Baby Steps For Ashburton’s Learning Hub Project

Thursday, 27 June 2024, 6:41 pm
Article: Jonathan Leask - Local Democracy Reporter

Ashburton principals are throwing their support behind a learning hub, which could offer tertiary training in Mid Canterbury.

It's not yet know what tertiary training could be offered, or which students would benefit, as the council's plan to set up a tertiary learning hub in the region.

The Ashburton District Council's initial report on the hub is due out in August. It has $50,000 budgeted for a feasibility study in 2025/26 in the long-term plan.

Compliance and development group manager Jane Donaldson said the study will develop the concept, but "no work has been done on that yet".

“While existing providers in the tertiary education space are doing a good job delivering education, we are looking for a way to deliver tertiary options for people here without the need to travel to Christchurch or Timaru.

“We see that lobbying for tertiary education options is a function of economic development so that our district’s workforce has the skills that align to the needs of our businesses.”

Ashburton College principal Simon Coleman said he has attended one meeting about the learning hub project and is supportive of the concept.

“I think it is a wonderful opportunity given our geographical location and needing to travel to access tertiary opportunities.

“The opportunity it presents for people in our workforce to upskill and stay within our community is very important and I look forward to supporting this initiative.”

Mt Hutt College principal Jack Saxon wasn’t aware of the council’s learning hub plans but said he has been working with them as part of a steering group looking at the school’s Ōpuke Innovation Hub.

“Our project is ensuring that our school-aged students don't need to travel off-site to access trades and agriculture training, whereas I am assuming the council is focusing more heavily on school leavers and keeping them in the community by offering tertiary training here.”

He thinks the hub idea “is a fantastic one”.

“It would address the ongoing training needs for plenty of our vocational pathways, and cut down the significant travel time that currently exists, whilst also encouraging many of our 18-21 year olds to stay in our area rather than looking elsewhere for tertiary options.”

The project is in its infancy after being included in the economic development strategy developed last year, and had its first six-monthly report earlier this month.

In that update, economic development manager Simon Worthington said a report will be coming to the council covering the exploratory phase of the learning hub.

The preliminary work has been focused on engaging with key stakeholders and examining the existing provision and delivery of training in the district, he said.

The council has data on every school leaver and what tertiary educator they went to from the last three years and is seeking similar figures on apprenticeships, Worthington said.

The research is the first step towards analysing possible learning hub models, with $50,000 in 2025/26 to undertake a feasibility study.

The report coming to the council in August will detail the research to date.

Councillor Carolyn Cameron was excited about the project.

“Ideally it sounds wonderful to invest in tertiary education in this district.

“But we would like to make sure there is a demand before we make that investment.”

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