Business & Information Technology

Monday, October 06, 2008

Senior students to fast track their studies with SBIT

In a Queensland first, Year 11 and 12 students will soon be able to study for diploma qualifications at the Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT) while still at school.

Education and Training Minister Rod Welford said the Southbank Tertiary Entrance Program (STEP) would help the state build its workforce and address the skills shortage.

“This program will be offered in 2009 and allow senior school students with the opportunity to start diploma qualifications as part of their secondary school curriculum,” Mr Welford said.

“While some educational bodies offer students similar opportunities with mostly certificate qualifications, SBIT will be the first in Queensland to make places available across a whole range of diploma programs.

“The program will form part of a student’s high school curriculum, which means students will be accumulating credit towards their Queensland Certificate of Education at the same time as undertaking a diploma qualification.

“Students will learn alongside current Institute students and successful students will have guaranteed entry into SBIT at the end of Year 12. When students complete their diploma they can choose to use their credit to go on to university study or move straight into the workforce. A further benefit for students is its affordability – students pay no tuition fees, only material costs.

“This means it’s an attractive option to those school students who had ruled out tertiary education due to the cost. If students want to carry on to university they can receive credit for completing their diploma of choice and their HECS fees are likely to be lower due to reduced time at university.

“Students will gain job-ready skills and practical work experience so they are better equipped to compete in an increasingly competitive workplace.”

Mr Welford said SBIT conducted extensive research to decide which diploma programs would be offered as part of STEP, taking into account current and future industry trends as well as QTAC statistics on the most popular areas of study for school students.

Diploma programs offered include Hospitality Management, Laboratory Technology, Accounting, Nursing, Building Design & Technology, Graphic Design, Justice, Fitness and Children’s Services.

Due to the demand from schools and potential STEP students in the first two weeks of the program launch, Southbank Institute of Technology has doubled the number of enrolments available to STEP students from 160 to 320 for our 2009 intake.

Since registrations opened on 1 August, 78 schools have registered for STEP with more coming online daily. To participate, students from schools which have registered for STEP must submit their expression of interest by 7th November via STEP HUB on the Southbank Institute website at www.southbank.edu.au

For more information please contact Nichola Cox on (07) 3244 524