WelTec Announces new Secondary School Scholarships

MEDIA RELEASE

12 August 2005

WelTec Announces new Secondary School Scholarships for 2006

WelTec is offering two merit scholarships of up to $2000 to each Wellington Region secondary school.

WelTec CEO Dr Linda Sissons says that this initiative will encourage and help local secondary school students to study higher level diplomas and degrees in areas where there are regional and national skills shortages. Dr Sissons says the scholarships will have multiple benefits to students, the region’s economy and WelTec.

“There is a noticeable absence of scholarships available in some critical areas that are suffering skills shortages such as engineering, construction, business and IT,” says Dr Sissons. “We know that fees scholarships can make a difference to what, and where, students choose to study.

“We want to encourage academic achievers to consider WelTec as a serious option,” says Dr Sissons.

Dr Sissons is also president of Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics of New Zealand (ITPNZ). “We are aware that there is a wrong perception that polytechnics are not for top students and that they should consider universities as a first choice. This is an outdated idea,” she says.

“We work closely with industry and businesses. And we are finding that they need a new kind of person – people who are smart, talented, creative and practical – the kind of people that graduate from polytechnics. We’re calling these graduates the ‘New Professionals’. They have practical, portable skills but they can also think strategically and continue learning throughout their career.”

Year 11 to 13 students are eligible to apply for the scholarships through their secondary school.

Further information is available from secondary school careers advisors or at www.weltec.ac.nz

ENDS

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