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EIT IDEAschool students excel at Hokonui Fashion Awards | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) student Adena Waudby won the Gore RSA Young Designer Award at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

Two EIT IDEAschool Fashion students have excelled at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards, with one a runner up in the menswear category and the other earning a special award.

Candice D’Acre (Ngāti Porou) was runner up in the Van De Water Jewellers Open Menswear Award and fellow classmate Adena Waudby won the Gore RSA Young Designer Award.

The design awards, now in its 36th year, were held in Gore last weekend. It provides a competitive platform for all amateur fashion designers to showcase their designs in front of industry leaders.

Adena and Candice, both in their second year of the Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion), say the results were surprising.  

Adena’s three-piece menswear collection was inspired by PlayStation 5, with blue, black and white colours, and lines to echo the symmetry of the console.

Having missed watching the livestream, Adena got home to find out she had won, and says it was “so surprising”.

“It was very much a surreal moment, marking a milestone in my career and motivating me to keep creating, and contributing to the world of fashion. Now having my trophy has made it feel all real.”

Candice says: “It’s pretty validating. It’s like ‘oh, I actually am kind of good at this and it has given me the push to keep on going.”

The 32-year-old mum of two’s theme for her three-piece menswear collection was Pierrot the clown.

“I originally started off with the Venice Carnival, but it was so broad that I narrowed it down to what really stuck out to me. And Pierrot is quite prominent in pop culture, to the extent that we don’t even realise nowadays. So, I was able to have fun with it.”

Candice has had a long association with EIT, graduating with a Bachelor of Business, majoring in Marketing and Management in 2021. She was also the recipient of the $15,000 Sir James Wattie Scholarship in 2020.

EIT Bachelor of Creative Practice (Fashion) Adena Waudby pictured the garment that won her the Gore RSA Young Designer Award at the Hokonui Fashion Design Awards.

“I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life so I thought business would be a good base for whatever I decided to do.”

A keen crafter, she found the sewing machine she got when her daughter was born 10 years ago and discovered her passion for fashion.

“I hadn’t used it once, but I decided to make scrunchies. They sucked, but I kept wanting to do it and get better. Then I saw that they had a course at EIT.”

Sewing wasn’t something she grew up with but has since come to love fashion, particularly during her time at EIT.

They both speak highly of their lecturers.

“They allow us the freedom while also understanding our skill sets and nudging us in the right direction,” Candice says.

“Honestly, as cliché as it is, EIT has definitely changed who I am in a positive way. When I first started, I had been a stay-at-home mom for almost three years, and I was just not confident, I didn’t put myself out there or anything like that. This degree has also helped me hone my creative side a lot, and how to channel it in a way that would be expected through real work.”

Adena Waudby’s winning design. Photo/MLT Hokonui Fashion design Awards

IDEAschool Fashion Lecturer Christina Rhodes says they are blown away by their students’ success.

Over the years, they have won a number of awards. However, Christina says it is the first time they have had a student win young designer.

Seven students from EIT entered the competition across a number of categories.

“All entries from our students were just fabulous.”

Both Adena and Candice are busy working on this year’s outfits, due to be showcased at the annual IDEAschool end of year show.  

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Love of cars leads young Tairāwhiti woman to study automotive engineering at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

2 days ago

Celia Brooking enrolled in the Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Engineering at EIT last year and is now doing her apprenticeship for the Level 4 Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

Growing up around cars has led a young Tairāwhiti woman to study automotive engineering at EIT, with the hope of breaking into the still male-dominated industry.

Celia Brooking (Ngāti Porou) grew up in Tairāwhiti,went to Gisborne Girls’ High School and last year she enrolled  in the Level 3 Certificate in Automotive Engineering at EIT.

A love of cars and tinkering under the hood led Celia to follow her dream and study at the Tairāwhiti Campus from last July until April this year. She has not looked back and is now doing her apprenticeship for the Level 4 Certificate in Automotive Engineering.

“It was really cool. Much more so than I expected. I got to learn every aspect of a car and how everything works and how to service the car.”

“My tutors in Level 3 were excellent and I still associate with them today.”

Celia, 18, says that while it can still be tough being a female in a male-dominated industry, “everyone’s been pretty accepting and pretty nice, especially where I’m working right now”.

Where she is working now is Overnight Service Centre in Gisborne, where she is doing her apprenticeship and gets to service vehicles and help out with other work as well.

As for the future, Celia has some options. One is to head over to Australia to continue her career and be closer to some of her family. She sees it as a “fresh start”.

