KEY POINTS:
Waitakere College Year 13 student Lara Houghton wants to train as a nanny and travel overseas.
So, to make sure she is making the right career choice, she went along to experience the Early Childhood Education Diploma through Unitec's Student For A Day (SFAD) programme.
Secondary students get a taste of the programmes offered on campus "before they take that step to enrolling", says Alovale Faaiuaso, who has taken over the role of Unitec's school programmes co-ordinator from Mag Rahui, who started the pilot in 1994.
"You don't want to waste a lot of money enrolling and then dropping out."
Last year, 540 students took advantage of SFAD.
As well as being available through schools' careers advisers, the programme can be accessed through Unitec's website.
"Once the request went online we had a lot of mature people inquiring about it, as well as secondary school students," says Faaiuaso. "They have left school, probably had a bit of work experience and are coming back to re-qualify or to gain qualifications to further themselves in their jobs."
Programmes of interest are widespread, from vocational courses, applied technology and trades to degree programmes like architecture, natural sciences and animal health.
Screen arts and sport have been especially popular this year.
"We place students into a programme they are showing interest in. And we try to weed out those who just want a day off school. With SFAD, they are much further down the decision-making line."
Lara Houghton says her day at Unitec was "definitely worthwhile. I could see what the students were learning and what I would be up against. I realised the diploma would be the best choice because it would give me more options".
She recommends the experience. "SFAD can help [students] decide whether a course is their passion or just a passing interest. They can see what the next step they need to take is."
She would have liked more time on campus. "There was too little time to take everything in. Another day or two would have given me a better understanding."
School careers advisers appreciate the scheme, too.
Robyn Bear, HOD careers at Massey High School, says the programme provides a useful service to students and, on the whole, runs well. "Just occasionally there is not enough lag time between getting letters to us and the SFAD happening - we need at least three days before to make sure students get all the info," she says.
Lorraine Jackson, careers adviser at Onehunga High School, says: "The day is always well organised from orientation to completion; students receive letters well ahead of time re where/when to go etc.
"Sometimes it takes a little while to get, other times it is prompt. I imagine it depends on the generosity and support of the staff involved."
All students benefit from the experience, "from the academically able to the unsure, perhaps vocational-orientated student or the reluctant learner. Unitec is the most successful individual SFAD tertiary provider in Auckland, but MIT also offers informative, department-orientated workshops."
Waitakere College careers HOD Kubi Witten-Hannah has found SFAD invaluable both for students with a clear plan and those who are still making up their minds.
"For some students who, for example, want to do vet nursing because they love animals, SFAD may show them that there is a lot more to the choice that they are thinking of.
"For some students, SFADs help them make informed choices and for others, who may already know what they want to do, SFAD eases the transition from secondary to tertiary. Alo has just taken over SFAD and it is a programme dependent on the co-ordinator networking within the institution, so it has slowed a bit. But I am confident that it won't take Alo long to get it back up to full speed.
"SFAD has been a real star for Unitec. The students have always been made to feel welcome and comfortable. I have never had a student regret going, even if they change their mind about what they want to study.
"Perhaps a schedule of opportunities and times that could be available for different faculties might allow faster turnaround, but I would be reluctant to see too many changes."
DAY TRIPPING
* Students can go online (www.unitec.ac.nz) to look at Unitec's careers page and choose a programme they are keen on.
* The next step is to complete the Unitec Student for a Day booking form. School careers advisers can help with this.
* Alovale Faaiuaso: "Once we confirm a date, students get a confirmation letter with instructions. At the beginning of their visit I take them for a brief orientation of our student services. Then they are handed over and they sit in on existing classes."
* A follow-up pack is sent to students with information about student services and the programme they attended.
* Contact: Unitec school programmes co-ordinator, ph (09) 815 2947, email studentforaday@unitec.ac.nz
