Tertiary Ed Commission Engages Community Expertise

Tertiary Education Commission Engages Community Expertise

Dr Andrew West, Chair of the Tertiary Education Commission, announced the appointment of seven community sector experts to the Commission’s Adult and Community Education (ACE) Reference Group today.

“The seven panel members comprising the Tertiary Education Commission ACE Reference Group were selected from a list of leading New Zealand educators, spanning the spectrum of adult and community education,” said Dr West.

The Associate Minister of Education, with responsibility for Adult and Community Education, Hon Marian Hobbs endorsed the appointment of the panel and said “The ACE sector is experiencing an exciting revitalisation. I applaud the appointment of this panel which reinforces the Government’s recognition of the enormous value of ACE.”

Dr West went on to say “My fellow Commissioners and I were impressed with the calibre of applicants for this group, and are confident the selected panel members will represent the ACE sector objectively, act as a key advisory partner to ensure the successful implementation and delivery of the Government endorsed ACE Working Party Report, and help us develop and maintain strong relationships with the ACE sector.”

The panel members are:

Atawhai Bell-Li, Tutor, Whaia Te Ara Ako, Literacy Aotearoa Wellington Inc;

Te Kawehau Hoskins, Senior Lecturer, Programme Leader, Puukenga Sc hool of Mäori Education, UNITEC;

Dorothy McGray, Manager, Waitakere Workers Education Association (WEA);

Sandy Morrison, Lecturer, Department of Mäori Studies, School of Mäori and Pacific Development, Waikato University;

Geoff Pearman, Director, Centre for Continuing Education, University of Canterbury;

Gareth Rees, Manager and Community Education Organiser, Rural Education Activities Programme (REAP), Buller;

Timote Vaioleti, Senior Lecturer, Professional Studies in Education, School of Education, University of Waikato.

“I believe, that the Tertiary Education Commission, in partnership with specialist stakeholder groups such as the ACE Reference Group, will help raise awareness of the importance of Adult and Community Education and lifelong learning,” said Dr West.

“One of our goals, and one of the Government’s goals, is to improve foundation skills such as numeracy and literacy and other basic skills, so that all New Zealanders can keep learning and participate in our economy and society. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to announce the formation of the ACE Reference Group today, as it means we are now one step closer to fulfilling our goal.”

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