However, another alternative is to continue her studies at EIT. With her industry changing at pace, Celia is interested in learning more about servicing electric vehicles. She is considering enrolling in the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) when she finishes her current programme.

As for her advice to other women wanting to enter the automotive engineering industry, Celia says “if you want to get into it, just do it”.

Tim Jagusch, Assistant Head of the School of Trades and Technology said: “The two most important attributes our industries are looking for are time management and work ethic. Celia possesses these attributes – along with a good attitude. “

“All this contribute to her success and she is an exemplar student.”

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EIT delegation visits China for meetings and graduation of first cohort of Data Science and Communications programme | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 mins ago

An EIT delegation has paid a visit to China to hold meetings with its partner Zhejiang Yuexiu University and to attend the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of ZYU students, who started in 2020.

An EIT delegation has just returned from China where it held joint management, teaching and academic meetings to further a partnership with Zhejiang Yuexiu University of Foreign Languages (ZYU); and attending the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of Zhejiang Yuexiu University students.

The joint International College partnership between EIT and ZYU began in 2020. That first year saw 230 students starting on the campus in Shao Xing City, Zhejiang Province, Southeast China.

Approval from the China Ministry of Education and the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) paved the way for EIT to deliver its degree programmes in China. The joint venture supports the delivery of two of EIT’s degrees, the Bachelor of Creative Practice and the Bachelor of Computing Systems and , with three majors offered in Information Systems, Intelligent Systems and Digital Media.

The delegation that went to China last month was Philippa Jones, EIT Executive Director International; EIT’s two Executive Deans John West and Helen Ryan-Stewart; and Sue Blackmore, Head of School, Viticulture and Wine Science & IDEAschool. The delegation was joined in China by  Kaylie Tan, Deputy Dean, EIT Data Science and Communications College, China.

The purpose of the visit was twofold – holding joint management, teaching and academic meetings to further the partnership; and attending the very first graduation ceremony of EIT Data Science and Communications College of Zhejiang Yuexiu University students, who started in 2020.

More than 200 students graduated, 56 with an EIT Bachelor Degree in either Bachelor of Computing Systems or Bachelor of Creative Practice, while the other students graduated with the ZYU qualification.

The event was livestreamed across China and received more than 560,000 views. Graduating as top student in their degrees were Ming Tong HU – Bachelor of Computing Systems (Information Systems); Bin GUAN – Bachelor of Computing Systems (Intelligent Systems); and Lequn XU – Bachelor of Creative Practice.

A celebratory dinner for the delegation was hosted by President Gang Xiu, his Executive Vice President Ms Xiaolin WEI; his Vice Presidents (Academic) Mr Wentao Chen, and Vice President (International) Ms Jinling Ge.

The delegation also met with a number of directors and managers of ZYU and EIT Data Science and Communication College. There was also visit to Qi LU University and a meeting with seven institutions as part of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPE).

A group of eight ZYU staff will be visiting EIT’s Hawke’s Bay Campus from July for five weeks as part of a 12-week training programme delivered to upskill ZYU staff both in China and in NZ. A group of 18 ZYU students and a teacher will come on a study tour to EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in August for two weeks.

Philippa Jones says that the visit was a success as it built on the solid relationship that EIT has with ZYU and also showcased the hard work that had gone into the first graduation.

“We look forward to many more graduations as we continue to see the EIT Data Science and Communications College grow. This is a milestone in our partnership because it is the very first graduation from our ZYU joint education institute partnership.”

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Passion for policy and legislation led student to study social work at EIT | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

14 seconds ago

Ami Hokianga is in her third year of the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT Tairāwhiti.

A passion for policy and legislation led a student to study social work at EIT Tairāwhiti.

Ami Hokianga (Rongowhakaata, Ngāti Porou) felt that she needed to develop herself further after a number of years working across the legal, health and horticultural sectors. She decided to enrol in the Bachelor of Social Work (Honours) at EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus to pursue her interest in developing workable policy solutions for New Zealand’s social services.

Ami, wanted to remain in Tairāwhiti with her whānau and said that she realised the social work degree at EIT, was the quickest way for her to see the direct impacts of policy on the front line.

“I think that from the beginning of my studies with EIT my focus has always been policy and legislation.”

“My reason to study social work was to understand the structures and the systems that bind us, particularly for Māori.”

