Scholarships secured for Whanganui youth

Media Release

Wednesday 21 January 2014

Scholarships secured for Whanganui youth

At a ceremony on campus with staff and whānau, 31 Rangatahi (youth) were awarded Youth Guarantee scholarship certificates for fee free study at Whanganui UCOL.

Twenty nine students have now started study at Whanganui UCOL across four Level 3 programmes: the National Certificate in Business Administration and Computing, the Northland Polytechnic Certificate in Whakairo (Visual Arts), the Certificate in Hairdressing (Salon Support), and the National Certificate in Hospitality (Basic Cookery).

Two other students awarded scholarships travel each day to study at UCOL’s Palmerston North campus; one studying physics through the Certificate in Science and Health Level 3 in order to progress on to Bachelor in Medical Imaging Technology, and the other working towards the Certificate in Automotive Panel and Paint Level 3 at the UCOL Regional Trades and Technology Centre.

Whanganui UCOL Youth Guarantee Coordinator and Kaiawhina Mere Robb says the scholarships were awarded to individuals who demonstrated a strong commitment to improving their educational achievements.

“Some of our students this year have overcome huge personal challenges and have not responded to the school system. These scholarships will give them a great boost to putting the past behind them and will give them a strong chance at educational success.

“It’s fantastic to be able to help young people, who have left school and may not feel confident about tertiary study, get a fresh start in something that really interests them.”

This is the fourth year the Youth Guarantee scheme has been available to UCOL. More scholarships will be on offer for Semester 2 at Whanganui UCOL.

UCOL recently attended the launch of the Whanganui Youth Guarantee Network facilitated by NZQA Youth Guarantee Chief Advisor Tina Sims, to look at working in a collaborative way with current network committees in the community.

ENDS

Notes to reporters:

- Whanganui UCOL was provided 30 Government funded Youth Guarantee places (equivalent full time student places) for 16 to 19 year olds to study Levels 1 to 3 programmes in 2014. More than 30 students can be awarded scholarships within this funding as some aren’t studying full-time one-year programmes.

- The Northland Polytechnic Certificate in Whakairo (Visual Arts) was successfully introduced to Whanganui UCOL in July last year in response to a Whanganui Taskforce recommendation to provide level 1-3 programmes that attract youth who aren’t in education, employment or training.

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