special event in Palmerston North tonight (Thursday).

Read More: “Young entrepreneurial talent shows through”…

UCOL student Larissa Rzoska has been named as one of the country’s Top 9 apprentice bakers.

She is one of nine finalists in the annual Weston Milling competition to find the best apprentice bakers in New Zealand. The competition is supported by the Baking Industry Association of New Zealand.

Larissa will join the eight other finalists at a two day training course with baking professionals at Heavens Training Facility in Napier before going on to the final bake-off at the Fine Food Show in Auckland on 18 and 19 June.

The training course will include an event in Napier on Tuesday 15 May organised by the Baking Industry Association to allow employers and training providers to meet the Top 9. Read More: “Larissa one of Top 9 apprentice bakers”…

More than 80 people who have completed industry training qualifications will celebrate at the Regent on Broadway this Friday during the ninth annual Trades Graduation.

The event recognises the achievements of those in the Palmerston North, Manawatu, Rangitikei and Tararua regions who have gained their qualifications in 2011.

UCOL’s Executive Dean of Trades and Technology Kelly Gay says, as a big player in trades training in the region, UCOL is delighted to support and sponsor the event. Read More: “UCOL celebrates with trades graduates”…

Senior lecturer in photography Ian Rotherham features in the latest issue of F11, an Auckland-based, international web publication for photography aficionados.

Ian has been teaching photography at UCOL for 10 years and F11 says he lives what he teaches, and practices what he preaches. “He’s a Polaroid aficionado, and we’re delighted to share some of his instant pictures with you.”

The featured photographs include several taken by Ian during research by a team of Bachelor of Applied Visual Imaging lecturers on trends in typography in signage.

On teaching, he says: “There’s an old saying: ‘Those who can do, and those who can’t teach’. But I’d rather stand up in front of 200 people at a wedding (which I’ve done hundreds of times) than, tethered to a 40” screen, shoot a portrait in a third-year class and face the prospect of — if that shot isn’t perfect first time — having 20 critics picking it apart… and they can smell fear. The other side of that saying is: “Those who can, can’t always teach” – respect to all teachers. Read More: “Ian Rotherham in black and white (and colour)”…

The scholarships are aimed at teenagers who are ready for a new educational challenge, have made a start towards NCEA, want to enrol in full time tertiary study, and want to learn practical skills.

Funded by the Ministry of Education, and administered and delivered by UCOL, the scheme allows students to participate in tertiary education without accumulating debt.  Read More: “Young UCOL students challenged to succeed”…