Growing up as an “army baby” Ami spent most of her early school years in Auckland and Wellington and then across to El Paso, Texas on the United States Mexico border to complete intermediate. Ami returned to Aotearoa and completed Year 9 to Year 13, boarding at Turakina Māori Girls’ College and eventually moving to Western Australia to pursue a career in legal studies.

Ami returned to Tairāwhiti to raise her daughters on the East Coast and worked across the health and horticulture sectors before realising she wanted to pursue a degree with EIT.

“I have found it refreshing. I love to learn. And so that’s probably why my career is so vast in regard to law, health, and then horticulture. Learning for me is a huge thing and actually coming back to that study space was exactly what I needed.”

Ami, who is currently in the third year of the four-year degree, says that while the programme has had its challenges, this has allowed her to push herself in regard to learning and responding to different perspectives.

Another aspect of the programme Ami has recently completed, is her 60-day placement within the community. Ami has enjoyed learning alongside experienced practitioners and being supported by an awesome and empowering team at Oranga Tamariki-Tairāwhiti.

She says she would be keen to work at government level of policy or legislation as she believes “by identifying the gaps within our systems and structures from the frontline, we are able to identify the direct impacts for whānau and influence or improve future policy and legislation”.

Ami, an “independent mama”, who also works part-time within Governance support while she completes her degree, recently received the Te Whatu Ora- Te Pitomata grant in recognition of her commitment and study aspirations to contribute to Māori Health, she says she has no hesitation in recommending EIT as a place to study.

She says without EIT, she wouldn’t have met social work peers from both Tairāwhiti and Taradale, who are all equally driven, purposeful and strong-minded students. However, it is the unwavering support from her parents and children that keep her grounded in pursuing and gaining a degree with EIT.

EIT Social Work Lecturer and Programme Coordinator Charlotte Chisnell says: “Ami’s commitment to understanding and influencing policy and legislation, especially for Māori communities, aligns perfectly with the core values of EIT. Her experiences in law, health, and horticulture enrich her perspective and contribute significantly to her studies and future career in social work.”

“Ami’s story is a testament to the  importance of education and community support. We look forward to seeing Ami  continue her journey.”

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EIT’s new Pouarahi Māori brings passion for mātauranga Māori to role | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 mins ago

EIT’s new Pouarahi Māori (Executive Director Māori), Layelin Stewart, with his wife Stella.

EIT has a new Pouarahi Māori (Executive Director Māori), Layelin Stewart, who brings a passion for Mātauranga Māori to the role.

Layelin (Rongowhakaata, Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Maniapoto) was welcomed to EIT at a pōwhiri on the Hawke’s Bay Campus yesterday (Monday). He has been one of eight National Ako Directors at Te Pūkenga, responsible for Mātauranga Māori, since April last year.

Layelin says  that he is pleased to be coming back to his East Coast roots.

“One of the really standout things for me when considering my application to the role was how vibrant the mātauranga Māori community is over there on the East Coast and Hawke’s Bay.”

“I think it’s a role of service to supporting and promoting  success for Māori students and  staff, as well as navigating the way in which EIT might support iwi aspirations.”

“Of equal importance is supporting our organisational understanding of Te Tiriti excellence and how we explore what that might look like. It is also about how I serve and support my fellow executive staff members, colleagues, and our broader EIT staff collectives , in their understanding of tikanga Māori and how mātauranga Māori or Māori ways of being, doing and knowing might serve as a bridge towards nationhood, albeit at the EIT local level.”

Layelin, 45, first came to Te Pūkenga as Senior Māori Advisor in the office of the Deputy Chief Executive of Academic Delivery Innovation. Before that he was involved in Māori education for more than 20 years.

His most recent role before Te Pūkenga was as Deputy Principal at Te Wharekura o Ngā Purapura o te Aroha in Te Awamutu from 2017 to Oct 2021. His career has seen him work as Kaiako in Kura Kaupapa Māori, Kura ā-iwi and Wharekura in Gisborne and Waikato, including his hometown of Te Kuiti.

He also had a stint as a radio broadcaster for Iwi Radio Station Te Reo Irirangi o Maniapoto between 2006 and 2009.

Layelin has whakapapa links to Te Kūiti, Ruatoki and Gisborne, but grew up in Gisborne, where he attended Gisborne Boys High, before finishing his last year at Te Awamutu College. He enjoys the outdoor life and spending time with his wife Stella and their blended family of six children and 2 mokopuna.

EIT’s Executive Director Kieran Hewitson welcomed Layelin, saying that he would add value to the Executive Team.

