Tourism

Workplace training for school students

The Gateway programme offers valuable workplace experience for school students.

Gateway gives school students the opportunity to show their potential as an employee and gain a work record.

With Gateway you are able to work towards achieving industry based unit standards which you can add to your CV and Record of Learning. They may be industry standards that are not otherwise available to you at school.

You will not be paid but your training will prepare you for employment when you leave school, and for further study and training.

Get started with Gateway

Contact your School’s Gateway Co-ordinator who will work with employers to find a work placement that suits you.

To be selected you will need to show the qualities required of a workplace trainee:

• organised
• reliable
• punctual
• show pride in your personal presentation and standards of work
• show initiative, enthusiasm, and commitment
• readily accept responsibility
• communicate well with customers and colleagues
• showing tact and diplomacy, and fit into a team.

Duration of work placements

The placement will be for one day per week or an equivalent time during the school year. Details are worked out between the school and the workplace. Placement in blocks of time during weekends and holidays is also possible.

Frequently asked questions about Gateway workplace training

What benefits will I get from the Gateway programme?

Gateway workplace training gives school students:

• expert guidance in the workplace
• practical industry skills and knowledge
• credits on their Record of Learning that can go towards national qualifications
• confidence about entering the workforce
• advice about further study.

How can I improve my chances of selection?

Your school can help you to gain unit standards that will give you a lot of the skills and knowledge that you’ll need in the workplace.

Your teachers, careers adviser and Gateway staff will help you select suitable standards from those listed below, to prepare you for a job placement.

Which NCEA unit standards do I need to apply for Gateway?

The NCEA unit standards shown below are those most important for working in travel and tourism industries.

Skill area: Literacy
U.S. number: 2977
Title: Read texts for practical purposes
Level 1, Credit 4

Skill area: Numeracy
U.S. number: 64
Title: Perform calculations for the workplace
Level 1, Credit 2

Skill area: Writing
U.S. number: 3483
Title: Fill in a form
Level 1, Credit 4

Skill area: Health and Safety
U.S. number: 497
Title: Protect health and safety in the workplace
Level 1, Credit 1

Skill area: Communication
U.S. number: 3501
Title: Apply listening skills
Level 1, Credit 4

Skill area: Communication
U.S. number: 1277
Title: Communicate in a specified workplace
Level 2, Credit 3

Skill area: Employee skills
U.S. number: 1978
Title: Identify basic employment rights and responsibilities, and sources of information and assistance
Level 1, Credit 2

Skill area: Employee skills
U.S. number: 4249
Title: Demonstrate care and timeliness as an employee
Level 1, Credit 3

Skill area: Employee skills
U.S. number: 62
Title: Maintain personal presentation in the workplace
Level 2, Credit 2

Skill area: Employee skills
U.S. number: 7123
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of problem solving techniques
Level 2, Credit 2

Skill area: Customer Service
U.S. number: 57
Title: Provide customer service in given situations
Level 2, Credit 2

Skill area: Customer Service
U.S. number: 11941
Title: Build rapport with customers
Level 2, Credit 2

Skill area: Customer Service
U.S. number: 1299
Title: Be assertive
Level 2, Credit 4

Skill area: Teamwork
U.S. number: 9677
Title: Participate in a group/team which has an objective
Level 2, Credit 3

Skill area: Personal
U.S. number: 504
Title: Produce a CV
Level 1, Credit 2

Which unit standards can I study during workplace learning?

ATTTO supports the following unit standards for workplace learning. Your school and potential employer will help you to select standards which suit your needs and those of the workplace.

Credits in any of these standards can be credited to a National Certificate.

U.S. Number: 18224*
Title: Work in a team
Level 2, Credit 2

U.S. Number: 18230
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of computer applications and produce text on a computer for the tourism and travel industry
Level 2, Credit 2

U.S. Number: 18231
Title: Work roles in Tourism & Travel
Level 2, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18232
Title: Read and write in English
Level 2, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18233
Title: Communicate in English
Level 2, Credit 2

U.S. Number: 18210
Title: Communication and customer service skills
Level 3, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18223
Title: Provide customer service in the tourism and travel industry
Level 3, Credit 4

U.S. Number: 18221
Title: Complete Tourism and Travel Administration tasks and use office equipment
Level 3, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18280*
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of and use email and Internet in the tourism and travel industry
Level 3, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18226
Title: Demonstrate cross-cultural communication for the tourism and travel industry
Level 3, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18227
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of support mechanisms for visitors with special needs
Level 3, Credit 3

U.S. Number: 18235
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of International Air Transport Association (IATA) world geography
Level 3, Credit 4

U.S. Number: 21231
Title: Demonstrate knowledge of the sales function and process in tourism and travel workplaces
Level 3, Credit 4

U.S. Number: 5070*
Title: Develop personal plans for a work role in a tourism and travel industry environment
Level 3, Credit 4

* Note that entry for all standards is open except:

• 18224 requires 18233 as a prerequisite
• 18280 requires 18230 as a prerequisite
• requires 18231 as a prerequisite

These prerequisites may be completed concurrently.

What can I do with my NCEA credits? 

All credits are entered on your Record of Learning and can be credited towards the National Certificate in Tourism and Travel Core Skills (Level 3), which can be followed by National Certificates in Travel or in Tourism (Guiding). 


Where can I get work experience in the travel and tourism industries?

Aviation workplaces:

• Aero clubs or flying schools
• Airlines and airline agents
• Aircraft sales and maintenance

Travel workplaces:

• Travel agents

Tourism workplaces:

• Tour and sightseeing services
• Information centres (i-Sites)
• Tourism attractions , such as hot pools
• Tourism activities, such as horse trekking, kayaking, mountain biking and guided tours
• Local authorities for tourism based initiatives
• Car rental companies (driver’s licence required)
• Accommodation with a tourism focus, such as hotels, motels and backpackers.

Museums workplaces:

• Museums
• Art galleries
• Specialty retailers with a tourist focus


What do I do after my Gateway workplace training is finished?

You can get a job in the travel and tourism industries and earn while you learn within a Modern Apprenticeship or Workplace Training Scheme, or you can continue your education at a university or polytechnic.