UCOL Wairarapa amps up training for job seekers

UCOL Wairarapa amps up training for job seekers

UCOL Wairarapa is turning up the volume with a newly launched programme to help young people find jobs.

The Certificate in Tertiary Study programme, informally called AMP’d (Applied Motivational Professional/Personal Development), is designed as a staircase into job, or into further training towards a career goal. It is aimed at 16 and 17 year olds who have disengaged from education but realize they need more training to become employed in a job they enjoy.

AMP’d students can earn the Certificate in Tertiary Study Level 1, National Certificate in Employment Skills Level 1, and/or NCEA Level 1.

The programme is funded by TEC, meaning students pay no fee. In return, students must show a commitment to the programme by participating in all aspects of it, and be motivated to succeed. UCOL Campus Manager, Angela Hewitt, says “Prospective students are assessed for these attributes and entry is not automatic. There is a selection process set by TEC and UCOL targeting youth who are best suited to gain the most from this programme.”

She says the programme introduces its young students to a stimulating environment where they can learn really useful study and employment skills in a practical way. “We welcome applications from young people who have struggled to gain proficiency scores in literacy and numeracy because we know AMP’d can improve these skills and many others. The key to the success of this programme is its practical application.”

Students take part in classes in Cookery, Construction, Sport and Outdoor Recreation, Early Childhood Education, Health and Science, Business Administration and Computing, Hairdressing and Beauty. “By the time they have finished the course, they may have experienced six or seven different career choices,” says Angela. This diversity enables students to make informed choices about career goals.

Some may start the course with one goal, but end up with a new one based on their new-found passion for a specific industry.”

The programme caters for up to 21 students who can start their course at any time through the year.

AMP’d is totally integrated into the UCOL Wairarapa campus. The students are a part of the student body and have access to the same facilities, including all student support services.

Programme Leader and Youth Coach, Brett Tickner, says each student’s needs are assessed individually and they are each given their own education plan.

“The teaching team committed to this programme is made up of well trained staff members who have cleverly embedded literacy and numeracy tasks within the programme,” says Brett. “We have challenged ourselves to create a learning environment that is stimulating and relevant to AMP’d students.”

In addition to potentially gaining qualifications, students learn a variety of personal skills including CV preparation, and how to apply, present and interview for a job.

Life-skills are also subtly practiced during the programme. “For example, the Cookery practical requires the students to launder their kitchen wear and learn to cook nutritious meals,” says Brett. “Sometimes the qualification is not necessarily the most important outcome for these students. AMP’d students can achieve great things simply by improving their chances of finding a job.”

If you think AMP’d is for you or someone in your family, please contact Sharon Jolliffe on 9462309 to make an appointment to discuss the programme in more detail.