TAFE - Sydney Institute Latest News and Events

Languages can take you places

Tuesday 7 February 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Have you considered learning a language?

Did you realise learning a language can enhance your employment prospects across a range of areas including; hospitality and tourism industries, community services and health, business and finance, mining, and construction?

Warren Ziebowski is a primary school teacher who travels each week from his home in Orange to attend his Korean language course at Ultimo College. His interest in Korean culture along with the Australian government’s move toward supporting the teaching of Asian languages in schools, has given Warren the means to add Korean language to his school’s curriculum.

“We have started introducing Korean language and culture to our Year Two children and hope to expand this across the entire school once I finish my course. The intense nature of the TAFE course meant that I was able to start passing on my knowledge to my students just after two months of study,” Warren says.

Gene Bailk, teaches the certificate II in Applied Language - Korean course at Ultimo College and says Korean is one of the most popular Asian languages to learn, alongside Chinese and Japanese. Gene says this popularity is attributed to the major trading partnership and strong economic and political relationship between Korea and Australia.

“Many people come to learn a language because there is a need in the workplace, including those people who want to learn a language before they go off to teach English abroad. We also have a great flow of university students studying languages who come to TAFE to enhance their practical language skills,” Gene says.

Warren is looking forward to being accredited as a Korean language teacher and is especially looking forward to returning to Korea to visit his friends. “I can"t wait to practice my language skills and be able to communicate and interact with my friends in Korean”, he says.

Sydney Institute offers a range of nationally accredited language courses in European and Asian languages at a level to suit your ability. Teachers are highly qualified, accredited and accomplished speakers of the language they teach and focus on practical communication with the aim of helping you master reading, writing, listening and speaking in both simple and complex real-life situations.

For more information on how to apply for language courses at Sydney Institute.

Want to study overseas?

Thursday 2 February 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Want to study overseas next semester?

Applications are now open for Sydney Institute’s international exchange programs for Semester 2, 2012.

Imagine spending next semester studying in Denmark, Japan or Singapore and gaining credit towards your course!

Exchange programs are currently open to Sydney Institute students in the following areas:

• Architectural Technology (Denmark) – for students at Ultimo & St George College
• IT Networking (Singapore) – for students at Petersham College
• Jewellery and Object Design (Japan) – for students at Design Centre Enmore

• Mechanical Engineering students who want to go on exchange to Denmark in Semester 1, 2013 should also speak to their head teacher now, as special preparation is required next semester before the exchange takes place.

Scholarships may be available to successful applicants depending on the exchange program chosen.

For more information on how to apply please visit our international student exchange page.

Nominations open for Excellence Awards

Thursday 2 February 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Are you an outstanding student who completed a course with Sydney Institute in 2011 and excelled in achieving your study goals? Or know of someone who has?

Nominations for the 2012 Sydney Institute Student Excellence Awards are now open!

Each year, the Awards celebrates the talents, hard work and achievements of our most outstanding students who come to study with us for a whole range of reasons; from pursuing a career change to following a pathway to university or simply updating their current skills.

Students are judged on academic achievement, community and industry involvement, career aspirations and personal achievements.

Be recognised for your achievements and nominate yourself or someone you know today.

Nominations close 13 March 2012.

To find out more about the awards and how to nominate please see information pack. To download the nomination form.

Visual splendour in New York

Wednesday 1 February 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Twelve visual merchandising students from Ultimo College got to experience Christmas season in New York, "a dream come true for industry folk", while participating in a study tour in December 2011.

Organised by Kerry Little, Head Teacher of Visual Merchandising, the study tour incorporated a host of events designed to expose students to global trends and practices in visual merchandising and to assist students in developing global capability and competitiveness.

Students attended the A.R.E Retail Design Collective presentations held between 5 – 8 December, where they gained valuable insights into the current trends of visual merchandising from some of North America’s best retailers and trainers.

As part of Visual Merchandising Week, the group were given the opportunity to visit a wide range of supplier’s showrooms, as well as meet with retailers across specialty stores and department stores to discuss visual merchandisings role in generating and increasing retail sales. Students also experienced first-hand the latest trends in seasonal displays in the retail sector.

