|
Guaranteed ApprenticeshipsThrough ACE Programmme
The Accelerated Career in Engineering (ACE) programme is a new 20 week pre-trade programme, which guarantees employment as an engineering apprentice upon successful course completion. The programme ensures all training requirements for the Level 2 National Certificate in General Engineering qualification are met , said Mike Grumball, Head of Trade and Technology at the Southern Institute of Technology.
Concerns had previously been raised by potential employers that the one year pre-trade programme did not adequately reproduce what a working environment should be like for students, with polytech attendance for three days, one days study leave and what had been an optional one days work experience per week. Also, students were generally unable to do anything of significance in the workplace because projects they started had to be finished by someone else due to job time constraints.
Engineering South (Engineering Trades Association Southland Inc.) Chairperson Michael Weusten said that although the new programme has a compressed timeline, it addresses all concerns, with students working a full 40 hour week every week, be it on work experience or at study. Students are required to fill out a daily time sheet that is signed off by tutors during their off job training and by their host company supervisor when on work experience.
They will be given four blocks of two weeks work placement, which ensures meaningful and relevant experience is gained to better prepare them for employment as apprentices. The course replicates an employment situation much more accurately, said Mr Weusten.
The ACE programme has been developed locally by the Southern Institute of Technology with the assistance of Southern Group Training and Engineering South. We believe it will become the standard programme throughout New Zealand, Mr Weusten said. Students are placed with a range of engineering companies throughout their four workshop experience to enable them to better understand the range of career options available in engineering.
The programme is targeted mainly at sixth and seventh form students who have decided not to go to university but want a viable and sustainable career path. We see it as complimenting the school offering for those not looking at university but wanting an equally rewarding career opportunity, said Mr Weusten.
However, the programme is not just restricted to new school leavers and people looking to re-train in the engineering sector are also encouraged to apply. Nine businesses are already committed to taking students for work experience and Mr Weusten expects at least 15 companies to be on board with the programme before it commences.
Students will be rotated through each area of the engineering sector for their work placements, giving them an all round, general idea of which area of engineering they would prefer to concentrate on. Previously students had to identify which trade strand they wanted to do, now they just need to know they want to be an engineer and are able to pick from the four strands available; " Machining (fitting/turning) " Sheetmetal (light fabrication) " Heavy fabrication (fitter/welder) " Maintenance and Diagnostics (preventative maintenance/engineering) Mr Grumball advises that the course curriculum includes drawing and design, welding, machining, health and safety, knowledge of metals, and basic engineering calculations.
On successful completion the graduates of the programme, as well as achieving the Level 2 National Certificate in General Engineering, are guaranteed employment as an engineering apprentice. An apprenticeship can be guaranteed, providing the person successfully completes the course, as the engineering sector has had an ongoing shortage of apprentice candidates with key shortages occurring in general engineering and light and heavy fabrication. said Southern Group Training General Manager, Glenys McKenzie.
Another benefit of the compressed programme is that it allows for two intakes each year, one in February and one in July. By running this course twice yearly, a double intake of potential apprentices is ensured for industry, with course graduates being available for employment both mid and end of year. Miss McKenzie said. The prospects for those successfully completing the programme, and then the full apprenticeship based Level 4 National Certificate in Mechanical Engineering, are diverse with the possibility on completion of their apprenticeships of direct employment as engineers in the maintenance sector with companies such as New Zealand Aluminium Smelters, Fonterra, or Dongwha.
Those interested in the manufacturing side of engineering can expect to find opportunities with the likes of E Type Engineering, Geo Wilson & Sons, Stabi-Craft or Crown Sheetmetal or the many general engineering companies located throughout Southland. Southland employers prefer to employ apprentices from within the ranks of those who have successfully completed a relevant pre-trade course, Miss McKenzie said.
An apprenticeship is still the only opportunity to be paid full time whilst gaining a worthwhile qualification and at the same time future-proofing their careers. There are also opportunities for successful graduates to go into their own business or progress into further tertiary study with the Level 5 (Advanced Trade), Level 6 (NZCE/Diploma in Engineering) and Level 7 (Batchelor of Engineering degree) National Certificates.
Along with all the obvious benefits of the new course the programme participants will be paid whilst studying with students receiving $104 pre-tax per week for the 20 week course duration. All course and material costs are also pre-paid by the programme and are underwritten by Southern Group Training and host companies by means of students completing their work experience component of the course. Students are required to undergo a pre-assessment and will be interviewed by representatives from the Southern Institute of Technology, Southern Group Training, and Engineering South.
Interviews have already commenced for the programme, but applications are still being taken and anyone interested should contact either Jenny Robertson at Southern Group Training Trust or Mike Grumball at the Southern Institute of Technology. The course begins on July 2 and finishes on November 23, so successful graduates from the course will be entering into their apprenticeships from the end of November. |
