UCOL BLOG

Secondary students now have a great opportunity to earn a trades or technology qualification while they are still at school – at no cost.

UCOL is heading one of the Government’s new trade’s academies – called U-Skills Central School Academy. In partnerships with local schools, places are available to Wairarapa students in years 12-13 who are studying for NCEA level 2 and also want to gain a tertiary pre trade qualification.

Applications for study in 2012 are open now.

Read More: “Wairarapa teenagers offered free fees and transport for trades training”…

Some great new facilities will be ready for UCOL Wairarapa students at the start of the new study year.

Construction programmes such as carpentry and joinery will have a brand new facility to work from. Students will be able to build houses in a purpose built area on the upper campus’ Chapel Street frontage, in real, on-the-job conditions. A big new construction building will have all the equipment needed for construction activities covered in UCOL’s National Certificate in Carpentry, which offers students skills equivalent to those learned in the first year of a building apprenticeship.

The joinery programme offers foundation skills that prepare students for work within the industry. There are some free fee places available for 16 and 17 year olds who want to leave school but also gain some qualifications, as part of the Youth Guarantee Scheme.  People interested in this, and other Youth Guarantee programmes such as automotive, hairdressing, cookery, early childhood education, health science or business administration and computing, should contact Sharon Jolliffe at UCOL on 946 2300 up until 21 December and then from 9 January 2012. Programmes start in February 2012.  Read More: “New Facilities at UCOL”…

UCOL Wairarapa expects strong support from the Wairarapa music scene for its new Contemporary Music Performance programme, on offer for next year.

It is the first time a professional music qualification has been available at UCOL Wairarapa but Campus Manager Angela Hewitt says the programme can only go ahead if enough students enrol. “It has a strong practical component and involves students forming bands. It needs a reasonable number of enrolments to work as a study programme,” she says.

Programme Leader Kane Parsons, who heads the Contemporary Music programme from UCOL in Palmerston North, says the 34 week programme is based on the highly successful certificate offered by the Auckland based Music + Audio Institute of New Zealand or MAINZ.

“It’s a fantastic opportunity for musicians who already have some proficiency in singing or playing an instrument to improve their performance and learn new skills. We are big on live performance. Students form bands and are trained to perform in eight different styles during the year. There will be regular band rehearsals, 13 hours per week of classroom tuition and practical tuition and practical tutorials covering music theory, composition, and in arranging music.  Read More: “New UCOL programme supports Wairarapa music scene”…

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”…