School not your thing? Come meet your tribe.

Seventeen-year-old Taleisha McQuade is in her first year of a Bachelor of Arts and Media having made the most of the available education pathways at Te Pūkenga NMIT, working her way through Trades Academy and the Level 4 Study and Career Preparation Course.

“School was a bit rough for me, I didn’t feel too comfortable there,” Taleisha said.

“I started Trades Academy because I wanted to gain an education in the arts industry. It was a good experience and I enjoyed it a lot.”

To meet the entry requirements for a Bachelor’s degree, Taleisha went on to complete the New Zealand Study and Career Preparation Course Level 4(external link).

Sara Matthews, Programme Lead Specialist for the Creative Industries department, said the course is a vital pathway for those who don’t meet the NZQA entry requirements.

“Creatives can struggle with some of the written and study skills required for tertiary study,” said Sara. “The education pathway at Te Pūkenga NMIT allows us to bring them here and build their confidence and skills to meet their tribe.”

“Both ākonga and their parents can see that there is a real future in the industry,” she said.

Taleisha would like to get a job as an animator, concept designer, comic maker or work as a freelance artist in the future.

See our website(external link) for more information on the Arts and Design programmes at Te Pūkenga NMIT.