Unitec’s newest campus poised to produce next generation of trade professionals
Opened on August 1, Unitec’s Northern Campus on Rothwell Avenue, Albany is positioned to become a successful pilot of an innovative learning environment for excellent trade and construction training.
Casey Powell, 17, belongs to the initial intake of 420 students at the new campus and is studying the Certificate in Automotive and Mechanical Engineering.
“I’m very impressed with the new campus,” she says. “The tutors are really helpful and everybody works well together.”
Casey says that she has always had a passion to pursue a career in the automotive industry which is why she enrolled at Unitec. “To be honest, it’s not as hard as I thought it would be. It’s easy for me because I believe that to get anywhere, you just have to put your heart and mind to it because everything is possible.”
So far, Casey has completed one of her assignments in Industry Practice and even received an “A” for it. She is currently completing another assignment in Engineering Technology which involves building go-karts to test the student’s grasp of both practice and theory.
As the only female in the CAME class of about 25, Casey says that “women are just as capable as men are in this industry” and that she will definitely encourage other women to go into it because “it’s a fun and exciting career and it keeps you busy.”
Casey’s passion and excellence in her study have served her well. Recently, she was offered an apprenticeship by Ford New Zealand located on Wairau Road. At the moment though, Casey is doing work experience there for the duration of her programme.
She has done basic mechanical servicing like oil changes and filters, 20-point safety checks, and lower-arm suspension on Ford Territory’s, which she enjoyed.
“Work experience at Ford is a great opportunity to gain new industry skills and to feel what it’s like to work in my chosen industry. Hopefully, I would have a full-time apprenticeship at Ford,” Casey says.
Unitec’s Northern Campus in Albany welcomes future health care workers, electricians, automotive and mechanical engineers, builders, business entrepreneurs and a range of other students.
Unitec, New Zealand’s largest trade and construction training provider, plans to develop the range of programmes offered at the Northern Campus to accommodate over 1,000 students within the next couple of years. This October, additional Carpentry and Eletrotechnology programmes will be offered.
Information about courses to be offered in October 2011 and March 2012 is available online at www.unitec.ac.nz
Education: Kristin School
