Turn creative talent into a career

July 19, 2013

Calling those who want to turn their creative talent into a career

Horotiu Farrar has returned home to South Auckland from Australia to teach painting and decorating as part a foundation studies programme at Manukau Institute of Technology.

The 16-week MIT Certificate in Foundation Education, Level 2 is delivered through project based learning so students have the opportunity to increase their literacy and numeracy skills.

MIT’s School of Foundation Studies is seen as a pivotal way to help people with gaps in their schooling into tertiary education and up to 600 students aged from 16 to 70 enrol to study there each semester.

Horotiu grew up in Manurewa and is a former graduate of a Maori Trades Training Scheme in painting and decorating which he completed in New Plymouth in the 1980s. It was one of the last of trades in the scheme before it was phased out.

He went on to complete his Diploma in Painting and Decorating and won an award for the best overall apprentice in New Zealand across all the trades a few years later. He has since become an expert painter and decorator, working in supervisory roles and running his own business in both New Zealand and Australia for the past 20 years.

Horotiu is concerned that many people are leaving school with no qualifications.

“I hope the inclusion of painting and decorating in the programme will help to bridge this gap by offering some basic trades skills to those wanting to start a new career in trades and to give them a grounding to go on and gain further qualifications or a job.”

“Students will learn skills in puttying, plastering, paint applications as well as basic business skills such as measuring and quoting a job, no previous knowledge or experience is necessary,” he says.

MIT’s Head of Foundation Studies Linda Russ says, “Our certificate programme has consisted of four projects based around business skills, community water quality testing, career options and family genealogy.

“I felt that we needed to offer a more practical project to help engage those students who enjoy working with their hands,” she says.

“This project means those who enjoy working with their hands have a chance to turn their practical and creative skills into a new career pathway.”

The next intake for the 16-week full time MIT Certificate in Foundation Education programme starts in July and is accepting applicants now.

There is also an intake in February 2014. For more information email: info@manukau.ac.nz
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