Certificate in Heavy Fabrication

THE COURSE

Manukau Institute of Technology's Certificate in Heavy Fabrication is a full-time course tailored to prepare people for apprenticeships in the general fabrication and heavy engineering industries.

The certificate is a level two NZQA qualification and it introduces students to the skills, knowledge and attributes that lead to employment as a heavy engineering fabricator, which involves forming, welding and joining pieces of steel more than 3mm thick.

Specialty areas of employment include steel construction work in buildings, bridges, large plants, ships, power projects, pipelines and the transport industry, as well as the mining and structural steel industries.

Students' work encompasses the theory component of the first year of an apprenticeship in either heavy fabrication, light fabrication or welding.

Students attend MIT for three days a week, for two 17-week semesters.

They spend a third of their time in the classroom and two-thirds in the seven specialist workshops equipped for light fabrication, heavy fabrication and all the different welding processes.

Students are advised to study for eight hours a week in their own time.

They are assessed through assignments, tests and practical projects and given work experience opportunities.

Applicants need to have completed three years secondary education and have achieved reasonable School Certificate or NCEA results in a range of subjects appropriate to a career in engineering (including practical subjects, maths, graphics and English) or be of mature age or a sponsored student with an apprenticeship or employment opportunity.

The next course begins in February and applications for the 15 places close when the course is full.

Course fees are $3556, including GST. Students need to allow approximately $738 for materials-related costs.

Students can study further for the level three and four NZQA qualification as part of an apprenticeship.

They can follow that with the Diploma in Applied Engineering (Heavy Fabrication), a level five course for those wishing to further their careers as supervisors and managers.

WHAT GRADUATES THINK

Caleb Hapeta, 21

Steel fabricator

EP Sargent Engineering

Graduated 2001

"I did it personally to build my self-esteem. I did not want to leave school and not establish myself in the community.

"I wanted self-respect and I thought doing some study would help with that.

"Heavy fabrication was hands-on. It opened up more avenues than other trades. There are more fields to go into like shipbuilding and building skyscrapers and bridges and stuff.

"I probably wouldn't have my job if I didn't do the pre-trade. I had no work experience.

"When I showed up here I was being turned away, but then I said I was doing a course at tech, and the boss had a look at the course programme and said he'd give me an apprenticeship.

"Work and what you learn at tech is a lot different. You do learn a lot of practical things which you might not use straight away, but they come in handy later.

"You can get started on basic jobs and work your way up and a little while later those skills you learnt at tech come into the workplace.

"If you get the best education in the trade that you can it opens up more avenues.

"It depends if you can foresee the opportunities and you don't mind getting your hands dirty. It is hard work."

WHAT EMPLOYERS THINK


Evan Sargent

Managing Director

EP Sargent Engineering Ltd

Papakura

"There are not many kids being trained nowadays, unfortunately, They just don't seem to want to do the industry anymore.

"So when we get a kid come along that does have a bit of qualification, then one grabs them.

"We have to expand on the course hugely once they come into the industry. But what they are shown on the course is very relevant to what we do.

"They have the basics and we take it from there - plus what they pick up at tech when they attend night-school and their block courses [for their apprenticeship].

"It's a sound scheme but I think not enough kids present themselves into the trade. I guess there is a shortage for all trades at the moment."

CERTIFICATE IN HEAVY FABRICATION

Manukau Institute of Technology

Phone: 0800 626252

Email: info@manukau.ac.nz

Salary: First-year apprentice: $8 plus per hour