Skills Institute Hosts Its First-Ever School Holiday Programme

Our very first April School Holiday Programme has officially wrapped — and what a way to make history. High school students from across Aotearoa came through our doors at Wiri, Manukau, Lower Hutt, and Dunedin ready to explore!

In total, 106 high school students took part across all four campuses, representing schools — including Long Bay College, Westlake Girls' High School, Pukekohe High School, Rosehill College, Hutt Valley High School, Kāpiti College, Otago Girls' High School, and Logan Park High School. Seeing students visit our campuses in their regions to be part of something new was a moment we won't forget.

Students got hands-on with real vocational training across hairdressing, nail tech, hospitality, cookery, healthcare, and more. From blow-drying and nail art to plating up dishes and learning the basics of pre-police and defence force, our ākonga got a genuine taste of what life looks like as a Skills Institute student.

And the feedback? It said it all. Students left telling us how much they loved getting a firsthand look at vocational education — many sharing that the variety of courses on offer surprised them, inspired them, and sparked something new. For many, it was their first time stepping inside a training environment like ours, and it clearly left a mark.

It's one thing to wonder what a career path might feel like — it's another to actually live it for a day. That's exactly what this programme is about: opening doors and letting our community's young people walk through them.

Watch the highlights of our Auckland campuses here:

 

 

 

 

 

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To every student who came along — ngā mihi nui. Thank you for your energy, your enthusiasm, and your willingness to give something new a go. You made our very first holiday programme everything we hoped it would be!

And to the whānau, kura, and community members who supported them, thank you for trusting us with your ākonga.

This is just the beginning, and we can't wait to do it all again.

Want to find out more about studying at Skills Institute? Visit our website and career pathways page to learn and explore more our programmes.