Workhub Kaupapa
To enable students & industry to connect in a professional environment.
The Workhub exists to support the industry, community, and students in a professional manner and develop work-ready graduates.
It provides valuable experiences for our students and the organisations they work with. Students can 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. UCOL aims to engage students with industry in a way that supports both students and industry.
Many UCOL programmes include modules on business basics, and Workhub offers a supportive space in which to learn and grow. Those directly working under the Creative Industries Workhub umbrella can also use this space as a simulated workplace alongside a facilitator to complete all business functions, from creating invoices to managing budgets.
The original Workhub started as a specialised creative workspace 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 cannot offer placements or apprenticeships. Therefore, Workhub helped offer these experiences without the financial burden. Its implementation won the UCOL Business and Innovation award.
With the project’s success and new specialised building, we can now have the Workhub as a central point for the UCOL industry engagements. It is exciting for students, industry and staff to collaborate in this beautifully renovated area. The space has two teleconferencing areas (PC and Mac), a presentation room, student project areas, and portable laptops for best use in the simulated industry space. “Industry Fridays” is an initiative starting with the new building, where UCOL 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 to the Historic Places Manawatu Horowhenua, Palmerston North City Council, UCOL and Design Group Stapleton Elliot Architect, Stacey Cleland.
The Workhub is all about connections! The partnerships you already hold with UCOL 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.
