Conference looks at ways to help youth to stay in education

Conference looks at ways to help youth to stay in education system and gain jobs

It’s no secret that New Zealand has a high rate of student disengagement from education. At least one in every eight of our young people is not involved in education, employment or training. Looking at the period when young people transition between education levels and from education into work provides a key opportunity for addressing this.

Manukau Institute of Technology’s Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways (CSMP) and Ako Aoteoroa: The National Centre for Tertiary Teaching Excellence, have partnered to hold the third Bridging the Divides conference in Auckland this week to look at transitions from secondary to tertiary education and into employment. The conference is also supported by the Ministry of Education, Cognition Education, Cyclone Computers and the University of Auckland’s Faculty of Education.

Keynote speakers include the Honourable Hekia Parata, Minister of Education; Sir Mark Solomon, Te Runanga o Ngai Tahu, Dr Joel Vargas from Jobs for the Future Foundation in the US; Associate Professor Leesa Wheelahan from the University of Melbourne and Emeritus Professor Gary Hawke from Victoria University of Wellington. Topics include initiatives for Pacific learning, Maori learners and rural learners; the role of industry training in bridging the divide; the impact of the Youth Guarantee scheme; and reflections from those learners who have managed to successfully transition into further study or work.

The Director of Manukau Institute of Technology’s Centre for Studies in Multiple Centre, Dr. Stuart Middleton says “Momentum is increasing internationally to make sure we keep young people engaged to proceed through the school system, into further education and training and into work. The Centre for Studies in Multiple Pathways was established so we can continue to develop responses to the issues of students who are not responding in conventional settings.”

“The conference provides an important opportunity for our international speakers to share their experiences in the field and from the wide range of NZ practitioners, researchers and thought leaders so we can support each other, be challenged by what others are doing and to reflect on our own practice,” Dr. Middleton explains.

Ako Aotearoa Director, Dr Peter Coolbear says, “Ensuring a good pathway through education and out into the world is of critical importance both for learners and for the country as a whole so we are pleased to partner with CSMP to host this conference on creating good transition experiences and effective education pathways for young people.”

WHAT: Bridging the Divides – Transitions from Secondary to Tertiary and into Employment
WHERE: University of Auckland
WHEN: July 2 – 3, 2013

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