Taratahi set for growth
Agricultural training provider Taratahi says its efforts to attract new students have paid off with solid enrolments for 2018.
Seventy-four of those students attended the four-day course at Taratahi's main campus in Wairarapa in either agriculture or equine. Equine Tasters are held at Panorama Equestrian Centre.
Four day residential Taster courses are run at Taratahi's Wairarapa campus every school holidays, and one day courses are held at some of the other campuses around New Zealand.
At least 200 students have attended Taster courses at Taratahi this year, showing an encouraging number of young people interested in a future in agriculture.
The courses have proven to be a successful model for students and Taratahi. They have given students the opportunity to 'try before they buy', figure out whether a career in the primary industries is for them and help them see whether they might enjoy learning at Taratahi.
Organisers say feedback from students has been encouraging: 92% of the participants surveyed indicated they would recommend the experience to others.
"Most participants in the Taster courses are convinced they would like to return as students when they finish school. This makes it worthwhile for us to hold them," says interim Taratahti chief executive Linda Sissons.
"The Taster course also gives tutors the opportunity to assess the suitability of students for agriculture. It is a useful thing for us to know before a student enrols, as we'd like the learning experience to be successful for all our students."
One more Taster course will be held at the Wairarapa campus from December 14-17; both the equine and agriculture streams are being offered.
