New initiative launched to provide free technology training for students

The Hangarau Scholarship (Hangarau is technology in Māori) is aiming to bolster graduate numbers in the technology sector and help address the ongoing skills shortage.

New Zealand students are being given the opportunity to study technology for free, with a new initiative launched by New Zealand School of Education's (NZSE) TechSchool<https://techschool.co.nz/>.

The Hangarau Scholarship (Hangarau is technology in Māori) is aiming to bolster graduate numbers in the technology sector and help address the ongoing skills shortage. It will see any students enrolling in the eligible courses having their tuition fees of up to $3060 paid. The scholarship applies for IT Essentials Level 4 and the NZ Certificate in Information Technology Level 5. Unlike traditional scholarships awarded to just one or two students, the Hangarau Scholarship will be granted to any qualifying applicants enrolling be the end of May.

The initiative coincides with Techweek 2019, with hundreds of tech-focused events running around New Zealand, and comes on the back of the continuing government push to encourage more students to study IT.

The NZQA and TEC-funded TechSchool at NZSE is part of a wholly owned Kiwi company, New Zealand Skills & Education Group.

NZSE's IT provisioning started from 2004 and since then has had thousands of graduates and grown to four campuses around Auckland.

Helping grow a Kiwi growth engine

Brijesh Sethi, Group Founder and Managing Director for New Zealand School of Education, says education and training in technology through institutions like TechSchool at NZSE are a crucial part of ensuring New Zealand's technology sector is equipped for future growth.

"At NZSE's TechSchool we promote hands-on, collaborative learning for in-demand skills," he says."TechSchool has strong ties with New Zealand's rapidly growing technology sector, and we've seen the great need for more graduates. "We hope this initiative will enable more students to train and gain highly in-demand skills which enable them to work in a diverse and thriving industry."

Prospective students must be New Zealand citizens or permanent residents for at least three years to qualify for the scholarship and must demonstrate passion and talent for technology and a clear career goal related to the programme of study.