An exciting new approach to trades training is available in Wanganui this year.   The new approach involves Whanganui UCOL and Wanganui City College working together to build better pathways for school pupils to go into trades careers at a new Trades Academy.  The Trades Academy is based at City College and will initially offer carpentry training.

�We are excited to be part of this new initiative� said Craig Smith, Chair of the City College Board of Trustees.  �Wanganui City College students, and other students in the Whanganui region, will gain access to a wider range of skills and be in a better position to take up further trades and technology education or industry apprenticeships.� 

Equipment from Whanganui UCOL�s workshops will be moved to the Trades Academy.  �The extra equipment available in our workshops will add to the training that can be provided to our students and make their experience more trade relevant� said Mr Smith.  �This gives secondary school students a taste of the tertiary education environment in a gradual and structured way� he said.

The Wanganui Trades Academy will involve UCOL working closely with secondary schools to provide trades and technology training to their senior pupils. Under the existing Secondary Tertiary Alignment Resource (STAR) initiative, UCOL staff will now teach senior pupils at a pre-apprenticeship level.  This STAR programme is available to all regional secondary schools.   �The new approach gives a clearer pathway for young people to enter into trades training and progress to higher qualifications.  We hope it will make it easier for young people to see how to successfully progress into a career in trades and become qualified tradespeople� said Whanganui UCOL Principal Suzanne Frecklington.

In addition to the secondary school programmes, trade training is available for those who have already left school.  A pre-employment programme, the Certificate in Carpentry level 4, is available as well as a proposed National Certificate in Engineering.  �This will provide a greater pool of people who can go on to take up apprenticeships within industry or enrol in higher qualifications� Whanganui UCOL�s new Trades Academy Manager Steve Wharehinga said. 

Classroom teaching, for these programmes,  will take place at Whanganui UCOL�s new tertiary education campus on Taupo Quay, while practical teaching will occur at the Trades Academy site at City College.

We would be delighted to get a good number of enrolments to support the Trades Academy.  For more information about the courses available please contact the Whanganui UCOL Information Centre at 16 Rutland Street, or ring 06 965 3800. www.ucol.ac.nz