According to head teacher, Kerry Little, a highlight for the group was attending the PAVE Gala dinner and participating in the student installations and PAVE Scholarship competition which was announced on the night.

“Our students were invited to work alongside New York students at the PAVE Gala installation, where students got the opportunity to dress mannequins in a garment made from recycled materials. During installation our students were assisted by staff from Saks Fifth Avenue.

"The PAVE Gala dinner was attended by 500 visual merchandisers and retail designers from across the US and our student’s efforts as well as our college name were on show. This was an amazing experience for our students to work on such an installation and be supported by staff and students from US colleges as well as retailers,” Ms Little said.

For more information on visual merchandising courses at Sydney Institute

Student Excellence Awards nominations

Monday 23 January 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Are you an outstanding student who completed a course with Sydney Institute in 2011 and excelled in achieving your study goals? Or know of someone who has?

Nominations for the 2012 Sydney Institute Student Excellence Awards are now open!

Each year, the Awards celebrate the talents, hard work and achievements of our most outstanding students who come to study with us for a whole range of reasons; from pursuing a career change to following a pathway to university or simply updating their current skills.

Students are judged on academic achievement, community and industry involvement, career aspirations and personal achievements.

Be recognised for your achievements and nominate yourself or someone you know today.

Nominations close 13 March 2012.

To find out more about the awards and how to nominate please see information pack. To download the nomination form.

2012 scholarships available

Thursday 19 January 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Take a look at the range of scholarships on offer at Sydney Institute in 2012.

Since 2010 Sydney Institute has offered scholarships to help students facing financial difficulties achieve their study goals and career ambitions.

Scholarships are available in a range of study areas including; automotive, accounting and finance, building and construction, health and aged care, fashion design, interior design and decoration, IT and many more.

The scholarship program is supported by a variety of valued partners in addition to Sydney Institute, who see the worth in assisting our students to be more than they imagine.

Applications for most scholarships close on 10 February 2012.

For more information on how to apply for a scholarship at Sydney Institute please visit the 2012 scholarship page.

Ultimo hosts Serge Ferrari Trade Day

Monday 16 January 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Sydney Institute’s Ultimo College hosts Serge Ferrari Trade Day

Sydney Institute’s Ultimo College recently hosted the Serge Ferrari Trade Day. This two-day Marine and Motor trimmers workshop was organised in conjunction with Innova and Bainbridge to introduce businesses to the latest styles and processes in marine trimming used in the U.S.A. The guest speaker of the workshop was trimmer specialist, Steve Szenay who was flown in especially from the US by Serge Ferrari to share his latest techniques in trimming.

The two-day interactive workshop was divided into discussions, question and answer sessions and practical hands on training using latest fabrics and techniques in trimming. According to Head Teacher, Lawrence de Paoli; “The sharing of ideas and networking amongst industry partners and businesses made the Serge Ferrari Trade Day a great experience. I am especially proud, that Sydney Institute hosted this event at our Ultimo campus thus enabling the marine and motor trimming industry access our facilities and our expertise. We look forward to hosting similar industry events in the future.”

For more information on vehicle repair and trimming courses offered at Sydney Institute

2012 NSW Training Awards nominations

Monday 19 December 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Nominations for the 2012 NSW Training Awards are now open.

The annual awards celebrate the outstanding achievements of final year apprentices,trainees, students, teachers, training providers and employers in vocational education and training.

2011 winners include Sydney Institute graduates; Galit Segev who was named NSW Vocational Student of the Year and Joshua Toomey named National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander of the Year.

Don"t miss this great opportunity to be recognised for your hard work and outstanding achievements. Nominate yourself or someone you know today.

Entries close 30 March 2012.

For eligibility details and entry forms visit NSW Training Awards or phone 1800 306 999.

Places still available

Monday 19 December 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Thinking about studying at Sydney Institute in 2012?

Vacancies still exist across a range of courses at Sydney Institute colleges.

To find out which courses are still available please call the Student Information Centre on 1300 360 601 or call your local college direct.

Remember to check if your course has a compulsory information session before you can enrol. You can find out more on the enrolment page