Flexibility with training and study
‘‘This is a real improvement to what we’ve seen in the past where people can fall through the cracks if they either move into fulltime work, or even if they lose their employment.’’ Andrea Leslie, Primary ITO Executive general manager
Agriculture students at the Southern Institute of Technology will be able to get into work faster thanks to a new training option.
SIT is joining Tai Poutini Polytechnic and Primary ITO on a training initiative that allows students to share their time between tertiary education providers, shifting their training focus depending on work opportunities.
The collaboration builds on a pilot West Coast programme that started earlier this year, Tai Poutini Polytechnic Board chair Rebecca Keoghan said.
‘‘By working together, we can offer learners a seamless transition between work and study. If they are studying at a polytechnic and find a job, they can start right away without losing momentum. Likewise, if the job they’re working on ends, they can continue their polytechnic training.’’
The NZ Certificate in Agriculture (Level 3) programme involved in the pilot is modulebased, with each part designed as manageable ‘‘chunks’’ of learning, which can be done in the order that best suits the learner.
As an example, a new worker starting out on a dairy farm in the summer might choose to learn about milking and milk quality, and then move into other issues like calving and feeding during other times of the year.
Primary ITO Executive general manager Andrea Leslie said the key difference to other programmes was that learners could seamlessly move between learning at a polytechnic, to on the job, or back to the polytechnic without disrupting their studies.
Traditionally, learners at polytechnics were full-time or part-time students, while trainees and apprentices learned mainly on the job with industry training organisations (ITOs).
‘‘This is a real improvement to what we’ve seen in the past where people can fall through the cracks if they either move into fulltime work, or even if they lose their employment.’’
SIT board chair Alison Broad said that SIT was excited about the potential of the joint initiative.
SIT operates the Telford Campus, which has been identified as a key asset to primary industry, and it will be a significant asset to learners and employers, and to the development of the new initiative.
The collaboration with SIT is also supported by the Hokonui Runanga.