Wellington School of Engineering Opening

Wellington School of Engineering Opening

Scores of engineering employers, from New Zealand’s biggest companies such as Beca and Fletchers to iconic Wellington leaders like Fraser Engineering, converged on Petone yesterday to celebrate the official opening, by Tertiary Education and Economic Development Minister Steven Joyce, of WelTec’s refurbished Engineering campus.

Business leaders were saluted for their strong financial and moral support for the Institute which teaches mechanical, civil and electrical engineering certificates, degrees and graduate programmes to over 1000 students and more than 50 International students. The employer community has provided equipment, materials, expert advice, and around $50,000 in fees scholarships to help with the recruitment of students to meet the Government’s goal of an extra 500 graduates a year by 2017.

Hutt City Council has also pledged thousands of dollars of scholarship incentive, targeting in particular women, Maori and Pasifika as groups in the community who have not traditionally seen engineering as a subject they are attracted to.

Mayor Ray Wallace congratulated scholarship winners, commenting that the 150 engineering companies in Hutt City were part of the thriving technology sector which contributes significantly to the region’s economy.

Roger Sowry, WelTec and Whitireia Council Chair congratulated the region’s employers and the community for exerting a strong “pull” to get more young New Zealanders involved in the fast-growing engineering profession.

ENDS

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