Flexi-Learn, flexi - work .. here comes 1 July

Flexi-Learn, flexi - work .. here comes 1 July

Linda Jones, Rhodene Nuku, Andrew Aiono (all from Wellington) all followed a course of study that fitted in around work and home. With the national change to employment conditions coming in to force on 1 July to allow staff to consider flexible working arrangements in the workplace, upskilling and work / personal life balance have a new footing.

The draft of the 2008 annual regional report on tertiary training outlines the significant need for efficient, effective improvement of skills to support regional economic development. The Wellington Regional Report on Needs and Gaps in Tertiary Education Services, by Weltec, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand and Whitireia Community Polytechnic outlines how effective on the job learning is a key part of economic development in a time of high employment.

This is not just qualifications for qualifications sake, but the building of the knowledge economy model through targeted skills growth.

Many people are today choosing to learn in a flexi manner – either from home or in the workplace. For example, with the increasing demand for employees in all areas of office administration, many people are now being employed in first entry positions and then increasing their skills by engaging in workplace learning. Employers are actively supporting this measure as a way of upskilling their staff and increasing their organisation’s productivity and efficiency.

Workplace study is a particularly effective way to study as it incorporates real life into the curriculum and students are able to use their work activities to contribute to their assessments. It also means that employees can work with their managers to design a targeted and relevant programme of study that complements their role in the workplace.

Whitireia Community Polytechnic’s Office Systems Centre of Learning is actively engaged in Flexi-learn delivery and currently offers a range of NZQA approved local and national certificate programmes to meet this growing demand. As well as students in the workplace, Whitireia also caters for people who wish to study from home and who are only required to come to the Polytechnic for specific assessments.

For those who wish to study from home as they cannot attend regular classes, this is an excellent way to become work ready. Flexi-learn provides a learning pathway and this study can then become part of an overall career and life plan.

ENDS

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