Polytech to open trades-training facility in Greymouth
Old workshops are about to be replaced with a state-of-the-art trades-training facility in central Greymouth creating new learning opportunities and improved learning outcomes for students at Tai Poutini Polytechnic (TPP).
The new facility will officially open on Wednesday 31 August 2016. The facility will offer specialised equipment, high-tech workspaces and an enhanced learning environment for West Coast students. The new facility highlights the Polytechnic’s commitment to the region and to delivering on the needs of industry.
TPP Head of Department Trades Warren Smith says the new facility will allow TPP to become a “one-stop-shop” for automotive engineering training – for Trades Academy students at local high schools, through to new and current TPP students as well as offering industry professionals the chance develop and up-skill.
“The facility will give us the ability to progress further than we have been able to in the past,” says Mr Smith.
The Trades Training Facility offers a spacious learning environment and has the advantage of state-of-the-art technology that connects students to their work. With the latest equipment and more workshop spaces, TPP can run additional, specialised training in parallel with fundamental trades programmes.
“The focus is on delivering quality programmes to existing students and new learners. We are putting emphasis on learning outcomes, so that students who complete our programmes are really work ready. We’ve worked with industry representatives to make sure we can deliver what’s needed for local businesses,” says Warren.
Mr Alex Cabrera, TPP’s acting Chief Executive says that feedback from employers consistently highlights the need for tertiary graduates to be work ready. This means that TPP graduates need to demonstrate, alongside technical skills, competency in literacy and numeracy and a range of transferable skills to become productive employees.
Local industry representative, Roger Devlin owner of RB Devlin Auto Electrical Battery Town, welcomes the opening of the new facility. He says the direction TPP is taking with automotive training is exactly what the local industry needs.
“Better facilities mean more students will be attracted to training – and that’s a win-win for all of us.”
“I have a young tradesperson at the moment who is sharing some of these technical advances within our business. It’s actually changing our thinking about how we manage the job – this is definitely the right track for the future of our industry.”
Automotive Engineering student Connor Lonsdale demonstrating to Warren Smith, Head of Department – Trades and Teresa Schwellnus, General Manager – West Coast some of the new technology available to students in the new TPP trades facility.
