'Fees free' U-Skills courses a hit

Fees free UCOL-partnered U-Skills Central Schools Academy programmes are running in Wairarapa, Palmerston North, Levin and Wanganui. Pictured is the UCOL Whanganui campus.

Hundreds of secondary school students are vying for places on the UCOL-partnered U-Skills Central Schools Academy programmes, running in Wairarapa, Palmerston North, Levin and Wanganui.

U-Skills "fees free" programme, which is run in partnership with colleges in the central region, including Wairarapa, offer secondary school students a way to gain extra NCEA credits and tertiary qualifications in a range of industries, says academy manager Jacqui Phillips.

The academy, which also aims to assist young people to explore career options, gain connections with employers and transition into further training or employment, has this year more than doubled to 260, the number of Ministry of Education-funded places since its launch in 2012.

Mrs Phillips said more than 300 Year 12 and 13 students were seeking placement on one of the 17 programmes running at UCOL campuses in Wairarapa, Palmerston North, Wanganui and Levin that cover topics like construction, creative arts, manufacturing and technology, service industries, and social and community services. "Students' applications need to be supported by their school, and transport to and from programmes is provided for the students at no cost," she said.

"This year we will have students from 30 secondary schools across the region attending U-Skills, one day per week in the programme of their choice," Mrs Phillips said.

U-Skills Academy students are "getting a lot out of the programmes", she said, which provided from 40 to 60 credits at Level 2 or 3 for graduates.

"Last year, Ministry of Education-funded students who completed the full year with us gained 92 per cent of the credits available to them, a great success rate," she said.

U-Skills programmes of study in 2014 include Construction Level 2, Graphics and Design Level 2, Applied Engineering Level 3, Automotive Level 2, Electrical Level 2, Mechanical Engineering Level 2, Fashion, Hair and Beauty Level 2, Hospitality Level 2, Business Administration Level 2, Young Enterprise Scheme Level 3, Health Level 3, and Careers Development Level 2 and Level 3, which is delivered to all U-Skills students, who also must undertake a programme of careers and personal development on top of their vocational study. UCOL also offers Youth Guarantee scholarships for 16- to 19-year-old school leavers, and STAR programmes for students "to get a taste of a subject or job area that interests them, and learn new skills that can help them move into study or work".