“We are pleased to have Layelin join the Executive team. Layelin brings insights and experience to this role that will advance our relationships with our Tiriti Partners and set the strategic direction for responding to the opportunities to deliver better outcomes for Māori.”

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Personal tragedy and working at EIT Tairāwhiti proves to be motivation to study further | EIT Hawke’s Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

3 mins ago

Hailey Keepa has worked and studied at EIT Tairāwhiti and is now in her first year of a Bachelor of Midwifery, through the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec) where her study is a mix of classes based at EIT’s Tairāwhiti Campus and block courses in Hamilton.

Her personal experiences and working at EIT Tairāwhiti’s Hub Café has inspired a local woman to study a career preparation programme at EIT and now midwifery.

Hailey Keepa left Gisborne Girls’ High School in year 11 in 2002 and proceeded to do a number of jobs before starting her own cake business, which she ran for five years out of her registered kitchen from home.

However, circumstances changed when she and her whānau were unable to buy the house they had rented for 15 years. The loss of their home meant the loss of Hailey’s business and weeks later they also experienced the loss of their son Kyrei who was born stillborn. These life altering events that all happened within six weeks of each other, made her assess her life.

A job at the Hub Café on the EIT Tairāwhiti Campus, led her to realise that studying further was a way forward for her.

“Working there I met heaps of students, and especially adult students. It inspired me to realise that I could still study at my age, and that I was determined to do better for not only myself, but for my whānau.”

“I always thought I’d love to be a midwife, but I always put it in the too hard basket, as I thought that it would be terrible to go back to school as an adult student. But working at the Hub Cafe, meeting all those people, I was like, ‘man, I am actually going to do this’.”

Because she had been out of study for so long, 37-year-old Hailey first had to enrol in the NZ Certificate in Study and Career Preparation (Level 3 and 4).

“I didn’t think I needed to do the level three, but I’m actually so glad that I did it, it helped transition me into level four. These courses just prepare you so much more for further study in degree level. They take you back to the basics, which I needed as I wasn’t at school long enough to even learn those. I actually did way better than I thought I would academically too.”

“My tutors were amazing, and all the staff at EIT are so encouraging. It’s a very close-knit community at EIT.”

Hailey is now in her first year of a Bachelor of Midwifery, through the Waikato Institute of Technology (Wintec).  And with her first semester completed she was pleased to announce she received straight A’s, and hopes to continue her learning journey at a high level.

Hailey, who is married and the mother to five children, says that her experience with her stillborn son Kyrei is a big part of her midwifery journey.

She says that while she realised that she wanted to be a midwife when her daughter was born 12 years ago, it was the birth of Kyrei that pushed her to make it happen.

“I always thought that it would be an amazing career to have and to be part of that moment in a woman’s life. What held me back was that I did not do too well at high school. School was never for me, I’m much more of a hands-on person.”

“But then after everything with Kyrei, I thought: ‘Gosh, how many women could I support through their healing process if I actually was in this career.”

EIT’s Study and Career Preparation programmes provided the foundation for Hailey to fulfil that ambition.

With three more years to go of her degree after this one, Hailey is keen to learn what is needed to become a midwife and to equally care for and work in partnership with all women, and give back to the Tairāwhiti community.

EIT’s Acting Head of School Education and Social Sciences, Mandy Pentecost, says: “Hailey’s story is a shining example of the way the Study and Career Pathway courses are doing a great job getting people ready to enter higher level study, and we wish Hailey every success as she continues to pursue her dream.”

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EIT pilot study into vaping among students extended beyond Hawke’s Bay | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

4 seconds ago

Left to Right: Melody Khan (Masters Student), Dr Sue Scott-Chapman (Secondary Supervisor), Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing (Principal Supervisor/Lead Researcher) and Associate Professor Rachel Forrest (Student Mentor).

An EIT research project addressing the epidemic of youth vaping among intermediate and high school students in Hawke’s Bay has been extended outside of the region following interest from a Bay of Plenty High School.

The extended out-of-region study titled ‘Vaping Landscape’ complements an existing study ‘Scoping solutions to address the epidemic of youth vaping in Aotearoa’ which is currently being conducted by a team led by Associate Professor Anita Jagroop-Dearing from EIT.

Vaping Landscape will focus on Pāpāmoa College and is being conducted by EIT Masters of Health Science student Melody Khan, who has been involved in the original study.

It is funded by a second grant from the Health Research Foundation Hawke’s Bay, which adds to the pool of funding for the project including grants from the Health Research Council and EIT.

