$34 million in e-learning and innovation projects

Tertiary Education Commission approves $34 million in e-learning and tertiary innovation projects

The Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) has given the go-ahead for twenty four projects to receive a total of almost $34 million to improve e-learning and foster innovative ideas in tertiary education.

“These projects are exciting, cutting edge proposals from a wide range of education providers nation-wide and they will have a significant, positive impact on the delivery of tertiary education,” said TEC Commissioner and Chair of the e-Collaboration Development Fund (eCDF) Assessment Panel, Andrew Little.

Fifteen of the 105 applications to the TEC’s $14 million e-Learning Collaborative Development Fund (eCDF) have been approved, while nine of the 159 applications to the TEC’s $20 million Innovation and Development Fund (IDF) will receive funding.

“The importance of developing improved Mäori access to, and participation in, e-learning, is a key part of a number of successful applications,” said Mr Little. “A good example is the Association of Polytechnics of NZ’s project to determine what works for Mäori, and why, in e-learning.

“The need to upskill teachers in e-learning is also a high priority and is recognised in project approvals with this focus. One such successful applicant to the eCDF was the Christchurch College of Education project that will develop a graduate e-teaching qualification to help increase the e-learning skills of teachers in the tertiary sector. The importance of regional initiatives is also recognised in projects such as the development of Northland’s Private Tertiary Education providers’ capability for teaching e-learning,” said Mr Little.

Fellow TEC Commissioner and Chair of the IDF Assessment Panel, John Blakey, noted successful applications to the IDF were also country-wide, across a range of education providers and often featured collaboration between organisations.

“An example is the application to establish a Centre for Mäori Innovation and Development. This is an excellent joint proposal by the University of Auckland, and Auckland University of Technology. So too is Wellington Institute of Technology’s proposal for a Centre for designers and manufacturers to research and develop new ideas in collaboration with students based at the polytechnic,” said Mr Blakey.

Final funding amounts and terms and conditions are still to be negotiated with each successful applicant to the funds. Round two of the funding will open for applications in the second half of 2004. Total funding available for this next round will be $17 million.

A list of all successful applicants to the funds follow.

TABLE OF SUCCESSFUL APPLICANTS

The successful projects are listed by region, with national organisations at the end of the table.

Region Organisation(s) – Project Leader named first in bold. Joint applicants’ names beneath. Project title and synopsis Fund
Northland Regent Training Centre Ltd, People Potential Ltd, and Te Aupouri Mäori Trust Board training division E-GROW Northland Developing and implementing a strategy to grow the capability of all Northland’s Private Training Education providers to deliver e-learning. Assess organisations’ staff and capability. Implement co-operative training for key staff groups and infrastructure for organisations. eCDF

Auckland Auckland College of Education, Te Reo o te Tai Tokerau, and Te Runanga o te Arawa Ngä kïwai kete: The e-Learning Toolbox Working with other tertiary education organisations to develop a resource that will increase staff knowledge of e-Learning and better provide and support e-Learning initiatives within the organisation. eCDF

Auckland University of Technology (AUT), and University of Auckland Centre for Mäori Innovation and Development Establishing a Centre for Mäori Innovation and Development which will act as a hub for Mäori post-graduate research, education, community development, business and technology development. IDF

University of Auckland, Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, and Lincoln University The eLearning XML Editor (eXe) project Providing software that will enable academics and teachers at all New Zealand education institutions to easily publish e-Learning web pages and enable all institutions to cross-reference their e-Learning work. eCDF

Workbase Education Trust, Seafood Industry Training Organisation, and Industry Training Organisation Foundation skills: Literacy resources for industry Developing tools for assessing employee literacy to identify industry and foundation education needs. IDF

Manukau Institute of Technology The National Secondary Tertiary Curriculum Alignment Project Establishing processes to better align secondary school and polytechnic curriculum, at a local level. IDF
Quality Training & Assessment Ltd, Manukau Whakatipuranga – Journey to Empowerment Providing sole parents from low socio-economic backgrounds with a learning environment that encourages them to access tertiary education. IDF

