Wairarapa pathways to future careers

MOO: Solway College student Julia Ryan, 15, with dairy calves.

Over 300 Year 10 students in the Wairarapa region got a taste of tertiary study with UCOL Wairarapa and Taratahi Agricultural Training Centre over three Fridays.

The two institutes teamed up to deliver 'My Vocational Pathways Taster Days' for the region's secondary schools.

Each taster day consisted of five 40-minute interactive workshops at UCOL Wairarapa and included travel to and from the Taratahi campus.

Workshops covered beauty, hair, carpentry, automotive, health, hospitality, business administration, early childhood education, music and agriculture.

UCOL Wairarapa Campus Manager Angela Hewitt said the workshops align with Vocational Pathways.

"We want to inspire and engage students, and offer support with subject selection through Years 11-13 and future career choices.

"Vocational Pathways is a unique tool that helps individuals see how their strengths, interests and achievements can relate to study options and job opportunities. The taster days will allow students to get a feel for what UCOL and Taratahi offer and what they can study while at school through the STAR and Trades Academies programmes."