IITO and Whitireia Provide Insight into Industry

The Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation (formally Electrical Standards Industry Training Organisation) in conjunction with Whitireia provided a week’s taster course recently that saw secondary school students and Whitireia Electrical Engineering students attend and gain an insight into the industry.

Fourteen students were involved in the week’s activities which saw them participating in a field trip to the Meridian Makara wind farm, a visit to the Transfield Power Station at the bottom of the Haywards Hill, undertaking a range of activities including pole top rescues with Electra, conduct cable jointing training with PBA and DT Jointing, extension lead making, attending a range of tutorial sessions and the opportunity to meet and talk to industry representatives including Downer who spoke to the students about being a Telecommunications Technician.

This is the first time this taster course has been offered in the Wellington region by this ITO said Fiona Wain, Schools Liaison Manager at Whitireia.  “It has been extremely successful, and given these students the opportunity first hand to experience what it’s like to work in the electrical supply and telecommunications industry.”

The purpose of the course was to give students an insight into career opportunities and to encourage new entrants into the electricity supply industry said Maureen Duffy, Customer Service Manager, Infrastructure Industry Training Organisation.  “We were really impressed with the success of the taster course and in particular the attitudes of the students who attended.”

This is an important industry relationship for Whitireia said Don Campbell, Chief Executive, Whitireia.  It’s great that Whitireia and the IITO can work together and provide these opportunities for students he said.  “Not only do these opportunities provide students with insight into the industry, they can open doors for employment within it.”

Whitireia and the IITO have confirmed that they will work together again next year offering another taster course to students in the Wellington region.