Our philosophy on education
We approach learning through a framework that is founded on the process of connecting with people emotionally and building the trust and rapport that is the foundation for a positive working relationship. Without this work to connect emotionally with learners it is difficult to progress learning in a way that leads to success.
This is represented by a spiral-learning model, where learners are folded into our services through building a connection and trust before our programme work can be completed. As we work through our programme, people are folded out through a process of increased confidence and understanding of their next steps. To enhance this approach, all our programmes will have an integrated career development component.
This spiral approach allows us to embed programme components that provide the foundation for further learning - such as literacy skill enhancement or development of pro-social attitudes, behaviour and community engagement. It also allows us to draw on the broad range of unit standards we are accredited to deliver to develop programmes tailored to the needs of specific learners. In other words, YMCA Invercargill is able to tailor programme content to meet the needs of individual learners.
YMCA New Zealand is a Registered Private Training Establishment that delivers Tertiary Education Commission funded education programmes through its regional YMCA’s, including Invercargill.
TEC’s fees-free Youth Guarantee funding is about creating opportunities for 16 to 19 year olds (who are not currently engaged in education) to re-engage with education in a tertiary, rather than a school based setting. We seek to improve transitions between school, tertiary education and work. This is about increasing overall achievement and reducing the overall number of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET’s).
For learners funded through the fees-free Youth Guarantee, completion of foundation education provides an essential pathway to further education. Achieving Level 2 qualifications should be the starting point for the learner, with tertiary education organisations encouraging and supporting Youth Guarantee learners to progress to higher levels of education.
