Workhub Kaupapa
To enable students & industry to connect in a professional environment.
The Workhub exists to support industry, community and students in a professional manner to develop work-ready graduates.
It provides valuable experiences both for our students and the organisations they work with. Students are able to meet and engage with their clients in a professional environment, as well as explore and improve their abilities in core skills. The Workhub also enables those of our programmes that do not have the facilities to initiate apprenticeships or placements to have somewhere to bring clients for discussions on their proposed work integrated projects. Te Pūkenga, the new national body for vocational education, is highly focused on support and connections for local industry. The UCOL-wide Workhub initiative follows this continued strategy of industry collaboration and enables our students to become the best they can be with the opportunity for sustainable employment. The UCOL | Te Pūkenga aim is to engage students with industry in a way that supports both students and industry.
Many UCOL Te Pūkenga programmes include modules on the basics of business and Workhub will offer a supportive space to learn and grow. For those directly working under the Creative Industries Workhub umbrella, they can also use this space as a simulated workplace alongside a facilitator to complete all business functions, right down to creating invoices and managing budgets.
The original Workhub started as a specialised creative workspace that was developed for the Creative Industry and Information & Communication Technologies students to engage with clients on the UCOL Te Pūkenga premises for real-life experience. Our Creative Industries are predominantly SMEs and sole traders who do not have the ability to offer placements or apprenticeships, therefore Workhub helped offer these experiences without the financial burden. Its implementation won the UCOL Te Pūkenga Business and Innovation award.
With the project’s success and new specialised building, we are now able to have the Workhub as a central point for the UCOL Te Pūkenga industry engagements. It is exciting for students, industry and staff to be able to collaborate in this beautifully renovated area. The space has two teleconferencing areas (both PC and Mac), a presentation room, student project areas and portable laptops for best use of the simulated industry space. “Industry Fridays” is an initiative starting with the new building, where UCOL Te Pūkenga hosts free weekly workshops based on industry interest and demand. The workshops will be run by staff, industry/trade partners, external facilitators or students with specialist skill-sets for all sectors.
The beautiful old Plunket rooms building on King Street has been earthquake strengthened and restored, sensitively keeping many of the historic features.
It has also been modernised in a contemporary manner with video conferencing and server technology for the Information & Communications students. Thanks go to the Historic Places Manawatu Horowhenua, Palmerston North City Council, UCOL Te Pūkenga and Design Group Stapleton Elliot Architect, Stacey Cleland.
The Workhub is all about connections! The partnerships you already hold with UCOL Te Pūkenga will continue, while offering an add- on for increased mutual benefit. Workhub: a place to meet, an area to work, and a catalyst for collaboration of various ideas and skills.
