SIT and Otago Polytechnic are pleased to announce the signing of their latest Memorandum of Understanding (in the Trades area) which is a continuation of a long history of collaboration between the two institutions.
The two organisations have confirmed they will provide a united front for supporting work-based learning across the lower South Island, following changes in the sector announced in April by Penny Simmonds, Minister for Vocational Education.
SIT and Otago Polytechnic previously conducted a successful Southern Pilot in 2023 to trial collaborative delivery across the southern South Island region. This provided valuable insights into what the construction sector needs to support training apprentices.
The recent government changes allow both providers to deliver work-based learning models that ensure work-based learning is industry-led and supports the communities they serve.
This new collaboration aims to provide a consistent approach for learners, ensuring they receive the same levels of service and support, irrespective of where they live and work.
The MOU includes a provision for supporting qualification development and delivery models, as well as joint promotion to industry and mutual support for visiting apprentices and employers. This is important as larger employers work across Southland and Otago, and apprentices could potentially work anywhere within the lower south.
Delivery of the programmes is being adapted to ensure they provide maximum flexibility to suit the needs of employers, while also providing the support individual learners need to successfully achieve their qualification.
Historically, the options for employers and apprentices have been limited and sometimes quite prescriptive around how they engage in apprenticeship training support outside the workplace.
Our revised Trades programmes will offer block courses, day release, night classes and online support to help apprentices on their learning journey. If ākonga learning is progressing well in the workplace, learners won’t need to attend extra training classes. Each institution will work with employers and their apprentices to implement the best learning plans, which will be reviewed at each quarterly site visit.
Mark Cartwright, Deputy Executive Director – Industry Training and Innovation at Otago Polytechnic, is confident it’s an approach that will be welcomed by both businesses and students.
“This flexibility will help employers and apprentices to choose how they engage in off-job support to suit the business and learner needs, whilst providing reliable on-site, face to face visits to ensure learner progression is maintained and employers are actively supported,” he said. “I believe this is something that has been sadly missing for close to a decade.”
Hamish Small, Head of Faculty – Trades and Technology at SIT is welcoming the chance to work together. “We have enjoyed some great collaboration with Otago Polytechnic in the past and know the value this revised programme will bring to industry and our wider community in the southern region.”