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Tuesday, 08 June 2010 16:03 |
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Our man in the field for Tools4Work/Competenz, Brian Lane, carried out a number of PD sessions and had an incredibly positive experience engaging with schools on the East Coast of the North Island recently.
Of special note was the full-immersion high school in Ruatoria, Te Kura Kaupapa Maori O Te Waiu O Ngati Porou, where students are making impressive progress with their hands-on learning in mechanical engineering.
The school is developing their technology facilities under the highly capable direction of the school's principal, and ex-boiler maker, Phil Heeney.
Brian and the team checked out the school's facilities, and were impressed with the resources Phil and his teachers have built up to create a complete hands-on learning environment for their students.
Furthermore, Brian was moved by the conscientious, ‘can-do' attitude displayed by the Ruatoria students during his visit, and the enthusiasm they had for their trades-training at school."They were just so keen, well-prepared, and had some really good questions about how they could improve their skills and knowledge, which is really encouraging," says Brian.
On his journey around the sunny East Coast, Brian also dropped into Ngata Memorial College, Campion College, Waikohu College, Gisborne Boys High School, and Gisborne Girls' High School to provide support and see what's new in their trades training.
Gisborne Girls' High is actively engaging students in Gateway placements, giving their young women exposure to a variety of workplace learning opportunities, including the wider engineering sector.
"Good quality resource materials, like those provided by Tools4Work, are a great support tool," says the school's HOD Careers and Gateway/Star Coordinator, Jo Graham.
"More young women should be introduced to the trades as a career option, and the work that schools like Gisborne Girls' High are doing to support this is fantastic," adds Brian.
On his way back to Auckland from his East Coast trip, Brian joined several ITO representatives at a Careers Roadshow event organised by the Tokoroa District Council.
If you are would like to enquire about setting up a future professional development session for you or your team, please contact Brian Lane - National Moderator, Schools, on mobile 027 243 7367 or
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Tuesday, 08 June 2010 12:15 |
Recently the management of the Group apprenticeship schemes for the engineering sector have come back under the management of Competenz, the ITO for the mechanical engineering industry.
The ATNZ Trust has been established to actively employ apprentices signed into the scheme, and they will be placed into seconding companies to carry out their on-job training for the duration of their apprenticeship.
Competenz's nationwide team of trade training account managers will recruit, mentor, support and assess apprentices who are on the Group scheme throughout their training.
So what does this mean for you and your students?
It means you can contact us direct to find out about engineering apprenticeship opportunities for your current senior engineering/technology students with the aptitude, can-do attitude and desire for a career in the mechanical engineering sector.
Some of our local account managers across the country will be actively working with companies to create seconding work opportunities, and recruitment of potential apprentices to fill the available roles.
Because ATNZ employs the apprentice, a qualifying process is required to ensure candidates ‘fit the profile' required to successfully enter into an apprenticeship.
For more information click here to visit our ATNZ website, or call our Customer Support freephone number 0800 526 1800 to be put through to your nearest Competenz account manager. |
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Tuesday, 08 June 2010 12:00 |
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The Gateway Programme has been in place for some time, providing students and employers with great workplace learning opportunities. Right now Tools4Work/Competenz are looking to work even more closely with Gateway Coordinators nationwide, to strengthen the pathway for good, keen learners to progress from school into workplace learning, through apprenticeships or other structured training programmes.
Work experience is a powerful tool to help students to make important career choices, and to give industry a chance to trial potential employees who are interested in workplace learning.
Gateway supports senior secondary students (Year 11 to Year 13) in state or integrated high schools to undertake structured workplace learning across a range of industries and businesses around New Zealand, while continuing to study at school.
Gateway delivery involves arranging structured workplace learning with:
• a formalised learning arrangement set in the workplace
• clear understandings about the knowledge and skills to be attained by learners
• clear understandings about the assessment method used (workplace learning)
There is no cost to learners as funding is provided to meet the costs of workplace learning placements.
Because not all schools have their own Gateway Coordinator or links to one, schools may engage a broker to provide all or some of the activities involved with setting up Gateway placements.