Both studies hope to capture the stories, experiences and health awareness of e-cigarette vaping by youth. It will also make for a comparison of regional variations in vaping behaviours.

Anita says it will be the first comprehensive investigation into vaping among intermediate and high school students between two areas in New Zealand.

“We are working with a number of schools across Hawke’s Bay and additional funding has enabled the involvement of out-of-region schools.

“Pāpāmoa College approached us to say that they were experiencing issues to do with vaping in their school and that they would like to be a part of our study. After confirming the feasibility, obtaining the necessary ethics approval, and securing funding for an out-of-region school, we included them to conduct comparative studies.”

The college has more than 1700 students, of whom 28 percent are Māori and six percent are Pasifika.

 “Previous data indicated higher vaping rates among Māori and Pacific students compared to their non-Māori and non-Pacific peers. Therefore, we aim to compare the vaping behaviours in this school with those in Hawke’s Bay.”

Anita hypothesises that there may be regional differences between vaping behaviours in youth with distinctions in narrative of experiences and self-awareness.

Melody previously graduated with a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise Science at EIT. After being displaced due to Cyclone Gabrielle, she was able to pivot and extend this study for her masters.

“Initially I started with nutrition. My original masters thesis was nutrition and nutritional labelling, but when this opportunity opened up, I jumped on it because it’s something that’s going to need further research and is becoming more prevalent.”

Pāpāmoa College Deputy Principal (Tumuaki Katiriwā) Ben Ormsby says when they heard about the study, they thought why not reach out and see if they could be a part of it.

“Like most schools, we have been seeing an increase in vaping related incidents. Our rationale was that, while we are trying to find ways to educate students, we might as well volunteer to be part of the study.”

Ben says that the feedback from their community has been really positive about them being involved in the trial.

“We would suspect that whilst schools are struggling with youth vaping, the wider community is also seeing the impacts. The feedback to date would suggest the community is glad we are trying to do something about it.”

They are now looking forward to seeing what comes out of the study.

“If the information our students give forward contributes to something positive to tackle youth vaping, whether that be strategies or messaging then we thought it will be well worth it.”

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EIT says farewell to long-standing research director | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

14 mins ago

EIT is farewelling its Research Director Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley.

EIT has farewelled its long-standing Research Director, Associate Professor Jonathan Sibley, who has been at the forefront of driving research at the institute.

Jonathan, who joined EIT’s School of Business in 2016 and has headed EIT’s Research and Innovation Centre (RIC) since 2018, is retiring from the role to pursue other interests.

Together with former Executive Dean Natalie Waran, he led the push towards increasing grants for researchers at EIT and encouraging them to participate in the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF) process.

Jonathan says that a strong research culture was built at EIT under the direction of former Chief Executive Chris Collins.

“Chris, along with the then Executive Deans Susan Jacobs, Natalie and Professors Bob Marshall and Kay Morris Matthews, ensured that we were very research active in the ITP sector.”

“We built an enviable position for regional polytechnics in research and were able to establish a research centre with Te Kura i Awarua, to engage in research as a principle. Great thanks are owed to Professors David Tipene Leach and Annemarie Gillies for their leadership in the development of the Centre and our rangahau Māori capability.”

Jonathan says despite challenging times during COVID-19 and Cyclone Gabrielle, research has continued.

“We built a really strong, nationally recognised research culture with a number of researchers who had an international reputation.”

“As we move back to independence, we have an excellent platform for further developing our research culture.”

“EIT can also be proud that it hosts the largest number of international postgraduate students among New Zealand polytechnics,” says Jonathan, who also teaches and supervises students in the postgraduate business programmes.

EIT’s Executive Dean, Faculty of Commerce and Technology John West paid tribute to Jonathan for his professionalism and research leadership.

“Jonathan has led the evolution of the School of Business’ postgraduate studies. He has also played an important role in fostering research and mentoring our researchers.”

“We thank him for everything that he has contributed and wish him well in the future.”

Jonathan will continue teaching in the School of Business’ postgraduate programme on a part-time basis.

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Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills meets with regional leaders at EIT | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

8 mins ago

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst (left), Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds and Executive Director Region 2 – Te Pūkenga Kieran Hewitson at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale.

Minister for Tertiary Education and Skills Penny Simmonds met with regional government, business and community leaders at the EIT Hawke’s Bay Campus in Taradale on Wednesday (3 July).

The purpose of the meeting was to hear what the region needed from EIT and to better understand the challenges the region faced.

