Lecturer Chris Stoddard and student Sean Royan – hands-on learning in the NZ Certificate of Construction (Carpentry) course.
Our pre-trades carpentry course gives people from all walks of life the chance to learn from highly skilled builders and be fully immersed in the trade from day one.
How many students start building a house within five weeks of starting their course? That’s what our New Zealand Certificate in Construction Trades (carpentry) offers. As lecturer Chris Stoddard says, “it’s chucking them straight in the deep end, and that’s a selling point for the course”.
The 32-week intensive course (also known as ‘Pre-Trades Carpentry’) has been providing a unique opportunity since the 1976: teaching carpentry theory and skills in a fully supported environment, with highly skilled builders who double as lecturers. The bonus is that by the end of the course the students will together build an entire house that meets building standards and is then sold to the public (information on how to purchase your own student-built home is available on our website).
The course is a standalone certificate which aims to set graduates up to enter the workforce and begin an apprenticeship. Apprenticeship studies can be completed through our managed apprenticeship programme ITABS (Industry Training Association Building), which involves four years’ part-time study and full-time employment in the industry.
One of the houses built during the pre-trades carpentry course.
Who are the pre-trade students?
It’s not just school leavers who join the pre-trade carpentry programme. As with many of our programmes, Chris says there is no ‘typical’ student. He’s seen students aged from 16 to 62 and their motivation ranges from changing industries to moving from other courses at Unitec, leaving office work behind, supporting their family… the list goes on.
“We’ve trained accountants, lawyers, chefs, an architect, medical school graduates and a Master of Arts graduate” says Chris.
The course is also an option for at-risk youth who have been referred by support organisations. Those students have shown commitment with a strong success rate.
Whoever they are, the students come in green, with minimal or no building skills.
“They’re a bit stunned initially – we start building the house from week five after they’ve completed some smaller projects, like a sawhorse” says Chris.
The teachers present the stages of the build in a sequenced way – they’ll teach the theory in the classroom, then take the students out on site. It’s a true example of aligning theory and practice, which is important when learning a trade.
NZ Certificate in Construction (carpentry) lecturers, Angus Robertson and Chris Stoddard.
“We ‘scaffold’ the skills, but essentially they’re doing exactly what qualified builders are doing, with our support.” says Chris.
Builders become teachers – bridging industry and education
Being a teacher in the pre-trade course requires a complex set of skills. They are Licenced Building Practitioners who are constantly developing their own skills and need to record all the work they do, including their teaching work. It’s a busy job, with two lecturers supervising and teaching the 32 students in each certificate class.
“The houses are built by students but still need to meet strict building standards before they’re signed off by an inspector. We keep a close eye on the students to make sure they’re doing a good job” Chris said.
The houses are popular as they are cost-effective and come fully kitted out, including the kitchen sink.
“They are three bedrooms, two bathrooms and all fitted out. The buyer just needs to sort out the floor covering, gib-stopping and painting” says Chris.
“Interest is generally very strong from potential buyers each year, many of them have gone to coastal locations around the North Island, some have been used as research houses for building science purposes and one was used as the daycare centre here at Unitec.”