CPIT welcomes $18.9 million govt funding for trades campus

CPIT welcomes $18.9 million government funding for trades campus

CPIT has welcomed today’s announcement that it is to receive $18.9 million from the government for investing into CPIT’s Trades Innovation Institute (TII) campus at Sullivan Avenue.

Tertiary Education Minister Steven Joyce announced that funding will be made available for trades delivery after reviewing CPIT’s plans for supporting the growing demand for skilled workers for the Canterbury rebuild.

“This is an exciting opportunity to provide even more trades graduates with the right skills, experience and energy to contribute to the city’s rebuild and drive the recovery forward,” Acting CPIT Chief Executive Judith Brown says.

The funding will go towards the upgrading and redevelopment of the TII campus, including creating new learning spaces that will replicate work sites as closely as possible so students are equipped for real world working environments. Funding will also be invested to enhance the trade training strategy and overall delivery capability, ensuring that the new campus environment is fully utilised.

“As part of our trades delivery programme, our workforce development unit, Skills for Canterbury, provides industry, employer and regional organisations with responses to help grow efficiency and productivity. It’s great to have the government support for growth in this area and this investment will contribute to our plans for CPIT’s long-term future as a high quality tertiary provider,” Brown says.

The TII development is part of larger campus development plans for CPIT with new buildings and repurposing work that carries through to 2022. These plans will be funded from CPIT’s balance sheet.

CPIT is one of the South Island’s largest tertiary institutions employing 1,300 staff and attracting 24,000 students every year. Offering a range of study programmes, CPIT’s mission is to provide high quality learning for the community and to play a valuable and active role in the revitalisation of Christchurch.

ENDS

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