Further education

Last Updated on Monday, 19 April 2010 13:52

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There is whole range of different ways that you can get further training.

Deciding what training to undertake will depend on what kind of job you are wanting as well as deciding what kind of place best suits your skill needs as well as making the most of the way that you learn. For example, you might learn better by listening to people talk to you, or by doing something and learning at the same time, or by a mix of both.

Making a decision of what to do after school often depends on the grades you got in high school. Diploma courses usually run for two years and involve more hands-on learning. If you do well in a diploma, you can then switch to a degree. After you have finished a degree - you have graduated, congratulations - you can then go on to postgraduate study. Your training institution will have more information on that.

Two ways to find out if a course is good quality or not are:

1. Checking to see if your provider is registered and accredited to provide national qualifications
2. Checking to see if the course itself has been approved.

You can check these out at:

www.nzqa.govt.nz
www.nzvcc.ac.nz

What about universities?

Universities will give you the chance to get exposed to new ways of thinking, a whole range of different subjects and get new skills and knowledge. Universities tend to offer undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. Undergraduate degrees are usually three or four years long depending on what subjects you are interested in.

What about polytechnics and institutes of technology?

Polytechnics and institutes of technology offer a range of courses. A lot of them offer degrees but the majority of the qualifications through polytechs and institutes of technology are diplomas and certificates. These places tend to be more practically focused than university.

Private providers

Private providers offer introductory level courses that lead to jobs at trainee level, or specialist training, for example, in IT and travel. Some providers also offer degree courses.

Wananga

Wananga provide further study within a Maori environment. Attending a wananga lets you immerse yourself in tikanga Maori (Maori customs) and te reo Maori (the Maori language). The higher your level of study, the more te reo Maori is spoken.

Modern Apprenticeships

For those of you that may want to study and gain experience in the industry at the same time, then an apprenticeship maybe for you.
http://www.modern-apprenticeships.govt.nz/
0800 4 APPRENTICE
Also, don't be afraid to call up tertiary providers and request information, brochures and booklets to be sent out to you. It's a good idea to get a wide variety of options.
If you are already studying or have done all your research and will be starting shortly, then the following links may also be useful for you.

Community Courses

Ever consider yourself quite the photographer? Or wondered if you missed your calling as a salsa dancer? Well why not take up a community course and find out. Community courses are a fantastic way to learn and develop new skills or an opportunity to indulge in your favourite hobby. Not only that, they are perfect for learning more practical skills like basic car maintenance and computer skills. These courses are usually relatively affordable and open to anyone, regardless of age and experience. If you are interested in learning basic Te Reo you can do this FREE from any Tertiary Institute.

To find community courses in your area check out:

Your local high school- many run community courses in the evenings.
XTEND.CO.NZ provide a comprehensive listing of community course providers nationwide.
So get out there and try something totally new, who knows where it will take you!
If courses for professional and career development are more like what you are looking for then short/continued education courses at a tertiary institute are for you. Classes usually run during the evening too, which is convenient for those in full time employment. So check out your nearest university or other tertiary provider and ask about their short courses.

Here are some in the main cities around New Zealand:

The University of Auckland
Auckland University of Technology
Massey University
Victoria University of Wellington
Otago University

Tertiary institutions have heaps of professional help on campus (liaison officers, career counsellors, graduate recruitment officers). Beyond campus, try Career Services, private career counsellors or there is a range of recruitment agencies.
StudentHUB is an online comprehensive resource for New Zealand students. They provide information on many facets of student life in NZ including accommodation options, job search facilities, textbooks and student discounts.