What National Certificate has tertiary providers up and down the country talking?

The National Certificate in Electronics Technology earns support beyond the school classroom.

From Auckland to Canterbury, tertiary providers are supporting the National Certificate in Electronics Technology (NCET), and the benefits it has to offer both students and tertiary institutions.

Since 1997, the NCET qualification has enabled schools to build and deliver electronics programmes that help students take their first steps towards a hi-tech career. Rather than an alternative to the NCEA curriculum, the NCET is regarded as a strong complementary programme for talented students looking to give themselves an edge before embarking on further technical or engineering study.

Liz Godfrey, Associate Dean Undergraduate at the Auckland University's School of Engineering, says the university will factor credit for completion of the NCET (level 3) into their ranking procedures.

The University of Canterbury is impressed with the qualification. Richard Duke, Head of Department, Electrical Engineering, says there is a huge benefit to those who choose to do NCET along with their mathematics and physics at Year 13.

There are 160 New Zealand secondary schools currently accredited and offering an NCET programme. Last year there were 2,000 Year 12 students enrolled at level 2 and 90 Year 13 students at level 3. In 2002, 186 secondary school students graduated with a full NCET.

A pathway to tertiary

Developed in consultation with the hi-tech industry, schools and tertiary providers, NCET provides a pathway from secondary to tertiary study by delivering a core of electronics skills and knowledge that is recognised by industry. Concurrent study at

Students of NCET like these from Hamilton Boys High School can be assured they will be warmly received by any tertiary institution they choose to enrol in.

Year 12 and 13 in mathematics, physics, other sciences and computing provide students with essential foundation skills. Credits gained in these NCEA subjects contribute to completion of the full NCET.

The quality of this national qualification and its relevance at a tertiary level is summed up by Paul Wilson, Dean of the Design and Engineering Faculty at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology. "As an institute we acknowledge the value of the NCET qualifications and the excellent background they give to students entering our programmes. It significantly increases their chances of success at tertiary level."

For more information about the NCET programme, visit: www.brightsparks.org.nz or call Ross Petersen, National Manager Education, Electrotechnology Industry Training Organisation (ETITO), on 09 525 2590 ext 703 or email rossp@etito.co.nz

For specific information on how tertiary providers recognise NCET for entry and exemptions in tertiary diplomas and degrees, go to www.brightsparks.org.nz.