New Wintec trades centre boost for students

Wintec’s engineering and trades students are in for a treat next year as construction on the purpose-built engineering and trades building begins at the Rotokauri campus.

The project will cost around $25m which includes the construction of the new facilities, the investment of new technologies, and redesigning the courses for a more hands-on project based learning with more input from industry partners.

“I’m excited about this significant development.  It will put our Rotokauri campus on the map,” Wintec CEO Mark Flowers said.

The new technology will support student learning and includes world-class simulation equipment and software, particularly in the electrical, automotive, welding and engineering areas.

“It will be a vibrant learning environment, with technology that students of today and the future expect,” he said.

Wintec mechanical engineering student Jeremy Howell said he thinks the new building is a good idea as there will be newer technology such as those currently being used in the industry. He believes it will give the students better preparation for when they do get out in the workforce.

Currently the Wintec engineering students are taught at the Hamilton city campus while trades students are taught at the Rotokauri campus in Hamilton North. The new facility will see the two disciplines being taught under the same roof at the Rotokauri campus and will allow for more shared learning.

The engineering courses and Waikato Industry Centre for Training will move into the building when it is completed in February 2014 with the School of Trades moving in mid 2014.