Selwyn Times: July 05, 2016

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[Edition datE]
SELWYN TIMES Tuesday July 5 2016 27
CONTINUING EDUCATION
Horticulture
Training for
Christchurch
Residents
if yOu would like to enjoy gardening,
improve your property value, produce fresh
vegetables and fruit or get a job within
the horticulture industry, this flexible
programme can help you gain the necessary
skills.
skills update training institute has
partnered with ara to offer an introductory
‘no fees’ horticulture blended learning
course which combines both classrooms
and online learning methods.
tutorials have been scheduled weekly
during evenings including the occasional
weekend field trips to suit those currently
working full time or part time. Our
experienced tutors, Ryan young or Hamish
kelland, are also available by phone and
e-mail outside of classroom hours.
Ryan, the winner of various horticultural
awards and titles, says “as your learning
facilitator, i will assist you throughout the
duration of the programme and provide
guidance for each assessment.”
“i am passionate about sustainable
horticulture and really enjoy working
with students to achieve their study and
educational goals” says Hamish, who has a
wide range of experience across the industry
as well as teaching in the tertiary sector.
enrolments are still open for 2016. Call
or email our team today. study over 40
weeks and earn the sought after national
Certificate in Horticulture Level 3.
Pasifika engineer
reboots Plan A
Pasifika students are slowly
gravitating towards engineering. Third year
Bachelor of engineering technology student
at ara institute of technology, Richard Ofa,
urges them to think long term.
Richard is motivated. He has worked at a
semi-skilled level. after graduating from an
it qualification at ara (then CPit), he took
a temporary job as a CnC machine operator
at skOPe. The money was good at the time,
but several years later he was still in the same
position.
Richard took stock and realised he wanted
to be an engineer, designing the products
that he had been assembling at skOPe. He
needed an engineering qualification.
The ara three year engineering degree
offered evening classes, which allowed
Richard to continue working. “i have
a responsibility to my family and the
community, so not working isn’t an option,”
he says.
Richard negotiated to work part time at
skOPe and launched into his engineering
studies. “Coming back to study, working with
computers, doing 3d modelling, it’s what i
have always wanted to do.
“i love problem solving, being creative and
coming up with new ideas. for my third year
project, skOPe gave me a project to work
on. it’s a sliding door design, a new design. i
am quietly confident it will work out.”
The degree will certainly open doors for
Richard. “i am hoping to get a full time
design job with skOPe when i graduate.
My long term plan is project management
– i will probably come back and do some
project management papers at ara in five to
10 years’ time when i have some experience.
“My family are happy, in that island
way, now they can see the value of the
qualification.
Meanwhile, Richard is seeing more
Pasifika students in engineering. “The first
year i was the only fulltime Pasifika student,
but numbers have increased in the last
two years, including the number of female
Pasifika engineering students.
“The biggest challenge is managing the
workload of studying and working. i work
three days a week and study full time, so i
look forward to a sleep-in on the weekend,”
he says.
to find out more about studying
engineering at ara institute of Canterbury,
visit ara.ac.nz
STUDY
HORTICULTURE
Enrolment are now open.
Entry to this programme is open to NZ
Citizens and Residents and students
over 18 years of age.
Intake start dates are subject to
student availability.
No
Fees!
Hamish
Kelland
Ryan
Young
021 222 9678
ryan@skillsupdate.co.nz