Funding may be used to meet the costs of a using a broker, and meet the costs that schools and employers incur in arranging and managing workplace learning, including assessment.
We can help point you in the right direction to engage with a broker nearest to you. Contact Brian Lane on 09 539 9817, or click here for a list of schools involved in the Gateway programme >>>
Click here to find out more about the Gateway Programme >>> |
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Last Updated on Tuesday, 08 June 2010 14:31 |
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Tuesday, 08 June 2010 11:51 |
Tools4Work is proud to once again be a supporting sponsor of the NZ Secondary Schools Mini-Moto GP event, which is on the rise for another exciting year. Tires will smoke and the flags will fall on Tuesday 19 and Wednesday 20 October when this year's event roars to life at Manfeild Raceway in Feilding.
Last year's event attracted schools and students from all over the Manawatu, Wanganui and Hawkes Bay regions, and even as far afield as Gisborne, the Coromandel, and Nelson.
"This event and project is a great endorsement of engineering trade training - students are achieving unit standards toward their Level 2 National Certificates in Mechanical Engineering, using T4W resources to support their unit assessments," says national schools moderator, Brian Lane.
"We're pleased to support this event alongside UCOL, and other groups, who all play a vital role in equipping our budding engineers and motor-mechanics with real-world skills and knowledge, ready for further training and industry careers when they leave school."
A key safety precaution for this year's event is the introduction of a compulsory, small membership fee for competitors to join the NZ Mini Moto Club (NZMMC), which means all competitors will be covered by the club's insurance while competing at this event.
If your school is taking part, be sure to avoid disappointment and get your students registered with the NZMCC now.
Click here to download the insurance forms for your students >>>
(Scroll down to the MINIMOTO FEES AND MEMBERSHIP FORMS).
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Tuesday, 27 April 2010 16:33 |
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The 2010 Grass Kart Challenge is shaping up to be an exciting event, with 19 teams from 15 high schools from across the Otago, Southland and Canterbury regions confirmed to participate so far.
The regional launch events took place last month - and now the build-phase is kicking into high gear for each of the teams.
But there's far more to this Challenge than meets the eye. Teams are judged on a number of criteria that test their kart-build planning, record keeping and presentation skills - all of which are vital skills for budding young engineers looking for a possible career in this valuable trade.
The Grass Kart Challenge is an opportunity to provide students with an innovative, exciting and engaging learning experience. Teams are assessed on the quality of their kart's construction, record-keeping and documentation of their progress throughout the build, and of course the kart's appearance and performance on the race days later this year.
Finally, teams must present to the judges on their experiences building the kart, describing any challenges they faced, and how they overcame them.
Each region will also host a Mid Build event, where teams from schools within those regions can get show the progress they're making on both their karts and the work they've put into meeting all the other criteria for this Challenge. It's also a chance for teams to get advice and guidance from local experts, to ensure their kart build stays on track for completion and meeting the final judging criteria.
The Mid Build events will be held on Wednesday 21 July (Canterbury), Thursday 22 July (Otago), and Friday 23 July (Southland) respectively.
High schools confirmed to participate include:
Southland: James Hargest College, Southland Boys High School, Central Southland College, Northern Southland College, Aurora College, Tuatapere Community College
Otago: Roxburgh Area School, Twizel High School, Logan Park High School
Canterbury: Aranui High School, Burnside High School, Darfield High School, Lincoln High School, Rangiora High School, and Rangiora New Life High School.
This year the final race-off for the Grass Kart Challenge will be held in Invercargill on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 October. The teams from all the schools will come together to race their karts against each other in a series of events, including a slalom and team relay race - it's the ‘cherry on the top' for the students who've worked so hard all year on their projects.
It's also where the karts and teams will be assessed and final results tallied, to find out who the overall Grass Kart Challenge champions will be for 2010.
To learn more about the Grass Kart Challenge and race event click here. |
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Last Updated on Wednesday, 28 April 2010 10:09 |
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