UCOL offers free study for people who lose their jobs during the recession

Government-owned polytechnic UCOL is offering free study during 2009 to people who lose their jobs as a result of the current economic downturn.

Alongside the Retraining offer, UCOL is also offering a ‘Job Guarantee’ to its new students: Anyone who doesn’t find employment in their study area within 13 weeks of successfully completing a UCOL programme started in 2009 can then apply to enrol on another programme without paying further tuition fees in 2010.

Chief executive Paul McElroy says the two initiatives are in line with UCOL’s commitment to its local communities and to the health of the regional economies UCOL serves.

The UCOL Retraining offer is available to anyone made redundant after 1st September this year and covers the normal tuition fees on any of the more than 100 certificates, degrees and diplomas offered at UCOL’s three campuses, in Palmerston North, Wanganui, and the Wairarapa, as well as on-line during 2009 apart from students association fees and any programme-related costs.