Tertiary options in one handy book
Published on 03 November 2015
The Programme Directory of Learning Opportunities 2016(PDF, 700KB) is available for people wanting to find out more about tertiary level study and career services in Whanganui.
The directory, which is available in digital and hard copy and is in its third year of print, is one of the outcomes from the Wanganui District Council/UCOL Collaborative group which looks at ways to provide training to those not engaged in employment, education or training. The UCOL Taskforce was formed in 2013 to retain good tertiary education and training options in our district.
The directory includes a variety of Whanganui education providers and uses the vocational pathways tool developed by Careers NZ to help learners decide which direction they want to take. It also includes a list of youth services and study resources.
Mayor Annette Main, Chair of the UCOL Taskforce, says it is great to have a resource which lists all tertiary study options available in Whanganui.
“A directory with all the options available helps promote local tertiary education to our young people after they’ve finished school as well as attracting people from other parts of the country to come to Whanganui to study. We’ve got a wealth of education providers in our district, more than most people probably know. Having all the options in one place is an invaluable resource, not just for school leavers who are seeking further learning opportunities, but for everyone on their learning journey.”
“The directory also supports the 100% Sweet programme, which is a Mayoral Taskforce to ensure 100 per cent of young people are in employment, education or training”.
Wanganui Tertiary Education Collective Chair Peter MacDonald, who worked with education providers to create the directory, says schools are already using the directory and “finding it a great tool”.
“People from other regions who would like a similar tool have asked us how we worked together on the directory because it is perceived that education providers are competing for students. But every education provider in our district wants to work toward the greater good of young people and working in partnership is something Whanganui does well.
“We might consider developing an app in future so when information is updated the guide doesn’t need to be redesigned and printed. We want to support people in our district to stay and succeed here, so an app would be a good way to use technology to map learning and career options.”
The directory is available at www.wanganui.govt.nz/tertiary(PDF, 700KB) and at the Wanganui District Libraries.