Minister Simmonds has had a long association with EIT, having previously worked as Chief Executive of Southern Institute of Technology (SIT) for 23 years.

She says EIT has been a successful polytechnic all the way through, and has always had close connections with the community, and industries.

“EIT has been a real shining light in the polytechnic sector, particularly for regional polytechnics. There has been stable, sensible governance and management for not twenty years but decades.”

Hastings Mayor Sandra Hazlehurst said: “We told the Minister that we have been very proud of how EIT has served our regions of Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay over the years, providing quality education pathways under a sustainable financial model”.

“Our region has long faced challenges in reducing the number of youth not in employment, education or training, and the progress we have made has been in part due to the broad range of quality programmes on offer through EIT and their campuses.

“The transition to Te Pūkenga has been very difficult for the leadership and governance team, compounded by the cyclone from which the Taradale campus is still recovering.”

As a region, Hazlehurst says our councils will invest $4b over the next 10 years on infrastructure related to recovery and growth.

“More than ever, we will need a skilled workforce to complete this mahi, and many of these workers are yet to be trained.

They also stressed to Minister Simmonds that given the urgency of our recovery, Tairāwhiti and Hawke’s Bay should be a priority to get a locally governed and led training institute working effectively for our communities.

The ministers visit precedes the start of consultation on the future state of vocational education and training following the post-election decision to disestablish Te Pūkenga. Minister Simmonds encouraged those in attendance to provide feedback to the consultation to ensure the regions education and training needs are best served.

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Napier auto technician completes EIT EV programme to keep up with fast evolving industry | EIT Hawke's Bay and Tairāwhiti

Source: Eastern Institute of Technology – Tairāwhiti

5 days ago

Scott Kyle, an auto-technician with the Notman Motor Group in Napier, has benefited from doing the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5) at EIT.

A Napier auto technician decided to complete an Electric Vehicle programme at EIT as he felt he needed to keep up with an ever-evolving industry.

Scott Kyle, who works for the Notman Motor Group in Napier, has been an auto technician for close to 25 years. He says that he has seen changes in the industry in that time, the most significant being the move to electric vehicles.

“It’s certainly a new style of vehicle to work on, with some big differences. It is not only the motor side of things, but also the systems that run alongside them.”

“I definitely enjoy it as the electrical aspect certainly appealed to me.”

Scott says that he realised that he needed to study further in order to keep up with industry changes.

He said that he was attracted to the NZ Certificate in Electric Vehicle Automotive Engineering (Level 5)  at EIT because he had done his pre-trade qualifications at EIT and he had heard good reports about one of the tutors Scott Cunningham.

“My employer helped me with funding to do the programme, which was a bonus, but you’ve got to keep up with the times and keep learning.”

“Working on electric vehicles every day means that you need to have a solid understanding of what you are working with.”

Scott, who completed the programme at the end of last year, says that attending classes fitted in well with his working schedule. He said he also enjoyed doing the practical block courses during the year.

“They go right back to step one of what you would need to know, you know, the basic electrical principles and then build that up slowly all the way through so you’ve got a really good understanding and a refresher of some of the stuff you probably haven’t looked at for a few years with electrics.”

“The best thing for me was that I went from where we had all these electric cars coming in and feeling that I did not have a full understanding of how all those systems worked, to feeling a confidence in working with them when I finished the programme.”

Scott says that another important part of the programme was learning about the safety aspect of electric vehicles.

He says that he has no hesitation in recommending the EIT programme to anyone who wanted to progress further as an auto-technician.

Automotive Tutor and Level 5 Electric Vehicle Programme Coordinator Scott Cunningham says having technicians like Scott step up to further their knowledge in our ever-changing industry is great to see.

“Electric and hybrid vehicles are here to stay for the foreseeable future. Technicians who are great in their field need to adapt and upskill to be able to safely diagnose and understand this emerging technology. Scott is definitely a student that absolutely exceled in this programme, now putting his newly gained knowledge to use in industry.

“Having developed a year long, part-time programme in conjunction with Otago Polytechnic, we have spent the past four years delivering this programme, adding content and resources each year to keep up with technology. Having our programme gain overseas recognition from America, wishing to implement our programme and training there speaks volume.

“We have even tailored our delivery to meet the demands for students in Rarotonga that have had an influx of EVs on the Island, and have realised they will have to upskill to meet the new demand. If you are considering upskilling in this area like Scott, I highly recommend you get onboard.”