Y Education is delighted to have been the recipient of two tertiary education awards at the prestigious national Independent Tertiary Education NZ (ITENZ) awards held in Queenstown on the 17^th of September.  ITENZ are the national industry association for private tertiary education providers in New Zealand.

The aim of the awards is to recognise, encourage and celebrate excellence in tertiary education in independent tertiary organisations.

Y Education took away the Provider of the Year Award and the Overall Supreme Award Winner on the night, reflecting a significant achievement the organisation.

Delivering education across the YMCA (the Y) movement, our community organisations aim to enable individuals and families to develop physically, mentally, and spiritually, and enjoy a healthy quality of life.  The education delivery model is aligned with regional Y Associations across Aotearoa.

Over the past four years, Y Education has been on a journey of change, actively working to improve quality and performance across the board.  The results are that Y Education has moved from being a low performing Category Two PTE to now being recognised as a high-quality Category One PTE, delivering strong educational and social outcomes to learners who are achieving at high rates and having great life changing outcomes.

The Provider of the Year honours organisations that have demonstrated excellence in organisation capability and significant strategic leadership that impact positively on the business, its learners, staff, wider community, and the industry, and recognises those efforts.

The Supreme Award is then chosen from the award winners and recognises outstanding achievement and excellence.

“These awards acknowledge our organisation as a high performing, outstanding tertiary education provider that is making a positive impact for our learners”, said Y Education General Manager, Leona Van der Heyden.

In accepting the awards, she gave recognition to the wider Y Education team as being a huge part of this achievement, “Everyone involved in Y Education, from our national team to local Associations, tutors, support staff, Chief Executives and Managers have all had a part in making Y Education the highly successful and now recognised tertiary education provider that we are today”.

She also acknowledged the learners “they are the reason for what we do. We are here for them and proud to be part of their journey, supporting them to be successful and backing them all the way.  “Tāngata centred education” is the Y Education philosophy, and it is paying dividends for our taiohi.”

Delivering foundation education to youth, predominately aged 15 to 19 years old, with programmes and an approach designed to support youth to successfully transition to employment or further study at higher levels, Y Education are seen as a provider of choice for youth who need a different approach to have a successful education outcome.

The Y Central South Island provides education sites in Christchurch, Ashburton, Timaru and Oamaru and our next intake is open, if you know a young person who is ready to achieve positive outcomes, please get in touch.

www.ymcasc.org.nz