Aoraki opens its hi-tech laboratory

Aoraki Polytechnic officially opened its new $50,000 electrotechnology laboratory last night.

It is hoped the new state-of-the-art laboratory will provide students with the best possible introduction to the electrical industry.

Head of the faculty that looks after electrical trades at Aoraki Polytechnic, Lisa Baillie, said it was important students had the best learning facilities possible.

"It's really important to us that what we are using to deliver the learning to those students going out into the industry is the highest quality, and using the best technology we can."

The upgrade had been a year in the making and had been made possible with the help of Schneider Electronics, which supplied some of the new equipment and fittings for the laboratory at a cost of around $20,000.

Technical representative for Schneider Electronics, Richard Rowe, said it was a good opportunity to equip students coming into the industry with the best possible equipment.

Programme coordinator for the Certificate in pre-trade electrical, Ross Millar, whose students will use the laboratory, said new features like infrared scanning systems would change the way he taught and how his students learn.

"These days there's less time to teach. There was a lot of wasted time in the old days, students don't waste their time twiddling their thumbs anymore if they are here they are working."

-Herald staff

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