New Course Fast Tracks Students to Uni and Higher Level Study
Wednesday 30th November
A new course which helps mature-aged students prepare for university or higher level TAFE courses will be offered for the first time in 2006 at TAFE NSW –North Coast Institute Great Lakes Campus.
“The course is ideal for adults who missed their chance to study when they left school, perhaps they got caught up with family or work commitments but now find they need higher qualifications to succeed in their chosen career,” said Michael Callaghan, Head Teacher General Education, at the Great Lakes Campus.
“The course will develop critical thinking, essay writing, research and study skills that are needed to succeed in higher-level education and employers, too, will benefit from sending their staff to the course as it will also focus on report writing, presentation skills and understanding and analysing statistics. With just 12 hours a week spent in the classroom, the Statement of Attainment in Vocational and Tertiary suits both people who are working and those who have family responsibilities and sessions will be held either day or evening, depending on student’s needs”.
The timing of the course is well suited to meet the area’s needs as a recent analysis by the Hunter Valley Research Foundation, from the 2001 census figures, found that while 38% of NSW’s people nominated the HSC as their highest-level qualification, in the Great Lakes the figure was 20.8%, or just over half that for the state as a whole.
When it came to having a Bachelor Degree, only 4.4% of the Great Lakes population had one to their credit, while across the state the figure was 10.1%.
“The shortage of nurses, engineers, young teachers, dentists, counsellors and other health care professionals we are experiencing in this area at the moment could be addressed if we improve the skills base of the Great Lakes. We know that people who undertake their initial studies in regional areas are more likely to return to work in these areas once they graduate,” said Mr Callaghan.
“We live in a complex, technology-based society that is not getting any simpler. The sort of higher level thinking skills we help students develop in our new course are what the economy will be demanding in the future”.
Mr Callaghan explained that this is the first step in a three-step pathway that gives adults a qualification similar to the HSC. The final step - the Tertiary Preparation Certificate IV (or TPC) - is highly regarded by most universities taking in mature-aged students. However for mature-aged students the Statement of Attainment in Vocational and Tertiary Preparation could provide the skills to enter some universities directly through their mature age entry programs. The course could also satisfy entry requirements for higher level TAFE courses and Mr Callaghan is also investigating options where students may be able to access the full Certificate IV in Tertiary Preparation.
If you are interested in finding out more about the TAFE fast-track to higher level employment or university studies - for yourself, a family member or an employee call into the Great Lakes TAFE Campus, the Northern Parkway, Tuncurry during office hours or contact Michael Callaghan on phone 655 50605.
