Study programmes that encompass practical learning are helping EIT students to gain the knowledge they need to succeed in their future careers.
By spending weeks each year on work experiences organised through EIT’s extensive network of businesses and organisations, graduating students have an edge over other prospective employees.
The applied learning experiences are opportunities for students and potential employers to determine whether they are a good fit. That’s a win-win for both parties and validating for teaching staff who work hard to ensure students are ready to move into the workforce.
Cookery students spend 50 hours a year working in commercial kitchens while carpentry students often work on community projects up and down the East Coast.
Teaching, social work and nursing students go out on section as part of their degree programmes, choosing areas they are interested in specialising in later.
Work experiences allow engineering students to shape up their thinking around where their versatile qualification might take them. Working in businesses in the area, they are often offered jobs before completing their study programme.
The student work experience is also a popular concept with employers in the region’s forestry and horticulture industries.
Students enrolled in the 12-week New Zealand Certificate in Primary Industries (Horticulture) [Level 2] spend time in the field completing seasonal tasks under the supervision of tutor Andrew Baker, who has enjoyed a varied career in horticulture after completing a similar programme.
Several students graduated with job offers from Vigneto Ltd in Gisborne. Having worked there on placement, they gained knowledge and experience in summer pruning, harvesting, pest and disease control and environmental monitoring.
“They are crying out for people in the industry,” says Andrew. “We have this great opportunity to get students out there so they can gain hands-on experience in day-to-day seasonal tasks.
“Students will start at the bottom but can work their way up within New Zealand’s $7 billion horticulture industry or go overseas. This career has taken me all over the world.”
Another area where work experience benefits students is forestry. EIT forestry tutor Alan Paulson also has extensive industry experience.
He teaches EIT’s Certificate in Forest Harvesting Operations [Level 3] to give students as realistic an experience of logging as possible.
Blackstump Logging owner Wayne McEwan says Alan is a good tutor with his students – “he’s training them in health and nutrition, and they can cut straight.”
Wayne offered forestry student Shaun Whyte a job after seeing him in action on work placement.
“Anyone would have grabbed him. He was getting out of bed, showing up with a full lunch and working an honest day.”