Employment: Working together, industry and UCOL create the right mix.

Architectural Designer Phil Stanfield believes UCOL creates graduates who are well prepared and have a good grounding for employment.

“The relationship UCOL has with their employer networks is great and has enabled them to train their students in a way that suits our sector.”

Marshell Putu, lecturer, ensures that his supporters of UCOL are well looked after and have a solid connection to enable the students to succeed. He looked at the industry as a whole and learned early on that you need to be careful to connect the students with the correct people and industry.

Phil talked about Marshell adapting to their needs, and he ensured he followed up and checked that the students were doing well in their new employment.

To start with, Stanfield employed a UCOL graduate and then employed via another provider. However, he returned to UCOL and has supported us ever since, having now employed six Architectural Technician staff from the UCOL trades faculty. Phil says,

“We know what the students are like before they land here, because Marshell is really honest about the graduates. We know if there are areas we may need to pay attention to and if they would match various roles better. It is an easy choice to go with UCOL Te Pūkenga graduates. The follow up support is also great.”

Phil states,

“The students apply their course knowledge. It is really accurate, they adapt really quickly to the new workplace, and are well trained. We have found the students proficient at converting technical information and regulations, then applying them well to designs and drawings.”

As the industry is ever-changing and has different needs, Stanfield has informal feedback sessions with UCOL. Having worked in the industry himself, Marshell has a good appreciation of important course knowledge that graduates need to have to be work-ready.