Manawatu Massey University, Auckland University of Technology, University of Auckland, Waikato University, Victoria University and Open Polytechnic of New Zealand New Zealand e-Learning Quality Standards, Framework and Guidelines Developing a set of guidelines and standards to ensure the quality of e-Learning provided in tertiary education organisations. ECDF

Massey University Te Mata o te Tau Academy for Mäori Research and Scholarship Extending the range of programmes available from Te Mata o te Tau. IDF
Te Tau Ihu o nga Wänanga (Otaki), Te Wänanga o Aotearoa, Te Whare Wänanga o Awanuiärangi, and Te Wänanga o Raukawa Te Ako Hikohika Wänanga e-Learning Research Capacity Building Increasing the ability of Mäori communities to research what e-Learning works best for them, and encourage the learning of Te Reo through electronic means. eCDF
Waikato Waikato Institute of Technology, Best Training Auckland (head office), Wellington Institute of Technology and Northland Polytechnic Open Source Courseware Initiative New Zealand Develop and implement a unique NZ courseware tailored to NZ’s population, particularly Maori and Pacific Peoples. Reduce the dependence and risks associated with commercially developed learning management systems. eCDF

University of Waikato Flexible Learning Leaders in New Zealand (FLLinNZ) Support the leadership and development of up to 15 academic staff annually to lead NZ in the e-learning environment. eCDF
Wellington Wellington Institute of Technology (Weltec), e-Learnz, Learning Media, and Southern Institute of Technology Generic Trade Training Modules (GeTT Mod) Providing generic (and beginners’) e-Learning modules for industry trainees, second chance learners and secondary school students. This is a part of the larger e-Learnz project. eCDF

Wellington Institute of Technology Innovation and Niche Manufacturing Centre Extending the existing facility for testing engineering, electro-technology, communications and information technology design prototypes IDF
E-Learnz , and Victoria University e-Learnz Collaborative Tool Box Establishing a core set of resources that will encourage tertiary education providers to collaborate on the delivery of on-line technology programmes, courses and content.

eCDF
Christchurch Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, Maata Waka Enterprises, Manukau Institute of Technology, The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Universal College of Learning and Otago Polytechnic Delivering applied e-Learning in the workplace: Polytechnics and ITOs working together Training workplace facilitators to increase the workforce training in e-learning and developing protocols for continuous improvement. eCDF

Christchurch College of Education (CCE), University of Canterbury, Lincoln University, and Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology

Graduate Diploma in Applied e-Teaching and Support Establish a Graduate Diploma of Applied e-Teaching and Support to help address the need for skilled teachers in e-learning eCDF

Lincoln University, Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences, Massey University, NZ Vice Chancellors Committee, Council of NZ Libraries and Auckland University of Technology (AUT) National Consortium licences for key electronic, research information resources Improve more widespread access to international research literature. Purchase consortium licences to two key international databases. Researchers can use to build on international research findings, avoid duplication and maximise NZ’s research investment. IDF
Dunedin University of Otago, Association of Polytechnics of New Zealand (APNZ), and Associated TEOs NGI Network Potential contribution to the establishment of an advanced data network (Next Generation Internet – NGI) in the six main centres.

IDF
National The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand, Best Training Auckland (head office), Wellington Institute of Technology, and Northland Polytechnic

Open Source e-Learning Environment and Community Platform Developing New Zealand specific e-Learning content creation and web delivery software for Massey University and the Open Polytechnic. eCDF

Association of Polytechnics of New Zealand (APNZ) Critical success factors for effective use of e-Learning with Mäori learners Train educators and identify critical factors to increase access, participation and achievement for Mäori. eCDF

Association of Polytechnics of New Zealand (APNZ) Developing e-Learning Leaders and Institutional Capability Through Collaboration Encouraging use of e-Learning techniques in polytechnics by establishing a team of people to provide support and advice to organisations and tutors setting up and developing e-Learning based training. eCDF

Te Hau Takitini o Aotearoa Association of Staff in Tertiary Education (ASTE) e-Learning Collaborative Teaching Initiative Developing standards and resources for teaching e-Learning in the tertiary sector. eCDF

Industry Training Federation ITO Leadership Project Increasing the alignment between the needs of employers and employees with tertiary education organisations, particularly industry training organisations. IDF

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